New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-25
THE NETWORK SAFE IN PORT
CAPTAIN BARKER TO TAKE CHARGE OF
HER FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO-DAY.
VESSEL. HAD ROUGH VOYAGE ACROSS THE
ArI.ANTrc-MAY BE USED AS A TRANS
PORT OR AS SCOUT TO PATROL

ATIANTrc-MAY BE USED AS A TRANS
PORT OR AS A SCOUT TO PATROL
THE ATLANTIC COAST.
The American Line steamship New-York ar
rived nj her pier AT about o'clock Yesterday
morning after rough voyage. AS announced
in Yesterdays Tribune. the 81. Louis was docked
late on Saturday evening The two ships, "hlch'
with the Paris and the st. Paul have been char-
tered by the Government. are now at the dlspo-
sal Of tho Navy authorities, and are being pre-
pared as rapidly as possible for use in operations
against Spain Just what duty Will be assigned
to them cannot be ascertained. as the represeh-
tatives Of the Navy who are now In charge OK
the vessels refuse to say what orders nave peeh
given All that Is known is that they viii be
taken from this port as soon as they have oeen
prepared for sea.
II is though, by some officials that the vessels
will be taken to Philadelphia as soon as the ST
Paul has been transformed into an auxiliary
cruiser. which Is now being done at that place
and that they will there be altered in the same
way Others say that the NewYork and the ST.
Louis viii not receive any armament other than
the small guns and rifles which are being placed
on them here and Immediately after leaving
New York Will go to Key West. where they VIII
be used "a transports. Another theory Is that
the vessels will be used az scouts. and VIII patrol
the Atlantic Coast in search OF Spanish war
ships In order that II any Of the latter are
sighted the ST. Louis or the New-iork may run
into the nearest port and give the alarm
The 400 men who compose the crew OF the
St Louis with the exception Of an extremely
small number signed articles late on Saturday
night. agreeing To serve for twelve months. In
whatever par, Of the world might be required.
The few who refused To sign did So 1t is de-
clared because they did not consider the pay
sufficient This seems strange In view OF the
fact that the American Line Company which
engages the men. offered them the wages they
have been earning before. with a bonus ~ -
per cent In addition at the expiration OF the
contract The seamen signed at $22 80
month They will continue TO wear the uniform
OF the American Line. The same bonus was
offered by the American Line to the crew Of the
New-Yorl which also. with the exception Of n
few men accepted the terms. The New-YorlI
carried neither cargo nor passengers on her trip
across the Atlantic. She Will In future be known
an the Harvard.
Captain Caspa- F. Goodrich. of the United
States Navy. accompanied by Ensign Payn.
took command OF the 81. Louis yesterday morn
ing Lieutenant Catlin. who was In command
81 the marines on the Maine. also went on
board with twenty-cght marines. Captain A.
s Barker whose last command was That OF the
Oregon will be In charge ~ the Harvard as
the New-York must now he called. The former
captains OF the Two vessels. who were among
the first who consented 10 serve the Govern
ment Will act the executive officers under
the United States Navy officers. and VIII rank
rs lieutenant commanders. AT late hour last
night Captain Barker had not yet taken com
mand Of the Harvard. and II Is expected that
she will be turned over 10 the Government this
morning The new officers Of the ST Louis re-
fused to say anything about their orders.
one OF the minor officers ~ the st. Louis was
"a her Dcsslmistic II Tat vosseis ability ~
Withstand attack I'VE would rather go 10 sea
I'm n ship built for war" he said, "because we
cnly have n protection ~ an eighth Of an inch.
II viii therefore be rather hazardous job II
some small shot strikes our steampipes. we're
gone When our stcampipe burst NJ half-pres-
sure lot of engineers and lrcmen were Killed.
What would be the result II burst al 700 pounds
pressure7"