The morning call., 1894-08-24
COMMODORE L. A. BEARDsLEE
Will Henceforth Command the
Pacific Station.
SEVERAL OTHER CHANGES MADE
Captain Cotton VIII at Once Assume
Command of the Cruiser
Philadelphia.

Vallejo. Aug. 23.-At 3:45 this after
noon the United States cruiser Philadel-
phia arrived at Mare Island. As the
cruiser came up the bay flying the broad
pennaut of Rear-Admiral j. G. Walker.
she was sAluted by q battery of guns on
board the Charleston and from the Inde-
pendencs.
The vessel made fast 10 the buoy near
the drydock. to be ready to go in as soon
as the Tnetis comes out and the keel
blocks are set for her.
Two Of her officers have been detached
and ordered to the cruiser Charleston.
They are Lieutenants Alexander Sharp
Jr and W. ). Sims 10 their places will
be sent Lieutenant John A. WoOgeworff
from the Charleston and Ensign Frederick
L. Sawyer. Captain Charles s. Cotton
will Immediately assume command OF the
Philadelphia, vice Captain A. 5. Barker,
who is ordered bone.
Rear-Admiral Walker will be relieved as
eommander-in-chief Of the Pacific station
by Commodore L. & Beardslee, who will
have as his aids Lieutenants w. c. Ger
gas and Charles Z. Fox.
The Charleston is all ready for sea ana
still 30 orders have been received ordering
her away. Lieutenant George Z. Ide has
been ordered to the command of the
United States ship Alert now in Boring
Sea. He takes the place OF Commander
A. Morgan, who came down from The
Alert sick, and is at present in the naval
hospital at Mare Island.
At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning Rear
Admiral Walker will have bis flag saluted
by thirteen guns, and as the last gun is
fred his flag will be hauled down as CON-
mander-in- chief of the Pacific station.
The flag of Rear-Admiral Bearoslee will
be stopped up at the masthead and upon
the firing of thirteen additional guns the
stop will be broken and as il is unfurled
ne viii assume eOmmsud Of the station
and take up his quarters On board the flag
ship.
Since being on the island the admiral
has been the guest Of COmmsndant Howl
SOD. at 1870 o'clock Captain Charles S.
Cotton will assume the command OF the
Philadelphia. BY the afternoons train
Admiral Walker Will leave for the East.
Just as soon as the Thetis comes out Of
dock, which will be on Saturdays high
tide, the Philadelphia will go in dock.
The mud is now being dredged from in
front Of tbs stone drydock to allow of
sufficient depth of water to let the cruiser
enter. She is In need of considerable re-
pairs, principally among which is the re-
placing of some 5000 boiler tubes. Her
bottom is very foul and it will REQUIRE
scraping and painting. II is expected the
repairs will require from a month to six
weeks to complete.
In the meantime Admiral Beardslee will
remain on board Of her unless other orders
are received from the Secretary of the
Navy.
The cruiser Charleston will haul in
alongside the coal wharf tomorrow and
take on q full supply Of coal She will ex-
change a number Of officers and crew with
the Philadelphia. and when this is accom-
pished. for that is all she is now waiting
for, on Sunday she will leave Mare Island
for Asia, via Honolulu. where she will call
in TO allow her officers to ascertain the
condition Of affairs and report to Washing
ton. She will then continue on her way
to China.
Her stores and outfit are all on board
She will be under order to proceed on her
course with the utmost dispatch, and it Is
anticipated that she will make an excel
lent record for herself.
There are three old hulks lying up in
rotten row. the Hartford. Pensacola and
SwatsTa. As the Hartford and Swstara
are dashed together. it is likely that the
Pensacola will be the one selected for the
crew Of the Bennington.
No person other than the officers and
crew are sIlowed on the Bennington ss @
precaution against sickness. There are
two prisoners on board who are awaiting
trial by general courtmsrtial, they having
while on duty ashore al La Libertad be-
come intoxicated, which is an offense only
to be tried by a general court-martial.
which could not be done.