New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-11
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
,,r RETIREMENT OF REAH-ADMIRAL
BANCROFT GHERARD1.
u,.xcrs WHICH MAY FOLLOW AT THE YARD
THE GILLIEs DRYDoCK UP AGAIN.

TuE GILLIES DRfDOCk W A"Ai1>-
OTHER NOTES OF INTEREST.
With no formallty beyond the hauling down OF ms
;as the firing of the salute OF thirteen guns anu
.~s transfer Of the documents giving temporary
'au,roI of the Brooklyn Navy Yard 10 captain
nodgsrs and receiving receipt THEREFOR hear-Ao-
~, bancroft Gherardi yesterday passed out OF the
"'i.a' sorv,ce OF the United States Navy. after a
So extending over As years and 1873 days, or
n,,h o. wears and months were spent afioat. AL
N ~ o'clock in the forenoon, IN the Lyceuih buiu
49,, that yellow house on the left OF Malh-st'' lhe
10, avenue of the Yard in which the commahoaht
49,. his Offices the officers OF the Yard ana re"
% ,hs nersonal friends of the Admiral gathered IN
~. recention-room, where he received them Pre-
w., =, eight bells noon, the marines OF the YER
-. tho flagship drew up on deck, ana the Al
,r.rs flag foated out on the breeze AS IL broke
49, command was given, thirteen SHOTS rang OUT
"a with the report of the last gum the nag dropped
.. ,,s deck again. At that time Admiral Gherardi
" n shake the hands of those present, and bid
,,s officers farewell. On delivering the docuH'eh's
~. u.s. ~ and receiving the receipt. and after
a few more informal soouO9s "e ieA' 'e ~ ~
came over TO New-iorh' -,
rbere are many interesting stories connected Win
.,s long and active career of Admiral Gherarui'
Whsn he was only young lieutenant on the sioop-
,,wor saratoga of the North Atlantic station ne
"a a, exciting adventure in connection with the
~
.,r.. =, his second expedition. This was In Novem-
' ss-- Ne was also navigating officer of the
1891 states steamer Niagara. which took part In
~. ork of LAYING the first Atlantic cable In con-
.ac,,on with the British war vessel Agamemnon.
.hort time ago. of the members or a
luncheon party in discussing Admiral Gherarol
,,rnment told an interesting story OF how he
. "a an onportunity to win fame while still
oornaratively unknown lieutenant. When the
mar broke out. Gherard came on In the nope OF
Getting a command, but met nothing out disap-
nontment He told his difficulties TO F. NJ PECK,
q friend Of his, who is now brother-h-ia" u
charles L. Tiffany. and father-in-aw Of William a.
Slater of Norwich. Conn. whose magnificent new
steam yacht the Eleanor. has caused so much
comment and who is one Of the wealthiest young
mon in the country. Mr.. Peck was at that time
q clerk in Tiffanys. and one day, While showing
some diamonds 10 a customer of the house, their
attention was attracted by a military brass band
IN the street. The band headed regiment OF
Massachusetts, soldiers, their way to the front
The customer made some remark ABOUT the pi'y
Of such fne-looking men going out to be shot at
and Mr. Peck explained that there were many men
only too anxious to get to the front Among others
he mentioned his friend, Lieutenant Gheraroi'
whom he spoke OF as a most deserving young man.
adding that II he could only get the ear OF AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Fox, he would be
all right When he had finished, the customer
smiled and said she guessed he could see MT
Fox, as she happened to be his VIE ana was
interested in the Then she advised MT. feck
to have the Lieutenant go TO Washington. ana
she would see what she could do about the matter
Gherardi did go to Washington, the story goes
and in few days teegraphed to his friend that ne
had secured a good command
PROMOTIONS ALL ALONG THE LINE.
The retirement Of Admiral Gherardi places al
the head of active Rear-Admrals James A. Greer
who is now the chairman Of the Lighthouse Board
He will however, retire in February. next year.
when Rear-Admiral George Brown, at present COM
mandant Of the Navy Yard at Norfolk VIII DC
the ranking officer. Commodore Charles Z. Car
penter Acting Rear Admiral now in command OF
the Asiatc Station on the flagship Baltimore. VIII
be the next Rear-Admiral, and on the retirement
OF Admiral Greer will move up one number max
ing Mace for Commodore William A. kirkland, al
present on the South American station win the
Newark as his flagship the command OF which ne
will turn over to Commodore Charies .. norton oh
his arrival at Montevideo on the Castine when
"A now being fitted for at the Brooklyn 1ard.
These two vacancies in the commodore's list VIII
be filled by Captains Rush r. Wallace and FRAN
els NJ Bunce. the latter OF whom Is now III COIN
mand Of the Lancaster. Commodore Montgomery
Sicard is expected TO relieve Captain Rodgers OF
ths command OF the yard. in accordance with
orders on the sd. Just what changes VIII De
made in the Office OF the commandant by Commo-
dore Sicard are not now known; whether ne VIII
have any choice in regard to chief ana assistant
aids is not known. guess at possipie citnaen,eG
from the Board OF Inspection Of the lard ana
transfers him the command OF the Rchin mo9
leigh at present in command OF the Richmond.
being transferred to the Minneapolis me vacancy
made by CaDtain CroWnnshieid's transfer. 10 De
filled by Commander Franklin Hanford al present
chief aid and that vacancy VII be rsceD oy nro
tenant Commander Charles y. ADAMS recently p'o-
NOTED, and at present assistant aid
GOSSIP ABOUT RECENT CHANGES
In relation to the recent changes by which Cap
tain E. NJ Shepard succeeds Captain P. H. Cooper
in command of the San Francisco. and Is In return
relieved by Captain II. +. Picking, while captain
Cooper goes to the Naval Academy and Captain H.
L Pythian goes to the Naval Observatory 1t may be
said that the transfer of Captain Cooper to be
superintendent of the academy was conp'e t
the captain himself his name had not been men
toned in Connection with any OF the Pred!c',1plss
which haa been mag mere e ,srsonaI incnations
had been consulted have remained In coHhahd Vi
the San Francisco but the transfer is really re.
ward OF merit Secretary Herbert, in carrying out
the policy indicated ny the President, VINO was ue
scaSemy Selected Captain Cooper. who is one Of
the youngest captains being nearly at the bottom OF
energy into the academy and with the knowledge
that it would be difficult to hnd more einci erd
s to the Naval Academy 1 apPontment 1t be
remembered that short time ago Cap'ain ,.oUIes
Summoned 10 washington TO Washington he went.
came. The real reason for his sudden vsit 10
Washington has never been made public out mos
who conversant with naval aEars' , anu VA
friendship existing between President cicVeIahu
and the gallant captain. have weli-defined OPINION
that the Office OF Superintendent OF me N IItsa
Academy was offered TO him, but declined ms
not 10 be wondered at. Captain Evans IS es-
sentialy A sailor and a fighting sailor ana DO 10 d
Of his temperament the command Of the hnest
vessel which the United states has anoat is far
preferable to a life Of more or less inglorious case
In the sleepy town OF Annapolis. where the only
tumbiing waves he can are those kicked up by
propellers Of steam vessels chasing up ana down
the arm of the Chesapeake. which washes the sea
walls Of the Naval Academy. III this surmise De
correct. Captain Evans is 10 DC congratulated on
the wisdom OF his cnoice.
WORKING ON THE HOME SHIPS.
The gunboat Castne. bright with new paint, with
al the grass brushed from her bottom. and with
little vnrk rernafainR a be done board OF her,