The morning call., 1895-01-14
NOTES FROM MARE ISLAND.
Ships That Are Getting Ready for
a Cruise Outside.
Captain Baker Will Be Captain Of
the Yard" = Waiting for
the Olympia.

VALLEJO, Jan. 13. 1S95.-It is evident that
the Secretary OF the Navy does not desire 10
have The men-Otwar now at The maynard re-
main longer than possible. A telegram was re-
ceived by the cOmmandant OF the station early
Thursday morning for The commaDdei-in-chlef
OF the squadron, Rear ADMIRAL Beardslee, 10
have the United States ships Ranger and Alert
ready for sea as soon as possible. To carry out
the instructions word was at once dispatched
to the heads Of the various departments TO
have stores and coal put on board and all work
closed at once. The two ships have been repaired
and painted since their return from the north
aud are now ready for cruise. 1t has not yet
been fully determined where they are to go, but
the suppositOn Is that they, in conjunction
with the flagship Philadelphia and per maps the
ganboat Bennington, will steam out TO sea and
engage III target practice as we'll as hotllla
drill.
The Bennington returned to the island about
o'clock Friday afternoon after her fruitless
search for the lost golfers and came 10
anchor by the Independence. She Will be
cOaed up at once and then be ready for sea.
The Mohcan left the yard a little after
o'clock Friday morning and went directly TO
sea, bound for Puget Sound, 10 relieve the
monitor Monterey from her duty of making
tests of coal from the various mines In that
section. The Monterey Is expected to come
down TO the nayY-yard on her arrival. She is
expected to remain here a short time and will
then probably go TO San Diego.
The flagship Philadelphia after taking on
full supply of coal In her bunkers VIII also go
10 sea- A number OF changes have been made
in her officers. IL seems 10 be the present I'm
Outstanding that the Olympia will be made
flagship of the station and that the Philadelphia
or some one of the other ships will be ordered
down the coast as far as Valparaiso, although
this Is not reiished by the men comprising lie
crews, for the reason, as they say that they
will be debarred from going On shore, II being
the understanding with them that since the
Baltimore affair the crews of an American man.
of-wa will be debarred from going ashore IN a
Chilean port for seven years, dating from The
time the indemnity for injuries sus aimed by
the men from that ship was ordered paid.
While lying off San Francisco the Philadel-
phia was visited by many persons, who were
received and treated IN a pleasant manner by
officers and crew, and they in turn speak i'll
terms of praise OF the genIlemaniy conduct oil
The visitors.
The Thetis is at San Diego having called in
there for coal and fresh provisions. FIVE OF
her crew came to he navy-yard Thursday and
went on board of the receiving ship Indeptnd-
ence for the purpose OF receiving their dis
charges. They report that all on board were
well and looking forward 10 the i'm when the
little survey ship will return to the island
With the departure of the Philadelphia, Mo
hican, Ranger. Alert and Bennington from
Mare Island the water front will present de-
serted appearance, as well as being the means
of causing dull times. The force OF employees
is being gradually reduced, aid now there Is
not more than 600 MN employed.
A few men are engaged IN tearing out some
OF the timbers on the old Hartford. Ii will be
some time yet before actual work commences
on her, though when Ii does a large force or
snip carpenters Will be employed on her.
Work is progressing steadily ON the Monad-
mock and Boston, though there seems TO be no
particular hurry on either one OF the ships.
Though going along slowly the work Is being
we'll done. The assistant naval constructor
dOnned pair OF overalls and blue jumper
Thursday and went all through the double COM
partments of the MonadnOcK, found everything
in good shape and 10 bis satisfaction. When
these two ships are completed IL Is hoped ihat
other new work will be ready TO Start on. The
chances are that next year there will be consii-
cradle new work going on IN the big shops
at San Francisco, and II the men now mere
should be discharged and fnd work there they
will remain, as the wages IN nearly every In
stance are about equal. the hours are no longer
in proportion ana The WORK In many cases
much lighter.
