The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-05
FUN FOR JACK.
A Good Entertainment on
the MOhiCan.
Officers Who Appreciate the Needs
of Their Men-Work at the Mare
Island Maynard.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL

VALLEJO. Feb. 4-The action of the
officers OF the United States ship Mohican
lying at the navy-yard is commemorate
and worthy of all imita ton. Commander
Charles E. Clark, q. S. n. the captain of
the ship. and Lieutenant A. V. Wadhams,
L. S. n. the executive officer, believe in
looking after the interests of the crew un-
der them and Intend to make life while on
board their ship something more than SIM
ply turning out at four or six bells in the
morning, scrubbing down or holystoning
decks, cleaning bright work, going to quar-
tiers, exercising at great guns or small
arms, sending up and down topgallant
yards. loOsing and furling sails, manning
small boats, drilling on shore. eating salt
horse OF indigestibe plum duff, slice ping in
q hammock with your heels higher than
Your head, or sanding once a month at
general muster and listening 10 the articles
. Of war. cOurts-martial and general orders
read until one is sick and tired of being a
>: SEAMAN. All these things are but the
= natural course Of events in JACKS daily
life.
- Lieutenant Wadhams has iuaugurated a
system OF amuSements on board ship by
w icn a series of entertainments will be
given, the first Of which took place Friday
afternoon. The quarter and poop decks
were covered in with awnings and flags of
J; all colors. A stage was fitted up with
idrOp curtain and all the necessary para
.:phernalla. The programme consisted of
songs, Rotations and presentations by Mr..
and Mrs. Dan Kelly, Will Devlin and
Messrs. Hoag, Mitchell. Beuhler, knudsOn
=. and Murphy. The audience was COM
posed of the ladies from the station, none
OF whom were more interested than Mrs.
.Commandant Howison. the officers from
theaVarious ships at the island and all of
the men from the crews that could be
spared from duty. This is but the begin
ming and a forerunner of what is 10 come.
Mr, and Mrs. Kelly took so well with the
Officers that saturday they were invited
and partook II breakfast with them in the
wardroOm.
" The Monterey is out in the stream all
ready for orders which are expected at any
" moment to 60 out TO sea for the purpose of
testing the guns Betsey and her mate in
the turretS, which have been completed
land are now ready for action.
%: The force of men at work on the Alert
has been Increased and In addition some
e fifty men work from in the morning un-
:: iii z in the evening so anxious is the de-
apartment to have her completed and ready
for service by the 1st OF April. When COM
missiOned she will be commended by Com
r, maDder William A. Morgan, u. 5. \. The
. remainder Of the detail officers has not yet
= been announced.
The MOnadnock, few days ago, was
Hauled up under the shears and prepara-
.tiOns made for putting in her machinery
and boilers. When this has been ac-
,c6mplisbed he ship iOiners will then be
set to work on their part of the furnish
. ings. A great deal of the stuff has already
been got out in the shops. Her boats are
O. well under way and when finished there
Will be NJ better in the service.
The painters WHO have been on The
= N onadnock and the Alert have been laid
eff for a few days to allow the iron workers
to get out of their way.
AS it is desired to have the Boston ready
:. by the 1st Of March the heads of the
various departments are urging the men
Ia put in their very best efforts in this
direction.
Commander John J. Brice. L. S. n,
will probably relieve Commander Thomas
Nelson in command Of the United States
IS hip Adams. now at Honolulu. Conn.,
,:mander Brlce was stationed at Mare
Island for number of years. also on
board various ships on the coast, and is
just The man TO sail with in time of
tTOuble-c0oI. determined and fearless of
danger. A host of warm and sincere
friends will welcome him back to the
coast.
Comm ander Nelson is spoken of in con-
Dection with the duties Of ordnance officer
at this yard.
The Marion is now on her way to the
island from China and will 20 out of COM
mission. If not she will receive an entire
new set Of officers and crew.