Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-28
BROOKLYN NAVY YARD
Matters of Interest in Regard to the Lam
caster
Unfoundcd RumOrs M to Smuggling
by the omcers-snie of Unused
Ground.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


NAVY YARD. New York. June &C. 1894.
Interest here now centers in the recent
return Of the Lancaster from a three years
cruise on the China station" and the mar
rage Of two young ladies OF the navy yard
colony OF officers.
The cruise has embraced many ports of
Europe. Africa and Asia, as she went out
to the China station In the summer of 1901
by way OF the Madeira Islands. Cape Town.
Madagascar and Singapore. and returned
by way OF the Red sea, the Suez canal and
the Mediterranean. During her stay on the
China coast she was the flagship of the
station. and successfully few the flags OF
Admirals Harmony. Irwin and skerrett.
The cruise has been uneventful. and the
old ship. which. twenty years ago. was a
pride of the sea-" will go out OF COM
mission at this yard soon. and be sent 20
Newport. where she is 70 be used as
grnnery ship for apprentice boys accord
ing to the present plans. though her bat
terry Is Of an obsolete type, and many OFF,
GERS would like to see the apprentice boys,
who are to make sailors for our new ships.
trained at modern guns.
Officers and men are glad to get back
home after the three years In China and
Japan. and one remarked ''that green grass
looked beautiful after forty days at sea-"
while another said 1t was music to ais
ears to hear every one speaking English
after listening to Chinese for three years.
Still the China station has its good points.
One can live cheaply there and gold is at
a premium. SO officers. who are always
paid In gold, find their salary practically
increased by a welcome amount.
Naval Omcers' Daughters Married.
Miss Carrie Purvis Ayres daughter Of
n,
N. who was married to Mr.. Ellis jackson
OF Philadelphia at st. Nichael's Chapel,
Brooklyn. is very popular with her many
friends IN the navy and out. Her father
has been chief engineer OF this navy yard
for three years, during which time ne has
superintended the building OF the engines
for the Cincinnati and the Raleigh the
first engines for war ships built in the gov
eminent shops for many years. He entered
the navy from Connecticut in 1853 serving
through the war under FRrragut and Dahl
gren, and after the war on the European
and China stations.
Miss Margaret Sara. daughter of Chap
lain James ]. Kane, L. s. N, was mar
ried to Mr.. James G. Petite OF BROOKLYN
at the Washington Avenue Baptist Church
Brooklyn. Chaplain Kane is very well
known throughout the navy as the Fight
ing Chaplain" He entered the navy in
1851. with the rank Of mate, and was ap-
pointed an acting chaplain by Commodore
Foote but at that time his tastes seem 10
have been more for fighting than preach
ing. for he served as a line officer through
the war. attending to the spiritual wants
OF the crews he served with when the op-
portunity came. He was in many daring
and successful attacks on the confederates
and for these services was recommended
by Admiral Porter to be promoted to the
head Of the chaplains' corps. President
Grant accordingly sent his name in to the
Senate, who refused TO ratify the appoint
ment, on the grounds Of some SIS 900 ba OK
pay that would have to be paid Chaplain
Kane. Chaplain Kane 10 also an author
of some note. He has been for two years
at this navy yard. but has recently been
detached and placed on waiting orders on
account Of III health.
HOnors 60 Admiral Erbcn.
Much interest is taken By the many naval
officers here In the unusual and disting uish-
ed honors shown to Admiral Erben and the
officers OF his nag ship. the Chicago. in
European ports.
They almost unanimously agree In the
great merit OF Capt. Mahan's book, The
Influence Of Sea Power on History" and
generally ascribe the great attention shown
to Admiral Erben. Capt. Nahan and the
officers OF the Chicago 10 the remark Die
success that the book has had among naval
professional men in Europe, and especially
in England.
For Engiand's navy IL her salvation, and
the explanation Of the causes OF England's
supremacy and the key TO keeping that
supremacy-'he who sways the scepter on
the land must rule the waves that wash
its shores"
Unfoundea smnRglins Rumors.
1t was quite generally circulated that the
Lancaster brought large quantities Of duti-
able goods from the east, but the officers
Of the ship deny this. and ascribe the
rumors to the malicious reports OF some
disgruntled members OF the crew.
AS a result OF this report the New York
papers said that the ship would be searched
by the customs officials. but this statement
Is not well founded, for the customs
officials have no authority to search a gov
eminent vessel for dutiable goods. They
can require the commanding Officer to make
a statement of such dutiabie goods as may
be aboard, but cannot search the ship. as
this would be grave reflection on The
honor Of the naval officers. for the navy
regulations. which are strictly enforced
with military exsctness. prohibit snug
Cling with severe penalties.
The customs ofnctals may search every
person landing from the vessel except
officers In uniform on legitimate duty, and
detain them II dutiable goods are found In
their possession. when the persons thus
apprehended would be punished both by the
civil courts and naval courts-martial for
smuggling. An Investigation showed that
no attempt at smuggling had been made
in the case of the Lancaster.
Sale Of Unused Ground.
The Judge advocate general OF the navy
has been here completing the sale of the
unused portion OF the government grounds.
extending from the marine barracks
east to Washington avenue to the city OF
Brooklyn for sl.2vo.oOo
The city expects to use the ground thus
acquired for market ~ poses. ran = . \