The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-25
WARSHIP VISITORS.
CROWDS THAT THRONG VESSELS
WHEN THEY COME 10 PORT.

Pride of the officers and Men In Ex-
hibiting Their Charges - a Trip
over the TcXns-The Jackie's La
comic Explanation of Thrilling
EVents-Tips Not In Favor.
New York Sept. 2S.--It as estimated that
fully one hundred thousand persons have
visited the various ships of Admiral
SIMPSONS victorious squadron since their
arrival from Cuba. From nine in the morn
ing until five in the afternoon the decks
Of the New York. the Brooklyn and the
rest Of the triumphant fleet have echoed
10 the tread of an admiring host of Ameri-
can citizens-citzens who have just awak-
ened to the fact that they have a navy
that can fight remarkable battles in a
remarkable short space of time.
The mere fact that these vessels have
all been inspected and viewed many times
before has nothing to do with 1t. That
wonderful chase off Santiago and the an
Inhalation of a mighty Spanish fleet have
vested each craft from the stately flag
ship to the second class battleship Texas
with such a halo of interest and romance
that the drawing properties Of a circus
pale into insignitcance before it.
The crowds that descended upon the
Tompkinsvllle, literally besieged the ships
and when it became necessary to com
menoe needful repairs the authorities at
Washington We're compelled to issue or
ders closing the gangways, and even the
gates at the Brooklyn navy yard. There
were no complaints because of this influx
of visitors from the officers and crew,
however. Jack ana his superiors are never
happier than when the decks are throng-
ed with VISITORS from shore. They like
the attention and they like to feel that
their masters-the American people--are
interested in them
Fighting Bob Evans, the captain OF
the Iowa, said recently: Il would be glad
to show my ship TO every man and woman
boy and girl in the whole country. /
am only sorry that l can't go on deck
and greet every visitor personally. They
are indeed welcome to any ship 1 com
mand."
There are very few officers in the navy
to-day who could not echo the sentiment.
And that is the reason why every visitor
to a man-of-war when he leaves the
navy yard gates, or the gangWays. as the
case may be- feels that he has been
treated with cordial hospitality. That Is
a way the naval officer and the naval
Jackie have,
The Brooklyn navy yard is the Mecca
of two thirds OF the strangers who an
nuaHy visit New York city, but within the
past month hosts of honest citizens, who
have lived an their lives almost within
sound of the naval workshop whistle
without entering the gate, have eagerly
sought admission to see the ships of
Simpsons fleet.
Admission is by pass obtained from the
captain of the yard Armed with this the
visitor betakes himself TO The gate at the
foot Of Sands street, Brooklyn, where he
is compelled to submit to the scrutiny of
a Waterman and several marines. once
inside the yard, a yard regularly laid out
with streets and buildings and parks, gas
lamps, police, and an efficient fire depart
ment, it is easy enough to find the water
front, where are moored the various
ships of war undergoing repairs.
It is now The visitor finds that the pass
an official-looking document duly signed
and sealed-is potent only In the yard
Itself The pass has no standing or influ-
ence on board a ship in commission. This
fact 8 learned when the honest citizen is
stopped at the gangway of a ship by a
marine sentry and informed in any kind
of a dialect that Its no good here, sir. If
you want to so aboard this ship you must
get permission from the officer of the
deck"
During certain hours, however, this par
ticular yard of red tape is not in evidence,
and visitors are permitted to look and
explore and stare - their hearts CON
tent. Once over the gangway, the well
come shows itself. The officer Of the deck.
and neat In his white uniform, generally
approaches and asks II the visitor or visi-
tors would like to see the ship. on being
answered In the affirmative, the youag
officer beckons 10 some apprentice ar
blue jacket, Of whom there are generally
a number in waiting and says easily,
Thompson, show these people the sights.
Explain the turrets and anything else they
may care 10 see."
Thompson, as trim and neat In his
way as the officer, grins and gives his
head a queer little duck to the party,
and steps toward the nearest gun. which,
In the case, say of the Texas, is a six
inch breech-loader, mounted as a pivot on
the edge of the quarterback He graSps
the rtaining lever in a business-like man
ner, shows how the piece Is elevated or
depressed then opens the breech with a
quick swing.
This here gun is a beaut ladies end
gentlemen" he says with pride. 1T fires
a shell Weighing a hundred pounds. uses
fifty pounds OF powder to do 1t, and say,
what do you t'ink, one Of these here
shells II knock the stunln out Of any old
Dagoe ark afoat. She's luiu.'
red-painted submarine mine. closely re-
sembllng one of the buoys 10 be met IN
every harbor, stands near the gun, and
Thompson states that 1t was picked up In
Guantanamo shortly after the Texas had
unsuspectlngly passed over IT,
at was what me barber calls a close
shave" explains the bluejacket. IF that
ring had gone off while We was above it,
tn Texas would be joining hands wild the
poor old Maine. We found enough gun
cotton in ii to blow tn Stats out OF any
hooker afoat We struck 1t all right, but
tn firm pin wouldn't work. Just like all
tn stuff them Dagoes git up"
He leads the way to a hatchway for
ward of the six-inch pivot. The ladder ex-
tending below fades into obscurity, and 1t
is with some timidity thar visitors prepare
to descend. The incline is sharp and the
aperture small, but Thompson plots them
in safety, saying as he does so, Just duck
your heads there, ladies and gents. That