The San Francisco call., 1895-11-04

her officers are the most popular set ever
at any one time gathered on any one ship
may be explained by the fact that from
admiral to ensign they are an exception
ally urbane body of men.
Miss Shedding, daughter of Paymaster
SHIELDING, is still absent in San Francisco,
where she has been for several weeks visit
ing Mrs. Curry, having meantime spent
some days at the Occidental Hotel, the
guest of Mrs. F. ]. Drake, wife of the cap
tain of the Albatrcss.
Mrs. G. S. Cotton, wife of Captain Cotton
of the Philadelphia Il Mrs. o.. r. Harris,
wife of Lieutenant Harris of the Ranger;
Mrs. P. J. Werlich, wife of Lieutenant
Werlich OF the Philadelphia, and Mrs. w.
P. Elliot, wife of Lieutenant Elliot of the
Bennington, are abiding at the Occidental.
Mrs. G. w. Pigman, wife of Captain Pig
man, who succeeded Captain G. NJ. Thomas
! as commander of the Bennington, re-
mains in Richmond, Va, for the educa-
tion of her daughters.
Mrs. J. B. Milton, wife of Lieutenant
Milton of the Monterey. is at home. 1915
Scott street, San Francisco, on the third
and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
The arrival in San Francisco from Japan
OF the wife and family of Lieutenant
Frank H. Holmes of the Baltimore is pre-
sumably precursory to the arrival of that
ship from the Asiatic station.
The Ranger may be seen from tie ferry
boats at San Francisco. lying off Tiburon
ferry-landing, at the regulation distance of
1900 feet.
Like the PHILADELPHIA, the Ranger is
considered as having an exceptionally fine
body of officers; at least, one and all on
board have that opinion of the others,
which fact may be set down as indubitable
proof of the proposition.
Captain E. w. Watson, of the Ranger,
has about recovered from his long and
4 L
from its consequences, he being still very
weak.
The Rangers complement of officers and
men is as follows: Captain L. w. Wat
son; lieutenants, U. r. Harris, T. E.
Greene, II. w. Harrison; ensigns, D. w.
Blamer, H. H. Hough. C. F. Preston, T.
L. Wilson; P. A. Engineers, H. Gage, G..
7. Smith; Assistant Paymaster F. II.
Semmes, and crew of 128, including IL
marines.
The orders of Captain Frank Wildes to
the Boston are the occasion OF general re-
gret among navy people, his rather short
term of duty on the Independence having
been marked by that harmony which is
ever the accompaniment of perfect dis
cipline. Furthermore, not in many years.
If ever, have the social pleasures on board
the Independence been SO frequent or so
gay, as during Mrs. Wildes' and Miss
Nides' occupation OF the Captains luxuri
Gus quarters.
The latest intimation in regard to Cap
tain Wildes' successor is that Captain
Francis A. Cook, now on duty at the
Bureau of Navigation, Washington, is to
be ordered to the Independence.
Lieutenant B. W. Hodges was detached
from the naval observatory October % and
ordered to duty in connection with the
Boston and to take charge of draft of ap-
prentices for Mare Island Nsvy-yard.
Ensign w. L. Howard, well known here,
having been some years ago attached to
the observatory, is ordered to the Boston.
Orders have been issued by the Secretary
OF the Navy to prepare the Mohican for
service. At present she rides at anchor in
Rotten Row, off Mare Island Navy-vard.
Six months is the period designated and
2OO0O the amount allowed for her repairs.
Chief Engineer Richard Inch has been
transferred from the Independence to duty
under Chief Engineer q. F. KutZ at Mare
Island Navy-yard.
a sad incident in connection with the
burial of Captain William A. Morgan,
| which took place in San Francisco on the
30th ult.. vas the absence of Lieutenant
Albion V. Wadhams, on whose friendly
offices depended the desired arrangements
for interment in the Mare Island Gene
terry. Lieutenant Wadhams returned from
short absence on special duty to find
| that his brother officer was dead and
buried. Among those present at the
funeral were: Mrs. Henry T. Shedding,
| wife OF Paymaster Shedding, Mare Island
Commander G. E. Clark and family, Mrs.
| {. +. Pond, wife of Lieutenant Pond OF
the Alert Medical Director g. w Woods,
| Mare Island, and Chaplain Frank Thomp-
son of the Independence.
! Mrs. William A. Morgan and Miss Nor
gan are at the Bernard House, Vallejo,
| for season of rest and retirement.
| If good wishes go for anything, that
! popular officer, Commander Charles e.
| Clark, will assuredly be the successor of
Captain Wildes as commander of the In
! dependence. But though this position has
often been filled by linen of no higher rank
| than Commander Clark, the powers that
| be seem disposed to keep this feather for
the cap of fulI-hedged captain. The
command OF the Independence is one of
the choicest billets in the navy. Sea-pay
and Iand-duty, with light responsibilities
and most desirable quarters, make it a
much-coveted position. If only it could be
| awarded by ballot. WAN DRAY.