The time has gone by when job at the Navy
yard was considered soft place. Every m
now employed puts in a good, far, square
davis work There is no Sinking, and, even II
they desired to- they have no opportunity, as
some OF the officers, particularly III the con-
struction department, are on the watch at all
times to detect the slightest. attempt at hang
ing back. What they do not know In the
practical part Of the business they make
up IN ZealOusness to keep the men going In ac-
cordaDce with their plan OF work.
All eyes are now turned Eastward TO see
what Will be done for Mare Island in the way
OF liberal appropriations to be made during the
present session OF Congress. IL Is the hope OF
all that the recommendations for battle-ships
and torpedo boats 10 be reported by the naval
appropriation committee will be Endorsed by
the legislators and that some Of the work will
be ordered to Mare Island, and If not then iI
may come to San Francisco for We are like the
beggar at the rich mans table, ready TO pick
I'D the crumbs falling therefrom
A ship that has BEEN constructed at San
Francisco and comes TO the Navy Yard is bound
TO have more or less work done on her before
sue is pronounced ready for sea. and this
means many dollars in the mechanics pocket,
also In the tis of the Vallejo merchants.
While here the Officers and men spend consider
able money In Inc PURCHASE Oh stores ana olner
commodities.
1t is reported that Captain A. S. Barker is 70
be the next captain of the ward, and if so be is
an officer that Is we'll spoken OF by those who
In previous years have been associated with
Many regrets have been expressed at the I'M
timely death OF Assistant Naval constructor
Street who died at San Francisco Friday morn
ing. He was young man highly thought OF
and but recently reported al the naVy yard for
duty at the Union Iron Works.
Lieutenant U. r. Harris, Q. s. N, and Mrs.
Harris arrived from the East last week and
| were welcomed back by their many friends.
Lieutenant Harris has been assigned to the
Ii, utenant G. NJ. Perkins, q. s. M. c. is to
give lecture at Suisun the coming week for
the benefit of the Grace Episcopal Church.
Many interesting views VIII be exhibited by I'D
OF sttreoptcoD illustrative OF life IN foreign
| lands, especially in China aud Japan, whence the
lieutenant recently returned from three
years cruise on the Marion.
The Marion is still lying at the navy-yard and
nor vet in commission. although ready months
ago IL has been for the want OF a crew that
tie delay D flying her pennant has been made.
She is now one of the best of the modern ships
afioat.
On board of the Independence there are about
200 men awaiting To DE transferred TO the
| Olympia, which is expected to come TO the yard
| The latter part of the present month. Captain
Frank Wildes Will come TO her as the relief or
| Captain Read who IS given command oil the
| Olympia.
| Prior TO the ships leaving the yard PaymaSter
| J. r. stanton was transferred from the MOhlcan
| to The Monterey in place OF Paymaster w. j.
| Thompson, who is TO go as Il Ell paymaSteri
| with duty on the Philadelphia.
| The detail of officers Is being made for the
| Olympia, among them being many we'll known
| on this coast, and they are receiving the con-
| CALCULATIONS of their friends over their assign
| ment to this crack cruiser. Up 10 the present
| time the following selections have Deen MADE
| by the office OF detail at Washington: Cap
| tain j. j. Read commanding; leutenant-com-
| mander. E. w. Sturdy; executive othcer. Lieu
| tenant T. S. Phelps, navigat0r; lleulenants-
| w. ID. Rose. E. j. Dorm, w. w. Buchanan, +.
! III. sherman; ensign, A. Q. Dlehenbach; sur
| geOD, M. r. PigOtt; pay inspector X. w Allen;
| passed assistant engineer. W. b. Dunnlng; as
| slstaut engiDeers-k. E. Carny and j. Il. Rob
! jnsop. The remainder of the officers will be
! detailed Ibe first OF the coming week. The
| stores and outfit furnished at maynard are