New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-12
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
TIE REFRIGERATING SHIP SAILS FUN
THE sOUTH-RUSHING WORK ON
OTHER VESSELS.

With her hold filled with ice. meats ana o'her
supplies for the fleets in Southern waters. the
refrigeratng ship Celtic formerly the Celtic KING
left the Navy Yard yesterday afternoon, on her
way South. Commander Mansfield expected 10
get away two or three days ago, but delay IN
receiving the supply OF ice kept the vessel back
The repairs on the Columbia have been almost
completed, and she Will be ready for sea within
few days The reported displacement OF her en-
gines turned out to be nothing more than the dis
abement of a few small pipes which were In line
with the Foscoa. when she ran into the cruiser
and the ship will be as good as new when she
again starts out on duty.
Work on the second OF the hospital ships. the
Relief which Is now going on at the Morgan iron
Works has so far advanced that the vessel VIII be
ready for duty within two weeks The laundry
and the carbona,ing plants have been Installed ana
work Is now going on on the dlst!lllrg plant Like
her sister ship the Solace, the Relief VIII sail
under the Geneva cross and VIII be AZ hDeEN 10
enter all ports TO obtain supplies she VIII caiiS
no arms OF any sort even revolvers Delhs hooocu
and the only explosives on board the ship VIII De
the night signal lights she will carry for purposes
OF communication
Commander w S. Cow!es IL extremely anxious TO
get to sea with the Topeka. formerly the Diogenes
and II is likely that his desire Will be grained
within the next week The work on the cruiser
Is so far advanced that she would be OF great
deal Of use even II sent to in her present con-
dtion.
On the Chicago and the Atlanta, the two White
Squadron cruisers, work Is going ahead without
cessation, and there now appears 10 be chance
that both win active service before the war
ends.
Visits Of the small vessels OF Rear Admiral Er-
ben's harbor defence feet have been numerous III
the last week the latest OF these arrivals DelhB
the Free Lance. which got away again late yeste'-
day afternoon.
There Is considerable interest ev!nced over me
possibility Of a court-martial OF civil Engineer I.
s G. White OF the yard STAFF. ms result or me
drydock trouble 1t Is Understood that he court,
the investigation which the court-martidl would
make in reference 10 his alleged neglect with re-
gard 10 The inferior work on the structure lie ~
a WE'LL known member OF the Corps OF tiVii fn-
ginecrs. and was appointed by General Grant VIII
whom Mr. Whites father was on intimate, 'ernis
OF friendship. The formal test Of the drydock IS
the alling-in which remained 10 be done yesterday
afternoon would be OF sufficient importance 10 de-
Law the trial The dock. 10 all appearances. IL az
good II not better than ever, the Interior beng
tas dry as n bone" and the trouble about the
fitting OF the casson Ia the groves having hcen
remedeG. II the trial OF today Is successful ~ y
will be at least forty days before th' structure VIII
be available. the contractor liz 10 6aye ten days
notice before bc-!nrlng work on the removal OF me
coYer-dam, and thirty days IN which TO complete
the work II IS possible that the dredging neces-
sary to get tho required depth at the entrance 10
the dock Will take few days more 80 that the
actual usefulness OF the work IS stu n long way or