New-York tribune., 1898-10-02
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
DISAPPOINTMENT BECAUSE THE BROOK
LYN FAILED TO LEAVE HER
ANCHORAGE.

A REMARKABLE SCAR RECEIVED BY THE IN
DIANA IN THE FIGHT AT sAN11AGo-pE-
. PARTMENT Of YARDS AND DOCKS BUsY-A
QUESTION THAT Is PUzzLING MANY
There was the usual Saturday crowd OF visi-
tors at the Navy Yard yesterday. and there was
considerable disappointment over the fact that
the Brooklyn remained at the Tompkinsville
anchorage instead OF coming up the yard' as
had been expected. Although the Iowa lett the
yard yesterday forenoon and went down the
Bay the Oregon having left the YARD preVi-
ously, there is still too little room at the water
edge TO admit Of proper handling or the ships'
A great deal OF time is lost by workmen IN
crossing 10 the Cob Dock 10 work on the ves-
sells tied 10 there. and any addition TO the num-
her OF shius at the yard would only make the
troub,e greater So the Brooklyn is likely to
swing idv at her anchors off the green nils OF
Staten Island for another week The Indiana.
which is in drydock No. 3 will not be hoated be-
fore next Saturday. and it will not be possible
TO put the Brooklyn in her place before the
third week OF this month.
\ REMARKABLE BATTLE SCAR
The floating OF the torpedo boats Talbot and
Porter from drydock No. ,. and the consequent
closing Of the passage across the caisson OF the
dock on the trip 10 the Cob Dock. gave NUMBER
Of visitors a chance to see one Of the most re-
markable scars carried by an American snip as
the result Of the Santiago fight In the plates OK
the starboard bow Of the battle-ship Indiana is
long trouCh-like dent about two inches deep and
about four feet below the water line. This was
made by a heavy shell falling at the end OF
curved trajectory, striking. glancing and burst
ing. one of the officers Of the ship. in describ-
ing the occurrence said: When this smell
struck it made us all finch. Everybody dld H.
instinctively and irresistibly turned their heaos
away and put up their elbows as II TO "aro OH
blow. There was a second or two OF aWlui
waiting. while the roar and scream seemed TO
still all the rest of the battle roar ana come
straight to the ear Then followed an immeas-
ura bic roar-a shocking. benumbing, binding ex-
piosion. and a prodigious fountain of water burst
up beside the bow and deluged the forward DECK
while the ship. tearing her way through the
water with gigantic weight and momentum.
seemed to stop suddenly. and was Jared from
stem to stern as If she had run against stone
wall. The vessel was hurriedly examined. but
evervthing was found 10 be tight and dry
The Indiana is having a thorough overhauling,
and her engine and fire rooms are receiving a
great amount of attention. Some OF the crown
sheets ii is said. will have to be replaced and
there are enough smaller jobs on hand 10 Keep
the force busy for some time.
II is likely TO he fortnight before the Celtc,
the supply ship which Is to accompany the bat
tle-ships to the Pacific, Will be able to get away
from the yard. 1t IS the present intention 10
have the ships and the golfers. together with
the Celtic and the Iris the water boat. meet al
Bahia as the first stopping-place.
The parade of soldiers and sailors YESTERDAY
aroused the enthusiasm OF large number OF
the veterans employed in the yard. and there
were many vacant places at the bencneS ana
lathes There is a possibility OF trouble 1or
some of the men on this account. as orders were
issued that the name Of every man absent from
duty should be reported to the authorities. Just
what action will be taken is not known
PLENTY or WORK On HAND.
There is an enormous amount of work on hand
In the Bureau Of Yards and Docks and the
fact that one man is expected to attend to Ii all
is causing some comment among those who
keep track Of naval matters. The civil engineer
who was detailed TO special duty on the repairs
TO drydOCk No 3 has been sent 10 Pago Pago'
his successor has been detailed 10 other duty,
and with at least one engineer idle on waiting
orders the rush Of work al the yard calls for
overtime ard large amount OF extra exertlch.
Another peculiar point in connection with the
bureau is provoking inquiry. When Civil Engi-
neer A c. MenOcal. who was at the mead or
the local bureau was found guilty by court
martial Of negligence and other misdemeanors,
he was suspended for three years on furlough
pay few days after his trial was ended
Civil Engineer L. s. G. White, his chlef as
sistant was tried on the same charges on which
Menocal had been convicted The same result
followed and the sentence was equally severe:
There was a difference however Mr.. Menocal
had nearly reached his time for retiring. ana
before that date came around ne was restored
10 the active lis. by the President, and later
assigned 70 special duty with the Nicaragua
Canal Commission.
A PUzzLING QUESTION
The pertinent question is being asked why
Is Mr. White being made the scapegoat? AS
an officer put II who is well versed in naval poll
tics: 1T is puzzng Mr.. Menocars SER
vices may have been needed on the Commission,
hut certainly those of some civil engineer are
needed here. where there Is great amount or
important work planned and under way. MT
Prirale is on the Pacific Coast. and is anxious 10
GO to the Mare Island yard. Mr. White appears
10 be the only available man. and just why Mr.
Nepocal should be pardoned and restored 10
d,tv while his subordinate officer. who was
suhiect 10 his orders and carried them out is
mad 10 suffer the full force Of the sentence i'm
posed for precisely the things his superior was
convicted OF Is something that we are trying TO
find out II may be cleared up in time, but de-
laws are dangerous things when the spending OF
Government money is az stake and question
OF Justice and official consistency is hanging in
the air.