The times., 1898-10-10
DISTRICT NAVAL BATTALION.
The U. s. s. Fern Placed mt It's Dis
nOsnI for Prnctice.

The naval battalion OF the District OF
Columbia National Guard Is to have
war vessel stationed on the Potomac Riv-
er front for its exclusive use.
Secretary Long has formally turned
over TO the District Naval Militia through
Lieut.. Sherburne c. Hopkins. the u. s.
S. Fern now lying off the Norfolk navy
yard. In a few days Lieut.. Hopkins will
proceed 10 Norfolk with a detail of volun-
teer sailors from the District naval bat
talon and bring the Fern TO Washing
ton
The President yesterday afternoon
signed the commissions of the officers
of the District naval battalion, who were
nominated several days ago by Gen Har-
ries, and they will at once enter upon the
active duties ofiplacing the citizen sailors
in good trim The list of officers just
commissioned is as follows:
r. p. Haines. commander.
w. A. Megrath, lieutenant commander.
A e. Smith, chief engineer.
Sydney Beaver paymaster.
First division-Lisutenant. Joseph Van
Fleet; junior lieutenant. G. Lewis: en-
signs, L. Claude Covell. Charles e Ru-
Y
Nearly all OF these officers have had
previous experience and instructions in
naval service. Commander Haines and
Lieut.. Corndr. Megrath both graduated
from the United States Naval Academy
al Annapolis. and they are also both
principal examiners in the Patent Once
Chief Engineer Smith is a patent exam
iner; Lieut.. Van Fleet served in the na-
Wy; Lieut.. Lewis is a graduate of the
A
Coveil was a major in the High School
Cadet regiment and Ensigns Rugers and
Bradbury have seen service in the navy
The second division is already fully or
saniZed and equipped and has a mem
bership Of rs enlisted men Its officers
are Lieut.. Sherburne G. Hopkins. COM
manding; Harry A. Shepley, lieutenant
junior grade. and Robert F. Bradbury,
ensign
This division WAS organized on July l.
I 1898. for service during the war with
/ Spain. It's services were tendere1 to the
J Navy Department. and the men expected
that they would see active duty on
/ board the cruiser Buffalo. formerly the
Brazilian cruiser Nictheroy TIE Buff 10
! however. did not go into commission un-
til recently. and the Washington sailors
were keenly disappointed The officers
! of the second division were commi ssioneC
! by the President in July. in order that
! their services would be available if re
CURED.
This division is fully uniformed. and
holds its meetings in the National Guart
Armory over. Center Market.
The steamer Fern which has just beer
acquired by the District naval militia
has been used In the navy principally a,
dispatch boat between Washington
New York, Boston and Key West. Dur
ing the war she also made several voy
ages to Cuba
The Fern became historic owing to tn,
fact that she conveyed to Havana harbol
the naval commission which investigated
the blowing up of the battleship Maine
It was in the spacious cabins of tn,
Fern that most Of the sessions of th'
commission were held
During the Winter the District nava
be qttalion will have practice drills on th
steamer. and next Spring and Summe
she will make several cruises down tn
Potomac In the Chesapeake and probabl,
go to sea The Fern is armed will
rapid-ffre guns, and the District sailor
will utilize them for gunnery practic
during the ensuing Fall and Winte
| months.
The records of the Navy Department
! show that the Fern was built at New
York in 1871 She is $50 feet in length: 2
feet beam; II feet 8 1-2 inches draught
$40 tons displacement, and propeller
She can steam at a rapid rate, but he
speed is not given The fact that she ha
been employed as dispatch boat indi
Gates that the Fern is fast sailer.
1t is proposed by some OF the officer
to have the name of the vessel change
from Fern which they say is not sug
gestive enough for warship, to eithe
.sWashington'' or Potomac"