Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-12
THE OLD SNIP DALE
WIN be Fitted IN for the Maryland
Navy Yard.


Washington. Dec. l1.-WashinEton Is
10 lose It's own familiar Waral.p aiier
all. IL Is true she Is old and obsolete,
and compares III with our modern steel
fighting machines, but che was good
ship In her day, and has carried une
American nag with honor anu circuit
In all quarters Of the globe. reference
Is made 10 the Dale. which has been
Rnchonsd at the WaIhlnglton navy
yard. SHE was formerly sloop-oi-
war q the third class, az naval vessels
are rated. but since her arrival 81
tilis yard she has served the peaceful
but highly useless purpose OF re-
ceivlng ship. All her officers have been
detached. and she Is to be put out OF
commission with view TO her imme-
date trannfer TO The Maryland naval
militia. This Is o change In the orig
inal program, which contemplated the
use Of the old monitor Wyandotte Tor
this purpose. The Dale Is much the
better vessel for the purpose, and the
Maryland reserves are to be eongraiu-
lated on her possession. Orders have
been given TO NJ the vessel out at once
for her new duty, and 1t is probable
she win be ready to be towed to her iu-
ture home in the harbor Of Baltimore
next week.
The Dale is one Of che smallest sall-
Ing slips OF the old navy She was
built by the government at Philadel-
phil In 1889, and was launched in the
fail OF that year She Is III feet long
and 20 feet beam, and has maximum
draft OF is IL feet, Her displacement
is officially stated at $50 tons, and her
speed at ten knots per hour on a
wind and thirteen knots free. In her
palmy days she was noted as a fair
sailer under all conditions" Her hu
Is OF live oak. AMI Is reported to be
still In excellent condition. SO much
80 that Il takes the finest OF steel
edged tools TO make the slightest I'M
preston on her tough hide. This fact
was demonstrated a short time ago,
when It became necessary for some
ordinary purpose to bore small hole
through her side.
When she was in active service years
ago she carried a battery OF slNtt en-
32-pounders. and would undoubtedly
have rendered a good account Of her
self In case Of necessity. At the pres
ent day her armament cons8ts OF
single hOwitzer Her original cost tOm-
plete was Sl01. 732, and she was rep irei
in 1850 at an expense OF SG9,52i. Ships
and repairs were not 80 expensive as
they are ct present.
She was named In honor OF Commo-
dore Richard Dale. one Of the naval
heroes of the revolution who serve
under John Paul Jones as first lieu.
tenent Of the Bon Homne Richard IN
her celebrated engagement with the
British ships Scraps and the Countess
of Scarborough of Flambough IL ad
In September, 1711. Lieutenant Dale
contributed materially to that great
victory by his prompt action at critical
points. and was badly wounded IN the
leg after he had boarded the Scraps,
just before she surrendered. His name
sake has good record, unmarked.
however with any important service as
Il fighter. She has seen service In
every sea, and IN her earlier career was
with ShubHcks squadron In the Pacific
ocean. and with Lavalette's squadron
in African waters During the war Of
the rebellion she was used rs the
station tlagBhip at Key West, and after
the war she made several cruises as a
practice ship for mldshpmen. she re-
mained ON duty at Annapolis until 1884,
when she was transferred 10 the Wash
lngton navy yard, whore she was dis
mantled and covered in. which means
that housc-llze structure was built
upon her mnhn deck. Thus for the past
ten years she has served the peaceful
purpose OF n home and school OF in
structlnn for seaman Punners.
This city will now be without re.
celving stAp, and tho selmen gunners
who have heretofore been qu5rtered
on the pale VIII be provided with ac-
commodations In barracks recently
erected in the yard. THE Dale has been
a prominent landmark or uthcri
watcrmarls. at the navy yard tJr years
and her departure viii be regretted on
thut account by the residents Of the
vinfnIt,. WIN Md bauftp - lnOir itp.,t,
her az a permanent possession.