New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-05
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
THE KERsHNER COURT-MARTIAL TO BE-
GIN TOMORROW.

TO BEGIN on THE BIG DOCK TOMORROW.
This week promises 10 be extremely busy at the
Navy Yard The most important affair. Of course
all be the court-martia of Medical Inspector Ed
ward Kershner the charge OF perjury and the
collation. OF naval regulations. The basis of the
charge and the regulation violated have already
hsen printed and 1t is only necessary to refer TO
the fact that the trouble dates from February q
last when Or. Kershner declined 20 answer call
for medical help from Nova Scotia bark lying
near tho New-York in the harbor OF Barbados.
and the publication OF the correspondence between
the doctor and Rear-Admiral Meade after the posi-
tlon taken by Dr. Kershner had been sustained by
secretary Herbert. Naval officers who will speak
q. all on the subject express regret that crcum-
stances should have made this trial necessary, and
This regret is added to by the possibility that one
or two other officers of the Navy may be involved
IN the matter, other courts-martial follow this
one 1t has been said that these charges against
DR. Kershner will bring about renewal OF the old
contest between the line and the staff. which Slack
ened its intensity somewhat after the Naval Per
aonnel bill killed in the last Congress. How
ever this may be, those who interested in naval
matters and who have high regard for the honor
OF all its officers deeply grieved over the present
state Of affairs. Rear Admiral John G.. Walker,
at present head Of the Lighthouse Board Will be
the president OF court. which will convene to-
morrow at noon In the courtmartlal-room' In build
ing No = The other members OF the court Will be
IL
Station: Captain silas Casey in command of the
receiving ship Vermont: Captain Winfield s Schley.
recently in charge Of the Third Lighthouse District
but now on leave of absence for two months; cap
tain Theodore +. Kane. who Is on waiting orders;
Captain Albert Kantz, in command of the Wabash.
the receivng-ship at Boston; Captain Henry +.
picking In command Of the Minnesota: Medical Di-
rectors Edward 8. Bogert, OF the Naval Hospital
and Henry VI. Wells OF the laboratory. and MedI-
cal Inspectors Charles ". White and Thomas y.
Penrose OF the Navy Yard staff. First Lieutenant
Iaucheimer of the Marine Corps who VIII be
Judge-Adyocate OF the court Is attached 10 the
Judge Advocate Generals office. and Is regarded as
an able lawyer.
The New-YorlS will go into drydock on Tuesday AT
hleh water. and when she comes out VIII he IN
thorough condition FOR her trip TO KEEL IN com
many with the big triple-screw cruiser Columbia
which came up to the yard yesterday. but VIII not
70 into drydock. The cruiser will be coalcd ana
equipped at the quay wall. taking the place now
occupied by the New-York when she goes into the
dock The battleshp Maine was noated on FRIDAY,
and has been tied up Mt the place recently occupied
by the Chicago. which IL at the cob Dock
wall Work on the latter vessel Will begin TINS week
in the way OF tearing out and taking apart but
the operation OF putting in her new boilers ana en-
gnes will not be fairly under way for al least
year In the mean time It IS hoped by officials OF
the Construction Department that suihcient money
will be placed at the disposal Of the bureau TO so
ations once begun. At present the operations
OF the department are greatly hampered by lack OF
funds and much criticism has been MADE over 'he
fact that the department has advertised TOT DIGS
from outside contractors for work at the yard nota-
bly, the building of a steel gate with It's accom-
panying caissons for the stone dock. which might
Just as well have been constructed a, the yard Inc
fact is pointed out that there is large. welrained
and fully equipped body OF artisans arl skilled me-
chancs at the command of the department. who VIII
he idle In a short time unless provisions are maue
for more work The Terror. the double-tufreted
coast defence vessel. is so near completion tha'
the work remaining her Is of little account The
Puritan her larger sister is far advanced that
the Ordnance Bureau is preparing TO mount her 10
inch guns, and the work of the Equipment bureau
after the guns mounted Will practically compete
the vessel Commander Hons training ship, the old
frigate Lancaster. is rapidly approaching readiness
for her gunnery practice cruises This disposes Oh
the work OF the Construction Bureau with the ex-
cepon OF that on the Chicago and what may De
necessary to complete the Maine which amounts 10
little.
The Bureau of Steam Engineering. however. Is
going ahead with full speed. The Chcagos equip
ment Of machinery is keeping full force OF men
hard at work. and Chief Engineer Ayres and MS
assistants have their hands full Of business Ihefe
will be some Jobs of minor Importance on the New
York and Columbia. In fact. Jobs are always iouho
on vessels OF the Navy long as they are IN port
q.
as all the departments are concerned, she Is never
completely ready for sea. Preparations are Dehs
made for the casting OF the second cylinders ior 'e
Chcagos engines and It Is probable that there VIII
be some extremely interesting work in the foundry
IN a short time. The last dock trial OF the Maine
engines was satisfactory and 1t IS probable that the
Ouintards will get the rest OF their money without
further delay The Bureau of Civil Engineering also
has lots OF business on hand. Contractors are d'
work all over the yard and the sound OF the chhH-
ing trowel and the dull. heavy beat OF hammers on
stones minges with the resounding hump Of sledges
on the iron work OF the vessels under construction
The big extension TO the steam engineering building
has got up story above the ground Inc niue
red crematory building IL nearly ready Tor active
operations and the foundations are being put IN Tor
the new plate shop back OF the stone buiiding al
present devoted the Of the Construction Bu-
reau Over at the sea wall Cofrode a. Sayler are
rapidly completing the piling work for the new sea
wall. and the contractors who are at work In the
Whitney basin beginning TO show what they are
doing The new building. Ne 6, is also being rushed
ahead.
TO START THE DRYDOCK AGAIN.
But all this work pales into insigniicance when
the announcement is made that the big dredges,
and the pile drivers. and the rickety httle wire
railroad and all the other appurienances or the
big hole In the ground which Mr. Gillies dug VIII
begin operations again tomorrow uhoer he"
control That the Washes have undertaken big
Job is we'll known TO every one VINO mas kept ""'n
OF the work so far. The fact that they nave han
no experience In building drydocKs initiates
strongly against the probability OF snccess'"i
completion OF the work. 1t Will be remembered
that Mr. Gillies took the contract to puma ihuci
larger dock for a much lower price than the SlhP-
sons did when the present timber dock was con
structcd. The lessons which the Simpsons learned
the difficulties they encountered win quIcksahos
and other impediments, seemed to have been LOST
on Mr. Giies lie learned them later. at greV-
GUS expense, both in time and money 10 the GOV
eminent As for his own share In the matter ne
may we'll rest content. The amount OF money ne
received was in proportion 10 the dlnicuty ana
expense OF the work done. large enough 10 leave
the sum available for the completion OF the WORK
altogether too little. All the BIDDERS who com
peted for the remainder OF the contract realized
this fact and the next COngress WI. have 70