New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-18
CAPT. SIGSBEE IN COMMAND.
THE STEAMSHIP ST PAUL FORMALLY
TURNED OVER TO HIM.

q
WITHIN TEN MINUTES AFTER THE ARRIVAL
or TIE FORMER COMMANDER OF THE
MAINE The STEAMSHIP is on HER
WAY TO PHILADELPHIA TO Pc
FITTED AS AN AUXIL-
larry CRUISER
The American Line steamship St Pau. which
rived at her pier al 80 p. on Saturday. was un-
loaded and ready 20 leave this port carly yester-
day morning for tie Cramps shipy2rds. at Phila-
delphia, where she will re fitted out one of the
auxiliary cruisers Of the United States Navy. AS
she left her pier at $40 o'clock yesterday morning
Captain Sgsbee. who commanded The Maine. stood
the bridge
The work OF unloading the St Paul was carried
on with q double force of men all Saturday night,
ard IN less than twelve hours she ready to pro-
coed TO Philadelphia When she leaves there 1t will
hc TO io.n the FIXING Squadron Of the Navy
Captain Sigsbee was expected TO arrive at o'clock
yesterday morning and at that hour everything was
in readiness for him Steam was up. and the resu-
lar sailors OF the St Paul at their posts Cap
tain Jarnison OF the vessel waiting 10 turn her
over 10 her new commander. Il not until
o'clock that Captain Sigsboe sighted, and then
ne was seen coming along West-si. from the Penn
sylvania Railroad ferry at Cor;andi-st He was
on foot and carried nag in one hand. While with
the other he was trying hold morning paper
was in civilians dress. A porter was by his side
nysbing a barrow on which was the Captains
trunk.
When he arrived at the entrance TO the pier OF
the American Line he was greeted by cheer from
The crowd that had gathered there. He was re-
ceive1 bv Edward f. Wright. agent OF the line and
CANAAN Brewster the superintendent OF the pier
ho ., once escorted him to the deck Of the big
liner Captain Jarlison OF tho ST. Paul stood al
tho main cangway. ready TO welcome the new COM
nander -,
The ceremony Of turning the ship over to Captain
siesbee was brief and simple Captain Janis'h'
.an,,rg said: Good morning, sir. have the pleas
ure OF turning over 10 you n WHY eOON '''f'
hone she will do well
Thank YOU" replied Captain siesbee. i hope
she will do her best As far as | am concerned
hope the trouble will be over very soon
No time was lost in getting under way after cap
.ain Siesbee boarded the vessel. The gangpanks
-,ar. urshynned the lines cas-, of and the s.. Paul
was under way within Ten minutes after his ar
rival.
Cap,ain sisshee declined 20 discuss the present
war situation with the reporter. He said AS 20 my
orders from the department. can only say tha'
they are 70 take the S. Paul TO Philadelphia You
viii pardon me for saying more as TO the move
rnents OF the ship When the steamer eft the
pier the crowd that had assembled once more
cheered Captain Sigsbee.
The armament that the ST, Paul will receive con-
sists OF two e-inch and ten 5-inch rapidhre rifles
In her main battery. and twelve 9-poundeTs IN ne.
secondary battery. Her component VIII CONSIST
o. twenty officers and five hundred men lIeuten-
ant briggs will be her executive officer and Lieu
tenant Cluverius her navigator. Captain S.gsoee
will personally superintend the transformato ton or
the steamship into a naval vessel The Work WI.
require about fifteen days. and will amount ALMOST
10 a reconstruction OF the ships interior. The
stateroom partitions Will be pulled down, and the
rooms viii be either enlarged 10 aceommoda te
twenty or twenty-five men each or made INTO one
large apartment. similar TO the berth deck OF a
man-of- war. A large portion Of the bulwarks VII.
be removed. we. as the supertiuous deck struct-
ure in order 10 place the batteries According to
present plans. 1t is said. there will be no arnor
placed on the vessel she now has plates as
heavy as the sTAll cruisers Of the Navy The same
general pans Il is believed, will be followed In the
alteration OF the ST. Louis. the New-York and the
Paris
The ST Paul passed in the Delaware capes at
$50 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and Will reach the
shipyard this morning, and tomorrow the actual
work Of making her a warship viii begin.