New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-21

DRYDOC
where she had been subjected to a scrubbing and
Anew coat ST underwater paint The Cincinnati
and the Montgomery went down 10 the Staten
Island anchorage on Friday. leaving the Column
ba New York and Katdhdin at the yard. on
the high tide yesterday afternoon the flagship
was foated into the timber dock, and before she
comes out her decks will have been caulked. her
hull painted. and some needed repairs MADE.
The programme calls for new hying bridge on
the flagship and as she IS likely 70 remain IN the
ward for fortnight more, II is probable that
this change Will also be made while she Is In
the hands Of the workmen- In regard 10 the
Columbia, Instructions are awaited from Wash
iagton respecting some work that needs 10 De
do2e II has not yet been settled whether she
will 20 10 Maine and take the Naval Militia or
that State on a cruise before the work Is done
or whether she will keep out OF the hands OF the
workrnen until the summer manoeuxres are en-
tirely completed
Another vessel which will probably be added
70 Admiral Bunces feet Is the torpedo-ooat
Ericsson, which came down TO the yard day
or two ago. Orders have been received 10 nj
her for service as soon as possible, and although
her officers have not yet been detailed 1t is I'M
derstoM tina. Lieutenant Nathaniel r. Usher
VIII command her when she is ready to go into
commission There are enough men on the YER
mont to supply her needs in the way OF crew
as she will not carry more than twenty or
twenty-five men.
PECULIAR STATE OF AFFAIRS.
TIE Katahdin, which is slated to go into the
stone dock on June 80. Is. just at present. the
most interesting vessel in the yard. not only
from her peculiar shape and color. but because
there IL a funny sort Of court Of inquiry going
on In connection with her The story was told
in The Tribune a few days ago Of the absence
without leave Of a machinst named Hage and
his return 10 the ship, with some interesting In
cideuts connected with the affair The court OF
inquiry ordered by the Secretary is still in SEES
sion daily in the captains cabin Of the fiagship.
and Is held behind closed doors. The officers OF
the court are Captain w S. Schley. president;
captain ]. II. Sands, Of the Columbia; Chief En-
gneer Cipriano Andrade, Of the New-fork, with
second Lieutenant Rufus H. Lace, Of the Marine
Corrs as Judge advocate. The witnesses ex-
ar,ned are chiefly enlisted men. and 1t is I'M
derftood that 80 far not one Of the charges made
by Hagel against Commander Leary, Lieutenant
Wood or Chief Engineer Reeves has been sub
Stimulated by a single one Of the witnesses called.
The pecuiar phase Of the affair is still 10 come.
II seems from ciirrent accounts. that the charges
on which the court was ordered reached the
hands Of the Secretary through some person in
Washington with whom the machnist was in
direct communication, and. as there is little
likelihood Of the charges being sustained. there
is side TO the which opens up iot OF
possibilities. In the first place. the regulations
provide that charges Of that nature snail pass
through the hands Of the captain OF the SNIP
the commandant Of the Navy Yard and the Az
miral Of the feet before thew reach the oecre-
ary This direct appeal 10 the Secretary is d
violation OF ali the rules and traditions OF the
Navy, and il is limited that there will be an IN
quiry TO how 1t all about that an en-
gineer a machinist could go over the heads
OF the Constituted authorities and prefer charges
against his superior officers without the docu-
ments passing through the regular channels.
There is also hint that when the naval authOri-
Ties are through with Mr.. Hagel the courts may
be called on to decide how far subordinate may
go In slandering and abusing his superors with
out running into danger. II this comes to pass,
It will be distinct departure from the GUS
tomary procedure. In the mean time the Off
Gers who have been subjected to the trouble Of
attending a count and answering a lot Of ques-
lions, not all pleased with the idea that, no
machinist by the naval court. they are com
PEELED 10 keep silent and bear the unjust charges
and the abuse attending them as best they may.
WORK on THE PURITAN RESUMED.
Commodore Sicard had to interfere. after all.
In the controversy between Commander Sperry.
Of the ordnance department. and Naval Construct
Or Bowes 1t is understood that the constructor
made an application TO the ordnance officer for
The bolts that produced before the court
OF inquiry in order that he might go with
The work Commander Sperry declined to let
MIN have them. and II was not until the Com
modore settled the matter by ordering that the
ooits be delivered to the constructor that they
We're given up AT last, however. work on the
puritan has been resumed. and she will probably
De ready TO go into commission some time In No
'emoer next. The other monitor at the yard.
'ne Terror is practically ready for service. az
considerable work has been done her hy-
uiauhc apparatus. and what remains is not OF a
nature which would seriously interfere with her
usefulness II II Is left unfinished for time.
ra.is Will however be rushed ahead, as II Is the
,,ehton OF the Department TO have all the yes
ms ms possible ready for within short time.
80, training ship Alliance Commander Manney.
,..on mas been at the Cob Dock wall for the
az, or.nlsht, is to go into drydock next week.
~-Sef which she will sail for Newport. X. l.. and