The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-16

The officers who did duty on board OF her arc
not very well pleased with the change. Some Of
them we're to be ordered TO sea soon, but the
others. who had looked forward to this duty for q
year or 30 to come. find the change to waiting
orders. with the possibility Of being ordered to
sea at some distance from their families, not over
pleasant. Duty on receiving ships is %particu-
larly sought after. officers on such duty, while
receiving the emoluments and other allowances
that they would have at sea, are practically en-
jcying shore service. In the winter months.
when the social season is at its height, the decks
of the receiving ships are converted into ball
rooms, and are even made to do service for re-
ceptions and teas. or late years that custom
seems to have become popular at the Brook
lyn, Norfolk, and Washington Navy Yards.
The new steel cruisers. with their big
engines. boilers. and enormous fighting mech
anism, have not the space to allow of such
frivolity, but vessels OF the type of the Dale can
which is roofed over, is cleared Of is obstruc.
lions and the place IL decorated with flags and
palms. The bachelor officers thus get a chance
to return some of the favors they have received
in society. and such ENTERTAINMENT are popular
with women because of their novelty;
At some navy yards a receiving ship Is a ne
cessity, but here all its functions can be as
sumed by The commandant,s Office and It's
stoned officers on duty in connection with the
Dale have not lived or even taken their meals
aboard Of her; There are usually a gunner, a
some Of whom have staterooms aboard. A few
bluejackets are kept on her to do the sailor
A few weeks ago 1t was announced that the
Dale was to be sent to New York to take tho
place OF the old Minnesota ut the foot. OF West
Twenty-third street, where she would he used
as q receiving ship for apprentice boys. She was
evidently not lot considered large enough for t lts
not appear after all. She is of only 588 tons
burden, although before she was transferred to
an nBt nm aIa ..yna mad ne tha Nnxynl A4aN
as the practice vessel OF the cadets, and often
accommodated more, than, a, hundred In ham
Is interesting. She was built at the Navy Yard
at League Island, Philadelphia, and launched in
Of USE sih ~hs thif sh' class Tss r'' From a' : is slS0p TO OF 1851 sat
under able commanders. carrying sixteen
under the command of Commander Edward NJ.
Yard, went South for duty on the blockade. For
sailer and generally a good sea vessel, and For
two years did efficient service on st. Helena
Sound. between Charleston and Savannah. She
was the first ship ordered into action To attack
Fort Beauregard In the battle at Port Royal.
The Dale was named after that remarks ably
modore Richard Dale, who fought with Com
modore Paul Jones as q midshiPman when he
wooden shields. one OF which bears this memo
randum of the famous fight:
,1 Bish nssr P solto GS% Vao sIsS T Pe 5. SssvY Ys sSrn a, s PSil 9.
delphia, Pa. First Lieutenant Of the Bon Homme
Richard, Commodore Paul Jones. when she captured,
sfter q desperate and sanguinsry action. H; 4. n.
When the boarders were called away Dale was the
nrst man to reach the enemy's deck and was severely
reply Of Paul Jones TO his foe, when hailed to know II
fight"
1t will not be long before the remainder of the
wooden ships that were built In the earlier half
of the century will be too old to use even as re-
ceiving ships, for the Dale Is in better repair than
most of them. In many cases, notably in that
OF the old Santee at Annapolis, brick and NOR
tar have been used 10 patch upa broken place SO
as TO make the ship presentable.