The San Francisco call., 1896-02-03
The Monadnock Being Prepared
TO Do Coast Duty Early
in March.
THE TUG UNADILLA A SUCCESS.
Workmen on the Mohican's Boats Dis.
charged Owing to a Lack
of Funds.

VALLEJO, CAL, Feb. All haste is
being made to remodel stores of all kinds
and strip the cruiser Baltimore of her gear
that she may be put out of commission.
The reason of this is that the orders
detaching the officers from the ship, though
in the comman0ant's office at the yard,
cannot be issued to them until after the
stores are turned in to the proper depart
ments and accounted for. A board of
officers will then thoroughly examine every
part of the great cruiser to ascertain more
definitely what repairs and alterations, if
any, are required. 1t is no small matter
putting ship out of commission. AS
much care is exercised as in placing the
ship in commission. The books of each
department have to tally with what is
turned in, otherwise the officer under
whose charge they have been cannot be de-
tached. 1t is understood that a three
months leave of absence will be given to
those who have served their three years
afoat. The greater number of the ships
company will be discharged, their term of
service having expired.
The Monadnock is now in dock, being
painted preparatory to her trial trip. 1t is
understood that on March she will be
commissioned. Lieutenant Taussig, well
known on this coast, has been assigned to
her as executive. For number of years
he was in command of one of the coast
survey vessels and is thoroughly ac-
quainted with the coast, upon which the
Monadnock is destined TO remain for q
time, though there is some talk that she
may be sent East that the people there
may have an opportunity of seeing the
class of a monitor turned out at the Mare
Island navy yard.
The new Navy Register has just reached
the Y ard, the commandant of which is
third from the top of the captains list.
With the retirement of Admiral Car
penter and the possible retirement, at his
own request, of Rear Admiral Bunce it
will soon bring him in the ranks of the
commodore's column, with the possible
chance after July next of the command of
a squadron and the title of rear admiral.
The tug Unadilla is now ready for actual
duty. She went out to sea last Tuesday
with board of officers, who gave her a
thorough test of her sea-going qualities,
the result being satisfactory in all re-
spects. The department at Washington
has also commended the work of the tug.
which speaks volumes for the manage
ment and mechanics at the yard.
Owing to lack of money several boat
builders engaged on the Mohican's boats
were discharged the fore part of the week.
1t is trusted this state of affairs will not
continue long, as there is considerable
work in the shop on boats of various
kinds. But little work has, so far, been
done on the Mohican, now lying along
side the coal wharf, near the steam en-
gineering buildings.
The Ranger has been hauled out in the
stream-a pretty sure indication that the
winter will have passed before much is
done 10 her.
The tug Unadilla made her initial trip
to San Francisco Saturday morning and
gave good satisfaction to her commander,
Sailmaker Redstone, who has charge OF
the running of the tug, and to all on
board.
The friends at the yard of Chaplain ].
H. Lewis, stationed for a number of years
at the yard. extend congratulations to him
for having discarded the yoke of single
life and entered that of welded bliss.
The crew of the Monadnock will leave
the Norfolk Navy-yard about the 9Th
inst, coming West by rail. This is the
first time a crew of any size Ito wit, 1897
has been transported in this manner. The
men will occupy second-class sleeping
cars, and their meals will be provided for
them at stations along the road. AS soon
as the men arrive they will be sent on
board the receiving ship Independence. to
remain until the monitor goes into com.
mission.
The grounds about the magazine build
ings are looking better than ever The
old board fence that surrounded the
grounds proper has been torn down and a
neat railing put up in its stead. All the
buildings and fences along the lighthouse
road have been yellow-washed, thus greatly
improving their appearance.
RELIEF OF FNTNRED RHPTnYES