New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-26
PREPARING WAR VESSELS.
WORK GOING on Al The NAVY YARD.
MANY MEN EMPLOYED on THE MAINE-THE
MrAyroxoMoH NEARLY READY.

MANToNOMOU NEARLY READY.
At the Navy Yard last night everything was rs
peaceful ms there were no wars nor rumos Oh "rs'
Work on the Maine being carried yesterday Win
a vieor which was somewhat unusual and the finishing
touches were being given to the Miantonomoh. INC
officers and of the torpedo boat Gushing are living
on board the Vermont while the arrangements are
being made to put the torpedo tubes In that craft No
orders had been received for the Mantonomoh 10 pro-
coed TO sea or any other orders Of warlke nature
IL was said that the Alarm, now lying In Whi.ney
Basin would be hauled out and go into commission
shortly. The Alarm Is singie-gun ship Win q ram
bow and facilities for three spar torpedoes She Is
fitted with the Mallory propeller which enables her 70
turn in her own length and was designed by Admiral
Porter.
Officers at the yard last night discussed the situa-
ton in calm manner and exhibited 20 renzied thirst
for blood. They seemed, in fact, ike other wei-Dred
gentlemen who had serious Job on hand, and were
anxious that everything should be done decenty and IN
order
II was the general impression that Admiral walker
had LEFT Montevdeo with his fleet and was steamns
toward the Straits Of Magellan and the great coal sup
plies at Punta Arenas. There was no aehh''e III
formation OF this but it seemed to be In the air so
few ships at the Navy Yard now That bc gassrins
Of officers In the after ward room OF the Oh Eefmohe
was not so great usua but the knot OF officers when
did gather there discussed little else except the Chihan
situation. The general regret was uat PePara1oHs
for war had been 5 long delayed
For instance" said officer, there Is the Chsh-
ing. She has been running around for long um''
She is almost chestnut and yet her torpedo tubes
which should have been placed in her when she was
built have never been placed there. 1t Will not take
long 10 put them in but 1t VIII take time and time Is
valuable. When she gets the entire armament
aboard she will be the heaviest armed trpedo
boat a1oat. She will Just bristle with ma
q md can
from her tubes. | hope with more accuracy
than did the Amirante Condel when she sunk the
Blanco Encalada7
The system OF marine mines which the Army has
charge Of for protecting the approaches to NewforI
was also discussed for the Army and the NAVY WORK
hand In hand. A great deal Of real work was done
mt the Navy Yard Yesterday, I'm spite Of the apparent
peace which regned there
The cheese boxn monitor Nantucket was seated
ont Of the dry dock at oINavy Yard Yesterday. aud
dock-tral Il her engines will be made today or 20
morrow Her engines seem to DO In good con
diion. and it Is likely that she VIII
be put In commission before the end oil another
week Her commander will probably be Cohihahdef
Henry Glass recently Instructor at the Naval AcaneS
or Commander william Il. Bltdgman, who Is member
Of the Board OF Inspection and survey 1t Is not at all
n,ohahIe that even i'm the case Of actual war with
Chilli the Nantucket or any OF the other single tur
eted monitors that are being fitted out will be sent 70
the Pacific Tho duty Of these vessels Will he 10 stay al
the outer entrance to habOr and prevent the entrance
OF unfendly warshlps. These monitors during the war
resisted the fire Of tho largest guns then mounted I'D is
Country and the many dents o their turrets prove s'
they did R successfully Sdoh vessels require only SO"
speed and little coal capacity, end, as they aS
we'll armored and carry large smooth bOre guns they
make tho surest defence OF the port.
The Vesuvius boated out OF t'e umOer W
dock Yesterday having been inspected with view &c
adding the one and one-halflpc armor belt ~ hef
Tho work of providing cher with thirty Shells OF
proeodes, for tho three dynamite guns, Is IN ohaiee
Of the Pneumatic Dynamite Gun Company Each Oh
these shells Will be charged with go pounds Oh gun
ration frum the torpedo station at Newport Ihe
south Brooklyn Proiectie Company IS preparing loo
,orrsdoe and seventy powder tanks, TO DO nIlel
witR guncotton, for Immediate shipment 10 the Mare
Island Navy Iari ,,, ., hoe co,,.
An officer of the Fortune, which vessel mas come
down from Newport with torpedo charges To snip 10
Sen Fnnci,co said yesterday that the torpedo station
i turning out tOrpelOss and manufacturing gun eoeOn
- Professor Charles T.. Mnnroe. who wa,
trr twelve wears professor OF chemistry a.
the Naval Academy. and who recently discovered ne"
aud more perfect ~ stem OF making SnoHees powder
Tbc g cotton IS pressed into cylindrical discs, thft
- me haf inches in diameter and two Inches M TN X
- The centre T. pierced for the Insertion Of inc
ucrcury illuminate 1ctonator The guD-epttOh Is tnpl
or,odo casc. ard Ia then safer than emnpOwder Il
h,ndle Fire Will not explode II when Wet ana an
,rier for 10000 pounds FOR the Pacific COAST Is ho"
t..ftt Id