New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
COMMANDS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC
SQUADRON AND THE YARD
TRANSFERRED.

sIcARD WHILE COMMODORE BUNcE TAKES
CHARGE OF THD LATTER - OTHER
CHANGES MADE y WORK on
THE MASSACHUSETTS,.
With much burning of gunpowder and brill
liant display of gold lace and official authority,
the formal transfers Of the commands or the
North Atlantic Squadron and the Brooklyn
Navy Yard were accomplished yesterday after
noon, The firing Of cannon began at III O'Clock,
when Acting Rear-Admiral Francis NJ. Bunce
went on board the tender Fern at the Tompkins-
willie anchorage of the squadron. leaving the flag
ship in command of Captain Casey. He was &C
companied by his staff officers. and the tender
made as straight a line possible for the sea
wall of the Navy Yard arriving there at about II
o'clock. When the Admiral left the flagship a
rear admirars salute of thirteen guns fired
by way of parting. and the blue square with two
white stars was hauled down from the masthead.
On arriving at the yard the commander of the
squadron was received by Rear-Admiral Sicard
and his staff together with the heads Of de-
partments and the officers at the yard. These
included Commander Clifford H. West. Chief
Engineer Edward Farmer Chief Naval Con-
structor Francis T. Bowles. Colonel John H.
Hgbee. commanding the Marine Corps; Civil
Engineer A. G. Menocal. Captain ]. J. Hunker,
ordnance officer: Commander Charles S. Sperry.
equipment officer; Paymaster L. G. Boggs. Cap
tain F. j. Higginson. captain OF the yard Medl-
cal Inspector A. F. Price. Captain Merrill Miller
of the receiving ship Vermont. Captain Freder-
ick Rodgers of the Massachusetts,. Captain john
X. Bartlett OF the Puritan and Captain Charles
d. Sigsbee of the Maine.
AS he stepped ashore the flag Of the rear-ad-
miral. which had flown from the Vermont. was
hauled down and the flag of a commodore
hosted, being saluted by the Cob Dock bat
terry with eleven guns. The transfer OF the of1-
cial documents in the case was made after
greetings had been exchanged. and Rear-Ad-
niral sicard boarded the Fern While these
ceremonies going OH a battalion of marines
from the barracks was standing at attention.
drawn UP on the sea wall and flanked by the
Navy Yard Band. Hail to the Chief" was
played, but there just little doubt In the
minds OF some of those who heard the music as
20 whether it intended for the departing
Rear-Admiral or the incoming commandment
But the Fern steamed away, and as she pointed
her nose for the river and started on her re-
turn trip to the fleet. the rear admirals flag was
hoisted and again the Cob Dock battery began
firing the salute this time being goodby for
the departing chief, and consisting Of thirteen
guns. The new commandant was escorted to
the Lyceum building. and took formal command
Of the station. and the salutes OF the marines
and the smoke from the guns and the music OF
the band were only memories. After a run
which was without special incident the new
commander Of the squadron was sighted by the
NETWORKS lookout. and as he drew near the
flagship there was another salute OF thirteen
guns for the square of blue bunting that flew
from the FERNS Flagstaff. He was received with
due honors on board the ship, the orders assign
ing him to the command were read, greetings
were interchanged ana an adjournment was
taken to the seclusion which the cabin grants,
visits being received from the officers Of the
other ships of the feet which are at the anchor
age.
THE SCATTERING OF THE FLEET.
The disintegration of the fleet has already be-
gun. The Maine has been at the Navy Yard for
the last two three days, and will take a turn
in the drydock as soon the Dolphin comes out
the latter vessel being in the hands Of the paint
ers and repairers. She will have a thorough
cleaning, and then go TO Washington. probably
for special duty The monitor Amphitrite. which
attracted much attention from the foreign off,
GERS who took part In the naval demonstration on
Tuesday, will start for Norfolk early this week.
and will have stay Of month in drydock and
then go TO Annapolis. where she will be laid up in
reserve, with only limited number Of officers
and men on board The naval cadets will use
her for drill duty. and it has been decided by the
Department that the officers and men attached
20 her will be entitled to and receive sea pay
while they are on duty on the ship. This decision
is made in view Of the fact that the members of
her crew are volunteers who have accepted the
duty without the necessity of regular orders be-
ing issued. The cruiser Raleigh has been de-
tached from the squadron. and on May will
start for ST. Nicholas in the Azores. on her way
10 Gibraltar where she is expected to relieve the
Cincinnati now the European station.
CHANGES AMONG MINOR OFFICIALS
The sudden death of Lieutenant Calhoun, who
was second aid to the commandant at the yard.
and the transfer Of the commands Of the feet
ard the station resulted in some changes among
the minor officials. Commander Clifford H. West.
who was chief aid. goes with Rear-Admiral Sic
ard as chief Of staff his place being filled by Lieu
tenant Commander Gilmore; the place Of second
cid is filed by Lieutenant Aaron Ward. who has
been connected with ordnance duty In the yard;
Lieutenant Charles c. Marsh keeps his place with
the feet flag secretary. but Lieutenant Charles
Harlow takes the place of flag lieutenant. made
vacant by the detaching of Lieutenant Hugo Os-
terhaus.
Another change of interest in the fleet is the
assignment Of Lieutenant Commander Daniel
Delehanty recently harbor supervisor OF the
port 10 the Texas. as executive officer. relieving
Lieutenant-Commander j. d. J. Kelley, who has
received one months leave.
THE BROOKLYN TO BE HERE ON MAY p
The announcement has been made by the Sec
rotary that the cruiser Brooklyn will come to
the yard by May - in order to receive the sill
Yer service bought for her by the citizens Of
Brooklyn. She is now at Newport receiving her
torpedo outfit. and after the presentation cere-
monies will sail for England TO take part in the
festivities attending the Queens anniversary
She will carry Rear-Admiral Joseph N. Miller.
who will have charge of the American ships
present at the celebration. There is some doubt