New-York tribune., 1894-04-22
NAVY YARD AFFAIRS.
THE NETWORK ORDERED TO KINGSTON
JAMAICA.

She MAY BE SENT TO MARE ISLAND FOR HER
FINAL F1TTINGs-LIErTENANT LYMAN
APPEALS HIS cAsE-oTHEH
MATTERS OF IN
TEREsT
Address all letters for officers enlisted men
on the cruiser New-York care United States
Consul at Kingston. Jamaica" This is the latest
order relative TO this vessel. and IS significant at
this time in view Of the fact that the Navy De-
partment has suggested sending her to Mare
Island Navy Yard 10 receive her final htunes-
the things that must be done and were left un-
done at the time that she was hurriedy sent TO Rlo
Janeiro. II twas officially stated only few days
ago that the New-York would come back here
TO have her defects" remedied and that she
would start for home from san Domingo as
soon as the San Francisco reached Blueheds;
but she has been ordered to Kingston, Jamaica.
a port totally devoid Of political or social inter
est at this time but within easy reach Of cable
communication. and now orders are expected to
be sent TO her TO proceed to the Pacific Coast.
These reports were disappointing 70 the OIL
GERS at the Navy Yard yesterday, ana
to the workmen who have been suspended
because Of mo money" and mo work.
some Of whom expected TO he employed again
on the arrival here Of the New-York. The OIL
GERS and men who were hurried away from mere
few months ago. and whose hearts had Deeh
stirred at the prospect Of being back here again
this week, will feel keen disappointment In the
change Of the programme, us VIII also ther
families.
Lieutenant Charles y. Lyman, the navigator
NJ the Kearsarge when she was lost, has ap-
pealed from the decision OF the recent court
martial which sentenced him TO one years sus-
pension. and demanded that the findings of the
court he disapproved and he be restored to duty.
II Is possible that the Secretary of the Navy may
suspend action and order another court In the
case Lieutenant Lyman raises several points
one of the principal being that the court was an
irregular one and not competent to try his case
He introduces the objection that before his tI1al
began he challenged Commander Leary against
sittinr as n member because he had expressed
an opinion relative TO the subject matter TO be
Investigated. and that having been a member or
the court which tried Commander Heyerman' ana
before which Lieutenant Lyman was witness,
Commander Leary had already formed an opinion
that was prejudicial to a fair trial OF himself
He declares that this challenge was made In
anticipation of raising the question as to the
qualifications of the other members Of the court.
intending TO challenge each member Of the court
II the first challenge had been sustained but
II oVerruled
Lieutenant LYMAN also reviews the testimony
before the court to show that he was not guilty
of neglect of duty, even Il he did not personally
take observations for longitude on the day that
the vessel was wrecked. and quotes from the
Navy laws to sustain this point He also makes
q similar defence against the specifications charg-
ing him with neglect of duty in not taking OBJ
servatons for deviation Of compasses and Of
''culpable ineffcicncy in the performance OF his
duty as navigator" and maintains that the
testimony shows that he fully performed his
duties and took every precaution TO advise the
captain OF the position Of the ship and its prOx-
Unity to danger. Another strong point raised
by him Is that his testimony as witness on the
trial Of Commander Heyerman virtually
testimony by himself on his trial. while the
Regulations provide that an accused cannot be
compelled TO testify against himself; but that
this testimony having been given before any ac-
cusation had been made against him, the court
was influenced by ii in reaching its conclusion
IN THE SHADOW OF THE RETIRED LIST.
The question Of the number Of vacancies for
the thrty-five naval cadets soon TO graduate is
not only engaging their intense attention, but
\ the Navy Department has given 1t special atten-
tion in the last few days; and several officers
who are In the shadow OF the retired list. and
are trying to get out from under IT, are growing
anxious. AS the number Of appointments TO the
Engineer Corps is limited to the number Of
cadets transferred to the engineer division at
the Academy by their election, and the
number this year is only five. while there
twenty-one vacancies in the corps. there is talk
Of having bill introduced in Congress TO au-
thorize cadets of the line division to be trans
ferred TO the Engtjeer Corps to fill the surplus
vacancies. There are possible vacancies. how
ever, through early retirementS. Lieutenant
Commander Nichols and Lieutenant Garvin are
both physically disabled. and there Is talk OF
ordering them before the retiring board Cap
tain James O'Kane. who has suffered a paralytic
shock; Captain II. NJ RobesOn. Commander
Durand. and Ensign Houston Elderdge. who
recently failed to pass the physical examination
preparatory TO his promotion. are also prospec-
tive retirements. Lieutenant Commander T. b.
NJ Mason, who was recently detached from the
New-York with sick leave and permission TO go
retirement Then. If the Secretary should de-
eide the retirement case of Lieutenant Bates, Of
the Marine Corps the entire class Of graduating
cadets could be provided for.
Commodore Joseph ~ Miller, who recently
nominated 10 that grade to Ill the vacancy
caused by the promotion OF Commodore Joseph
s. Skerrett to rear-admiral, has been detached
from command of the receivng-ship Vermont
and put on waiting orders. This change is due
to the fact that his promotion takes him above
the rank of singe-ship command Captain
Silas Casey. who recently comma nded the cruiser
Newark. succeeds Commodore Miller on the Yer
mont: Although appointed to the Navy from
New-York, this is really the first time he has
been on duty at this Navy Yard.
CHANCES AT THE YARD.
Another change at the Navy Yard is the order
Ing here of Civil Engineer Anecito G. Menocal.
who is popularity known as the constructing en-
glneer for so many years of the Nicaragua Canal.
Lieutenant William L. Burdics. officer OF
the Vermont. is one OF those who have been
ordered to report for duty the Columbia.
which is expected to be put into commission at
Philadelphia tomorrow.
The Marblehead will be put into the drydock
tomorrow for the purpose Of testing her meta
centric height and to have her hull cleaned and
painted. On Saturday next she will go down to
the Horseshoe. to make observations for the
deviation Of her compasses and to correct them