The morning call., 1894-09-24

Vallejo. and the owner. a veteran of the
war, would not part with it for 500, al
though it cost him but 81 60. 1t was pur-
chased at a sale of condemned furniture,
and now that it is gone several of the off,
Gals at the yard regret its disposal. The
sofa that was also in the cabin of the
Hartford the time the admiral was on
board Is still at the yard, aud Captain Hig
giusnn, the captain of the yard, says that
IL will not be disposed of under any con-
sideratinn II he can help il.
Captain Higginson is one of the few off,
GERS IN the navy who is tirm believer of
retaining relics of tie past. By his drec-
ton two OF the large 11-iDch Dahlgren
guns that we're on board of the Kearsarge
at the time she sunk the rebel privateer
Alabama off CherbOurg in June, 1864. have
been transported from the gun park and
placed in the park opposite the office build
ing. They are mounted on old wooden
guncarriages and appropriately marked to
tell their history. They are inside of the
circle of inverted cannon, and almost in
front of them on a high column of iron is
the carved figure-head of the Kearsarge,
that was taken off while the ship WAS re-
paired at the yard some twenty-odd years
ago.
Captain Higgiuson will command the
cruiser Boston when ready for sea, which
will probably be not before the LIST of Feb
ruary nexi, unless orders should be re-
ceived to 'rushther. 4 which is not at all
probable. II so, much larger force OF
men would be put on her than are now
employed.
The gunboat Bennington is on the dry
dock and is being scraped clean down 10
the bare metal. There was more marine
growth on her hull than on any ship that
has been in dock for long time. Some of
1t had worked its way completely through
the DAint to thu iron After hQIuO ned
four coats of anti-fouling paint will ue put
oD, and TO do this it will necessitate the
gun boat being In dock until about the 9Th
OF October. The work of painting will
commence Tuesday next anu il is the de-
sire to allow each coat of paint to have
plenty of time TO dry. After she comes
out OF dock it Is now the intention to next
place the Adams in the dock and repair
her keel, also the false keel where pounded
off by striking on the reef up near st.
Pauls in the Boring Sea. After being
hauled on the rocks. and it being deemed
best Tor the Adams to reach 81 ia as soon
as possible In case any repairs were re-
| qulred. che was taken in tow by the gum
boat Yorktown and the two steamed from
Ounaiaska to Sitka, q distance of 100
miles, ana In rough sea all the time.
| The Yorktown and the Adams each
steamed along at the rate of eight knots
an hour, the Adams making upward of
! fifty revolutions all the way. MANY times
the ships were buried in the trough of the
sea, so that one could not distinguish the
other. A snap shot was taken from the
deck OF tbs Yorktown of the Adams, which
shows her way down in one of the troughs,
I causing her 10 look as though she was in a
sinking condition, but such was not the
case. Her foresail is a go ose-winged shaped
one TO keep her up in the wind.
A few days since the Adams was what
is known is kselhanled. to ascertain the
position Of she places in the false keel
| that were broken OFF, to enable the hlocts
10 the drydock to be built up aud sst. 40
that when she goes in the dock she will be
on an even keel when out of water.
Her captain, Commander j. j. Brice.
! U. ). N, who has been i'll with fever for y
long time. while as Castle Crags for his
health. lad a relapse. but is now better
and will be at the yard in a day or two
| A court of inquiry has been appointed
by the Secretary of the Navy to ascertain
where the responsibility lies for the
grounding OF the ship. The board will
convene Ia the Office building on TUESDAY
morning. The orders received are TO have
the Adams repaired TO complete her thr ee
years cruise, so there is no LIKELIHOOD of
her going W in Rotton Row at this time.
as In other respects, outside her keel sh q
is in very fair condition.
The Yorktown left Ounalaska on the
14th inst. aud should arrive al San Fran
CISCO Monday. She will come directly to
the navy yard and have whatever repairs
necessary done without delay.
The PHILADELPHIA is lying up alongside
the quay wall and will remain at the ward
for some weeks to come. Ii all the tubes
| In her boilers and condensers that arc 70
be taken out and overhauled were taken
out and laid In line they wouli cover a
distance Of some thirteen miles.
The Marion Is all ready for sea. but as
yet her detail of officers has lot been mads.