The morning call., 1894-12-17
THE MAYNARD.
The Philadelphia to Sail
for San Francisco.
News About the Petrol In Chinese
Waiting for the Olym-
pia-Work Is Slack.


leave these waters for San Francisco Monday
at P NJ. and 60 down TO San Pablo Bay and
remain over night. On Tuesday she Will swing
SHIP for compass devatiOns. This is always
done prior to a ship leaving port for sea. After
this piece of magnetic work has been accom-
Dshed the flagship will proceed 10 San Fran
cisco Bay and anchor 1t is not known how
long she will remain there. The crew will Issue
invitations for their friends to come on board
TO witness an entertainment they have pre-
pared for their amusement. The cruiser is IN
good condition for sea voyage, though as far
as can be learned no plan has been laid out for
her future movements.
The Ranger was taken out of the drydock
few days ago and the Alert has been taken in
for the purpose OF receiving coat of paint.
The Mohican is about ready for sea- as is also
the Bennington. The commanders OF them or
the Alert have not any information TO lmpart as
10 where they VIII co.
The work AT the yard is fast closing up and it
Is strongly iDtmated that after the Boston and
Monadnock have been completed, which will be
within couple of months, the yard will be
practically closed. There has been scarcely a
day during the latter weeks but that number
OF discharges have taken place, notably in the
department of construction and repair II has
been animated that in view of the practical
closing OF the yard, which would result in the
suspension oil some OF the fOremen. that they
have been requested to give their places of res
case they are laid of they be sent forit their
services should again be required.
The new tug 10 be built at the yard will of
course require the services of number of men.
The patlern-makerS al the steam engineering
department are at work making patterns for
the work TO be done in that department, which
includes boilers. engines, shafts and propeller
In the construction department the lines for
the tug are heing laid down and will be COM
pleied In about two days, so that by the time
material is received everything will be In Teadi-
dess for laying he keel and building the hull
An appropriation OF some SIT, 900 was made
by the last Congress for the building OF new
roads about the yard, and at the present time,
as weather permits, work Is being done on the
road in the rear of the officers quarters, which
has always been one Of The worst In the yard.
Lumber is being received for the cottage to be
erected for the use of the electrician at tile
yard The site chosen is a knoll near the
observatory and is one OF the best situations for
a residence at the yard, IL being high and in q
commanding position.
The United States steamship Petrol is at
NewebwaDg, China, where she arrived on the
7th of November, after weeks cold. disagree
able passage from Nagasaki, stopping one day
al ChefO0. en- route. Since her arrival there
the crew have been very busy preparing for a
long winter at that place. All stores have
been sent on shore and placed In warehouse,
sails running rigging. ETC.. yards ana masts
nave been sent down aud the ship stripped 10 a
grtlng, just The same as if she was about to
be put out of commission and going into rotten
row at Mare Island Navy yard.
Two hghtlng tops have been constructed, one
on the fore and the other on the mlZZen tops.
HOtchkisS 81 milimeter revolving cannon
Will be sent aloft forward aud Calling gun
aft, these TO be used in case of mob Violence in
the town or any interference with the European
Inhabitants WHO reside along the bank near
where the Petrol is TO be beached The
English ship tirebrand Is also there and
is already in her mud dock, high and dry,
stripped the same as the Petrel aud is wing
next 10 her. Both OF the ships are living there
10 be buried up in ice and snow until spring
shall come again and release them from their
ice bondage. The docks are a novelty, as
many on the Petrol never saw anything like
them before, ana they never expect to again
and they are we'll worthy Of mention for the
information of those at Mare Island In the
habit OF seeing the great stone drydock at that
place. in which cruiser may so easily be
foated in and settled down on the blocks after
out by an army of Cinnamon, precisely the
same as drydock before they are walled up
A thin layer OF earth or caisson is left at the
entrance 10 prevent The water coming 10, and
after The proper depth is obtained on the inside
this earth 10 front Is dug down as far
as they Can go at low water. then when
all is ready at the next high tide, full head OF
steam is put on the ngines and ahead they go
at full speed, running through the mud until
the ship Is fairly through. Shores are then put
I'D 10 keep the ship On an even keel the same
as in a drydock, the ship resting on the bottom.
AS soon as secured the entrance is filed In with
mud and brush, the water Is then pumped out
by handybillys and the ship is then high ana
dry. Mats are then placed around the ship,
earth filled in around her nearly as high
as the berth deck air ports, the ship housed in
with bamboo poles and mats, and by this means
made as comfortable as possible In a climate
where the communication with the outside
world by water is completely cut off for five
months In the year. The river, completely
frozen over with ice four feet deep
and the thermometer ranging from 10 TO 20
degrees below zero. The Petrol arrived at
NeWchwang on the 10Th or November with
about 80 IONS OF coal on board, and $50 tons
more were TO be put on board In day or two
for heating ship. All the boats had been taken
on shore and cover with mats and buried In
sand to keep the frost OUT. The captain has
given free gangway to ali hands from after
quarters IN the m0rnlng until 10 p. NJ. and as
long as the men keep il the privilege Will exist
and it Will not be broken, for the reason that
the captain and all the officers are we'll liked
and allow every privilege possible. They have
an iceboat fully equipped, and skates, so that |
for all those on board the Petrol there Is plenty |
of sport ahead during the long winter months. |
The officers on all the ships at the hayward i
seem TO look more after the interests of their
crews. IN the matter OF seeing that they enjoy
themselves, than In years gone by
The Yorktown Is over in the China waters |
ana on her way toward the sea- of war. While |
entering the harbor at Honolulu she struck |
sunken reef. but no damage was done. IL IS |
understood that the commanding officer of her
has requested The Navy Department to order
court OF inquiry to be held TO ascertain where
the responsibility lies.
The Olympia Is expected to come up 10 the
uaVV-Va ri within a short time IN hoa ri IF ha