New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-20
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
NOT NECESSARY TO PLACE THE CRUISER
PUFFALO IN DRYDOCK.

ppvsrNc-p OF THE FLOATING DOCK NOT LIKED
GrEssEs As TO ADMIRAL Br7NCEs SUCCESSOR
The dissipation Of the big scare concerning
the cruiser Buffalo. formerly the Nictheroy.
and still earlier the Morgan Line boat Ell Cid,
came Yesterday with the announcement that
II was not deemed necessary to place the
cruiser in drydock. examination had made II
plain that the trouble with the machinery could
be remedied while the ship afoat. The
court Of inquiry has not completed its work.
but enough is known as 10 the condition Of the
ship to avoid placing her In drydoch
The Chicago is in drydock No. for a final
overhauling and cleaning preparatory 10 going
into commission on December l. The work Of
mounting her rapid-nre guns IS nearly COM
pleted and there remains little TO be done on
the ship save some small alterations and odd
/ iobs On board the New-Orleans the installa-
ton Of a heating outfit is going ahead smoothly
and rapidly. much TO the qualification ~ the
officers on duty on the ship.
There is a good deal OF grumbling over the
continued presence Of the floating drydock at
the yard since the repairs to the big structure
have been completed. II "a hard thing 70
handle Il takes UP lot Of room required by
the ships. and is rapidly growing into first
class nuisance although II is a picturesque OBJ
ject and one which attracts LOT OF attention
from visitors II IL expected that II will be
started on its Journey 70 Southern waters within
few days
No further orders have been received regard
ing the movements of the ships at the yard,
and the work Of fitting them for sea Is nearly
completed. except on the Indiana, the lame
duck" whose engine and fire rooms are In
torn UP condition
In the absence OF Chief Engineer Winsor,
passed assistant engineer George E. Salisbury
has been acting chief OF the bureau for the last
week.
Naval Constructor Bowles has gone 70 MS
home in Springfield Mass, for the Thanksgiv-
ing holidays.
Another torpedo boat has been hauled out Of
the water and Is being prepared for storing
This boat the second 10 be taken out. is the
Winslow, on which Ensign Bagey was killed
and Lieutenant Bernadou was hurt
The dances In the Court martial Room IN
Building No. I and on board the receiying-shlp
Vermont are not TO monoplize all the social
features Of the winter season at the Yard.
number OF the young women members or the
families OF officers at the station have organized
A euchre club. which Will meet at the homes or
the members, In Officers Row" Flushing ave.
The meetings will be held on alternate Friday
evenings The club is a subscription affair. in
which dues are pail by the young women, and
the men are the invited guests Among the
members are Miss Eleanor Huntington. Miss
Marion Gibson. Miss Anita Gibson Miss Asser
son. Miss Nancy Walton, the Misses Swift and
the Misses Hawk.
There is considerable speculation as 10 who
will succeed Rear-Admira Bunce in command
Of the Yard on his retirement. December p.
The billet is regarded a 1rst-class Christmas
gift for some officer who desires shore duty
No names are mentioned, since It became known
that Rear-Admral Schley 10 go 10 Europe
at the expiration Of his months leave, If the
European Squadron is again established and
; the officers are doing little guessing on the
quiet
Building operations at the Yard are going
ahead with rush. There is an enormous ouan-
tity Of work ahead for the Department OF Yards
and Docks. and all hands are busy The eX-
tension o1 the narrow gauge tracks around the
lard VIII give two lines Of railroad encirclng
the drydocks and reaching to the more impor-
tant shops. The locomotive added to the equip
ment is regarded as one Of the best tme-save
in the Yard.