Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-10
ON BOARD THE COLUMBIA
With Admiral Meade's Squadron in the
West Indies.
Yankee Tars Amuse Themselves Pitch.
ing Coal Heavers Overboard-Mr.
McAdOo Enjoying Himself.
Special Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
U. g. s. COLUMBIA.

Special Correspondents Of the Associated Press.
U. 8. s. COLUMBIA.
JAMAICA, April l, 1895.
The New York, the Columbia, the Minne-
apolis and the Cincinnati of Admiral
Meade's squadron are anchored in the hars
Dor OF Kingston. in front Of the principal
part Of the city. Even coaling, as It is now.
the squadron presents a handsome and Inn
posing appearance. and one that must give
pleasure to the eyes Of any American.
Assistant Secretary McAdoo Of the navy,
who came down from New York on tho
Columbia, and is now living aboard her. as
the guest Of Capt. Sumner, has preserved
his incognito completely, and has neither
received nor made any official calls what
ever The assistant secretary allows no
FUSS to be made over his presence, and, IL It
were not for seeing him occasionally about
the decks, the Columbia's people would
hardly know he was aboard. At the same
time those officers who have conversed
with him express themselves as surprised
by the amount Of his knowledge Of the
service.
The admiral has issued an order that, in
all except British ports, officers going on
ordinary leave ashore must wear uniform,
ana that at all entertainments, public or
|-private. all officers attending must be in
uniform.
For the last week the squadron has been
bCsily engaged In taking on coal and fresh
nished to the squadron by the courtesy of
Commodore jackson, r. N, commandant of
the British navy yard at Port Royal 1t 10
brought alongside the ships by the navy
yard water lighters, and the only expense
to which the United States is put is that Of
furnishing meals to the crews of the light
ers while actually alongside.
About 10 on the evening Of the 25th q
liberty party from the New York had as
! sembled at the man-of-war landing to
meet the ships boats that were to take
them aboard. The usual crowd of negro
bcatmen ard and cabbies gathered, and
grew into free fight between the negroes
and the man-of-war's men. The latter
amused themselves by pitching the blacks
overheard as they came onto the dock, I'M
revolver. on which the crowd disappeared.
Since this episode all the liberty ashore for
enlisted men has been stopped for the re-
Hainder Of the squadrons stay in the port.
On Friday afternoon last the coalers on
the American schooner Jennie S. Butler,
then lying alongside the New York, at
tackled the schooners mate. Ever since
the row ashore the crew of the New York
h6d been longing for an excuse to do I'D
| the coaling gang. and they went over the
rail with enthusiasm to the rescue Of their
countrymen. The larger part of the coalers
Immediately went over the other rail into
Kingston harbor. The remainder went to
the hospital ashore the same evening. Hav-
Ing cleared the schooners decks, the New
Yorks men returned aboard their ship, and
the coalers who had jumped overheard,
then climbed aboard, rhe schooner one by
one. The captain of the schooner told the
American consul the next day that since
the fight the coalers had been the politest
set OF men he ever saw. Only those who
know the usual foul-mouthed insolence Of
the Jamaica negro can appreciate this.
The squadron expects to leave for Port
Au Prince, Hayu, on the Sth, and from
there to start for Colon on the 18th.