The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-08
At MARE ISLAND
Rear.Admiral Kirkland Now in
Command of the Naval
Station.
Captain Howison Leaves to Take
Charge of the Ocean Queen
Or egon.

VALLEJO. CAL. June Rear Ad-
miral Kirkland has assumed charge of the
navy-yard, and like his pred ecessor, Cap
tain Howison, there seems to be no "fuss
or feathers" about him. Neither of the
officers is much given to social functions.
They are naval men of the old school, liv-
ing up to the regulations and holding up
the dignity of the service. They COM
mand and subordinates obey.
Admiral Kirkland loves the climate of
California, admires the people and gives
the yard the credit of having turned out
some excellent mechanical work.
When Admiral Kirkland assumed COM
mand of the yard on Monday last but few
were aware of the change in commandants
until the first of thirteen-gun salute was
fired and the broad blue pennant of a rear
admiraPs command was flying at the
truck of one of the indie pendence's sticks.
In the Office the two officers spoke a few
complimentary words after reading the
orders Of the Secretary of the Navy detail
ing the admiral to the command Of the
yard. Congratulations were extended to
Captain HoWison upon his successful adj
ministration of the affairs of the yard, and
upon his detail to so fine ship as the Ore
gon. The transfer of commands was over I;
the officers of the yard and ships were
called to be introduced and pay their re-
spects to the new commandant. He then
com menced to attach his name to official
documents, and for the next two years will
sign his name on an average of 200 times q
day to documents coming from the various
departments and passing through his
hands.
Admiral Kirkland is welcomed to the
station, as IS his family, which arrived
with him. Captain and Mrs. Howison de-
parted for San Francisco the same day on
the steel tug Unadilla, bearing with them
the best wishes of all.
The officers of the survey steamer
Gedney have been engaged during the past
week making soundings about Commission
Rock, nearly opposite the hospital. There
appears to be plenty of water for the Oregon
to come to the yard.
The Bennington will probably send a
detachment to Vallejo to participate in the
Fourth OF July celebration. Admiral
Beardslee says the gunboat will be here at
that time. This implies that the officers
may accept the invitation to attend.
The result of the inquiry concerning pur-
ported Irregularities of Paymaster Webster
has been sent to Washington for review.
Almost the entire week was taken up with
sessions of the board in taking testimony
of witnesses pro and con.
A number Of men Tor the Oregon are
quartered on the Independence. Chief
Engineer Milligan of the Monterey is ex-
peeted to be chief engineer on the battle
ship, which will probably be in commits
sion by July.
A draft of marines will leave the yard on
Monday for New York. The yard tug will
convey them to San Francisco.
Lieutenant A. 6. Rogers has been de-
tached from the survey steamer Patterson
and on July will report to the command.
ing officer OF the Monadnock for duty.
A number of naval cadets have been de-
tached from the flagship Philadelphia and
ordered to the receiving ship Independ-
dence, where they will remain until trans
ferred TO other shins