The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-18

EAGER RESERVES.
New Jerseys Sailors All
Want to Go On the
Venezuela.
CAMDEN MEN ON AJAX
Commander Dahlgreen Thinks
Those Who Are Familiar With
the Monitor Should
Stay There.

Especial to ''The Jersey City News."l
CAMDEN, April Is, ~1Sss.-Abeard the
cid monitor Ajax. lying in the Delaware
there were scenes of marked activity
again yesterday, and something akin TO
war service was visible about the old
fighter, which never fired a shot at an
enemy. The craft lies moored 10 one of
the long piers of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, just south of the Federal street fer
~, and to reach her one must pass
through the big ferryhouse. Realizing
early that there would be a rush of Wis
itors to see the tars who had received the
muster order on Saturday. when war
seemed a question of q few hours. the
railroad officials deemed it necessary to
issue instructions denying entrance TO all
except those holding permits. And there
We're few permits. All DAY long sentrles
in the toys of tars guarded the entrances
10 the pier and the gangplank Of the mon
itor so that the expectant naval heroes
had the craft pretty much to themselves.
Inside OF two hours on Saturday night
Lieutenant Albert De Unger had every
man of the sixty in his Camden division
of the reserves notified to be on hand TO
answer the roll call at nine o'clock yester-
day morning. There was a deal of
excitement as the word passed about town
and some fear was expressed that at last
hostilities with Spain had opened. The
division lave not relished the prospect of
going into service on the old Ajax. Not
that they hesitated to answer the call to
cuty, but that they were not particularly
proud of the queer old "chessebcx,"
which is Stuffy, cumbersome and consld-
erably behind the times as lighting craft
go Still, there was not a man among
them who .quaiied, and when the two
piatoons OF bright, eager young men IN
sailor rig were drawn up on deck for
drill. while the church bells were sum
moning people to worship. only three of
The sixty failed to report to the roll call.
OF these three one is sick, one is in At
lantie City and another in Cape May, and
the latter two will hasten to Camden
when the actual call 10 service comes.
There was a better feeling among the
Reserves when they learned that they
might form part of the detail of $50 men
who are TO man the Venezuela. which
has been sent 70 Brooklyn Navy Yard to
be fitted ont. They were glad of the pros
which they would not be buried beneath
The surface of the ocean. There is some
thing awfuny unromantic and machine
like about the deep, dark, damp recesses
OF the old monitor.
After the roll call Lieutenant De Unger
addressed his command in a ton rather
more impressive than usual, and there
was a touch of warlike fire in it as he
said
Men. you'll be dismissed for the day;
but you are to hold yourselves IN readi-
Iess for instant call. Arrange all your
affairs: pack I'D your clothing and be
prepared for service"
More than one strong-hearted fellow
trenlbled just a trife at that significant
order, but there was no sign of faitering
ia their ranks. When they were dis
.ssad and a detail was retained for
atssard duty they discussed the situation
TN keenest interest and speeulated upon
he probabilities OF their going out on the
Venezuela.
vhe Camden division had not ceased
drilling when Commander Charles =.
! lahlgren, Lieutenant Cohen and the
&oener officers of the battalion of the
West arrived, and soon an earnest con-
ference was under way in the funny lit
lie house on the hurricane deck of the
monitor The work of selecting the de-
tail of 80 men for the Venezuela from
the three divisions was begun, but not
completed. It will be concluded today,
when all the officers will be on hand:
Commander Dahlgren is DESTROYS on
keeping the divisions as nearly intact as
possible, and favors the idea of taking
the $50 from the Trenton and Haddonfield
divisions. TIL men OF the Camden dlvi-
sion are said to be thoroughly familiar
with the Ajax. and as she is likely to be
called into service, he wants to man her
with the Camden men.
Both Lieutenant Braddock of the Had
donield Division and Lieutenant De I'm
ger of the Camden Division said az Their
detail, and each If the officers rendered
his services. .Cafnmander Dahlgren said
that he is anxious to be Impartial IN
those who are obliged to remain at home
will have an opportunity to get into ac-
rfon before the war is oyer, If it comes
Today Ensign F. A. Nye. of the
Haddonfield Division will be notified OF
his promotion to a junior grade lieutel-
ancy. He is regarded as one of the most
efficient officers in the entire organiza-
tion. No successor to Lieutenant Wood
ward. commanding the Trenton Division,
has been selected. Woodward has sent
word from the West that he is on his
way home to take charge. but it is very
doubtful if ne is allowed 10 take the
command. because of his long absence
from the State without leave. 1t is prob
able that the Trenton Division will have
a new commander, and it is said that an
Annapolis graduate win be secured for
the position, if possible.
Commander Dahlgren is of the opinion
that the Venezuela will be manned sole
IL by New Jersey seamen, probably COM
manded by a naval officer. He doesn't
know whether or not he will be called
into service, but is anxious to so. He
has had a wide experience in the navy
and is looked upon at Washington as a
valuable officer.
It is said that the Venezuela will be
assigned to coast duty on the same lines
as sentry duty in the army. After she
ships her crew she will be assigned to
a prescribed section of the coast and the
duty of her crew will be to look out for
the approach of unfriendly vessels. Most
of her cruising will be 300 miles from
shore. and at the approach of an enemy
|. she would hurry shoreward with the
#warning, SO that other and more fornid-
(able ships could be sent 10 intercept the
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