The morning call., 1894-08-27
CHANGE OF FLAGS.
Impressive Scene at Mare
Island.
The New Commander of the Pacific
Squadron Is a Veteran of
the Sea.

snip Pnllauelphla and the gun00at Bennington
arrived at the navy-yard Thursday afternoon.
The arrival of two men-of.war within three
hours of each other is a sight that has not been
witnessed since quarter of century ago, at
which time feet OF Russian ships came up TO
the Island for the purpose of undergoing re-
pairs.
Friday morning 1t must have seemed quite
different TO Rear-Admiral Beardslee TO the
time when he as a commander, along IN the
seventies, came sailing up in the old ship
Jamestown from his cruise In Alaska where
he had so successfully settled difficulties among
the Indians. At that time there were many
officers at the yard away above him in rank.
To-day he is ranking officer in the United States
navy on the Pacific Coast and cOmmander-in-
chief of the Pacific squadron, with as nne
class OF ships in point of numbers under his
command as In any OF the squadrons under the
United States flag.
Friday morning about 100 guns were fired
from the various ships in the harbor ana all
brought about by the command being turned
over TO him. 1t had been announced that
promptly at 10 O'Clock ReaT-Admlral John G.
walker, U. 5. N, would relinquish his COM
mand as commander-in.chief OF tile squadron.
A few minutes before the hour had arrived
Commodore Beardslee lett the maynard land
Ing in tweiYe-oared barge belonging 10 the
flagship. IL took but four or i've ,minutes 10
land him alongside. On board the Philadelphia
all was in readiness to receive their be new
commander-in-chlef. The crew had been called
marines were at present arms; the band was
stationed close by; the sideboys, dFummers
and buglers were near the gaDgway ladder, and
as The commodore passed over the SIDE he was
received with full naval ho1ors. After three or
four minutes conversation with AdJuiral Wal
ker and just about as four bells 90 OSeOck) was
TO De struck the salutlng battery began in quick
succession rear-admlraPs salute Of Thirteen
guns.
AS the last gun was fired the broad blue pen.
nant of the admiral was lowered from the main
mast ana In lt2 stead CapCalnIs DaDDaQt
flying at the masthead, and the Philadelphia
was out OF commission as flagship.
The band struck up an air, and then, before
i've minutes had elapsed, small, dark blue
roll of bunting was hauled TO the same mast
head. The battery again commenced firing,
and as the first gun sounded the stop about the
little dark roll was by the quartermasier
given smart pull, and In second the broad
flag OF blue, with It's two stars in the middle,
was flying 10 the wind, and the captains pen
nant was quickly hauled down, rolled up and
slowed away in the t1agcnest, and Commodore
Beardslee hereafter was 10 assume lhe rank
aud title of reaT-admiral and was the com
mander. chief of the squadron. AS the last
gun was tired the band again struck up pa
triOtic air.
The two admirals exchanged greetings. Then
commenced the sautlDg the flags by the various
ships, each firing thirteen guns. The Benning
ton and Independence commenced first and
after they had concluded the Charleston with
the utmost precision gave her salute, which by
all was pronounced to be the most rapid and in
TIE best OF time. After the ships had finished
the FhllaQelpnlaS gu0nerS ureQ three ROUNDS or
seven guns each IN response TO the salute given
The flag. On board the flagship every man was
at his station and the ship was IN perfect order
from truck TO keelSOn,
Immediately following the transfer of flags a
transfer of commanding officers was made.
CAPTAIN A. S. sBarker, who brought the ship
from New YORK and up 10 Mare Island, turned
the cruiser, by order OF the secretary OF the
Navy. over TO her new commander, Captain
Charles S. Cotton, U. S. N, who for some years
past has been in command OF the reeeiving-ship
Independence.
After these orders had been read an iDspec-
tion of the ship was made, the men were dis
missed from quarters and the ceremony of
turning command over was at an end. The
officers removed their full dress uniforms and
substituted the service uniform instead. To
persons on shore that have never Witnessed
such a CEREMONY IL is fun Of interest-aboard
OF ship IL is equally full Of interest TO officers
and men, especially 20 those who have never be-
fore sailed with or had seen the new arrivals.
While the body OF the men stands rigid and
mOtionless the eyes are on the alert to size up
'the old man" as he ia by Jack" termed, and
TO see whether he is the "stud' to make a
Fighter as they full we'll know that on him de-
ponds a great deal in times of emergency or
battle. The two ofncers who had just taken COM
mand. one OF the squadron, the other of the
ship, are made of the STUFF to meet such
emergencies.
The Philadelphia while in the drydock will
have her cupboard valves OverDaued ana be
scraped. painted, and everything necessary that
can be done while she is out of water. There is
considerable work 10 be done in her boiler and
engine rOOIns A preliminary survey mas been
made, but full aud complete one will be re-
Quired, which Will be done the first of the week.
1t is the intention to get her ready for sea as
quickly as can be done, though at present it is
estimated that she will be here for several
weeks TO come.
The Bennington has one of her engines In a
disabled condition, and is otherwise In need of
considerable Overhaulng. Work will be COM
menced on her as soon as it Is ascertained
whether she will require 10 be fumgated or not
Friday afternoon liberty TO go on shore until
MOndaV morning given abOut h1lf n no
ships company, it having been decided that
there would be no danger through their having
so recently come up from one of the South
American ports where fever had been prev
alent.
The men speak in the highest terms OF praise
of all the officers on board of the Bennington,
and IL is such acts as allowing them lib
erty TO go on shore as soon as they enter an
American port that makes Jack happy and
contented. As some Of them remarked on
ready TO die for our odd man at the drop OF
cap" Her captain, Commodore Thomas, has
been here before. as has many of the officers on
board OF her. The men almost universally ex-
press the wish that the Saivadoran refugees
they brought up may be given their liberty.
Orders were received for the Charleston to go
to sea Sunday. Friday morning the work OF
filling up the bunkers with coal commenced,
lighters filed with coal were hauled alongside
aud il was passed over the side in buckets and
sacks. Saturday number OF men VINO had
short time TO serve were transferred to the
Philadelphia and in their stead a draft OF
long tlmed" men from the nag-snlp were sent
to the Charleston. several of the officers were
also transferred. The cruiser is bound for the
China station. She has orders to call In at
Honolulu On her way over. She will make the
trip as quickly as possible. The best wishes of
our people 60 with her.
The Thetis, that has been in dock during the
past few days-the caisson having been found
to be uniDiured outside of the decks nearly
ready for any duty required OF her. While In
dock some little work was done about her
stern, and all the holes in her hull, caused by
fIA do xz-hf hn afalra halo
of California, were stopped up with cement.
1t Is a curious fact that the worm will 90 In no
farther than the sheathiDg on The hull, which is
about two inches In thickness. The worm Will
work its way IN at the end of a seam and eat
along sometimes the length of the plank. They
make very small hole at the start but when
once In they eat course sometimes the size OF
a mans finger. Only the larger holes were
cemented. Paint will cover TIL smaller holes.
The Thetis is not coppered vessel, as are all
of the larger wooden men war. She is
sheathed with wood as will some daY be the