The morning call., 1893-12-25

:: " ALLEJo. Dec. 24-The first heavy
. piece. of armor was placed on board the
!: ;A6uadnock on Saturday morning by the
laid of the large shears under which the
monitor had been hauled the day before.
The piece is what is known as the con-
DiHg-towef, circular structure some five
fleet diameter and seven feet high.
weighing 5000 pounds. In active service
j.. this fortress is used by the commanding
officer of tile ship as a sighting-spOt. 1t is
- provided with narrow Sits or loopholes
fer observation. From this spot orders
may he Issued to. any part of the ship and
1T can also be used as a wheelhouse. The
: term ''conning-tower" is more modern
= than ."w heelhouse." The next piece Of
armor 10 be hoisted on board will be the
: smokepfpe armor, an oval piece of metal
Weighing $4,000 pounds. The object of
.this piece OF armor is for the better pro-
:. lection from Shot of the smOkestack just as
itriSes above the deck.
80 Twenty-one pieces of armor for the
sides, Weighing over five hundred thousand
e. pounds, have already arrived and more
are en- the way from the East.
!; 1t is expected that about the middle of
= next week the monitor will be fipated in
- lhe Gyydoek, and five of the stern pieces of
armor will be set IN place. A derrick has
:; :vessr for use in this purpose.
: When the large crane now under con-
@, strucion- at the East is completed. 1t will
:: be sent out to the yard and used for all
T. such heavy Work as this.
:: " a track will be specially laid for hold
- ing the ilbcranp. 1t will he year before
:. it arrives and becomes ready for operating
-: In the mean time wooden shears will be
; used, ofthe same style as that now seen on
: the stern of the MOnadnock
e.. : The wooden backing has been placed
.: about the turrets. so that they are now al
-. most ready for the armor when 1t arrives.
:: * ne Moh'can is ready in all respects for
. r. She is hauIed out TO one of the buevs
= ;ghd only awaiting the word to go. 1t may
> be>the middle OF the week before this oc-
:. ours The officers gave a very pleasant
2 hop to fheir friends 10 the sail loft on
. "Wednesday evening last.
% The boilers have been removed from the
Alert AS soon as the machinery has been
. disconnected it will be taken out to make
place for the new machinery and boilers
The latter are now in the shop receiving
% additional braces. As soon as the mach in
- cry is out the shipwrights Will commence
p putting In new foundations for the engines
- ..s The A4bstrOss is lying 10 the stream. She
. will soon leave for the lower coast
The Philadelphia is expected to come to
- the yard before many weeks have elapsed
for the purpose of going in dock to be
. scraped and painted.
. manifested by the employees at the yard as
TO What.the rate of wages Will be during
the coming quarter Il having bean Tu-
moFed that many of the rates OF pay would
: be reduced the Vallejo Board of Trade and
others have telegrsphed on to Wash ngton
to the Navy Department. also TO the Repre-
sentatives from this State, asking that the
proposed reduction be not carried into
effect The outcome is awaited with much
anxiety.
Medical Inspector g. w. Woods, u. S.
N, gave very pleasant dinner party In
honor of Commander and Mrs. William
Il. WHITNEY. u. S. n, who are at present
on their bridal tour. A mum Der of friends
were present, and the dinner was all that
could be desired. The bride attracted
much attention at the wharf on this side
of the river before going on the Amador
Major a. a. Bartlett, United States
Marine Corps, and wife left for the East
Tuesday last. The major goes on waiting
orders. -
Monday will be celebrated here as a
holiday, and no work will be performed at
the yard.
Tuesday evening a Christmas tree will
be had in the sail loft for the benefit OF all
residents of the yard.
Saturday afternoon Mrs. Lieutenant G.
: Nj. StOney, u. S. N, sent TO The children at
=. the /. o. G. T. Home a goodly supply of
3 candies, oranges, apples, etc. Free offer
: ings like the above are highly appreciated
by the children as well as the management
. of the home.
Mrs. Lieutenant A. F. Fechteler, q. S.
N, who has been visiting with Mrs. Cap
tain; HI. Harrison, U. S. N. for some
; Friday. Her husband is executive officer
OF the Albatross, and should the vessel go
down TO San Diego Mrs. Fechteler will
meet him there.