New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-27
THIS STATION.

That the Navy Yard is under high pressure
vas plainly seen yesterday by the swarm OF
visitors which watched every move made by the
officers who were in sight and were ready with
& string Of questions for every one who seemed
70 know anything about what was going on and
was patient enough 10 answer them. The novel
sight of a number Of the crack pleasure boats Of
New-York Harbor tied up at the Cob Dock wall
had a peculiar fascination for a large number OF
people and the comments made regarding them
afforded much amusement TO the men who were
in charge OF the crafts.
The centre OF attraction was the Mayhower'
whose long. overhanging stern reaches so near
70 the caisson OF the stone drydock that her flag
DROPS over the walk. The yacht was anything
except thing of beauty yesterday afternoon.
for her deck was litter Of iron and wood and
her sides were being covered with heavy steel
plates and blue chalk lines. indicating where
other plates are TO go. WOrkmen were hammer
ing away inside and outside the trim boat and
the transformation from thing Of pleasure 10
az engine Of war is going ahead rapidly Her
battery which. II IS said will consist Of four O.
FOUNDER rapid-hre guns and four Of smaller
calibre IS all ready for ernplacement as soon as
she is ready 70 receive it, and there IS plentiful
supply Of ammunition on hand
WORK OK THE MAYFLOWERs INTERIOR
The chief work in her interior is overhauling
her boilers ard engines and strengthening her
deck beams so that she can stand the extra
weight of the guns she is expected to carry
Her coal capacity will also he increased. and a
lot Of gingerbread work" viii have 10 go 20
make room for her officers and crew. Com
nander Mackenzie. who is in charge of the boat.
ING my 40 81
with the work. ard as soon as her plates are on
she VIII be foated and her place taken by one OF
the other yachts.
Acros. the Waiisbou Channel. m@ored at the
COB Dock wall are the Columbia. the Amy and
the EeImlone. and the entrance 10 the whitney
Basin Is occupied by me Jugs Wise and FL Toro.
Operations on all these boats are only in the
preliminary stage but men are being assigned
10 them as fas, as they can be obtained from
the outside or spared from the shops.
MUCH WORK TO BE DONE OK THE CHICAGO
II the timber dock 80 are the Navy Yard
tug Narkeeta and he newly purchased tug De
Wit, c. WINS. tho name Of which. If IS sad, Is
" be changed 70 NezinscOt Tho tugs are being
overhaulcd and painted. and Will be ahoat ~
Tuesdat. on The stone launching ways IS the
frame o; the tug which the Construction Bureau
Is building FOR The Port Royal yard and al the
sea wall are the Atlanta and the Chicago. The
engines OF tie latter cruiser are being put IN
pace with a elaboration which is cxasperatins
70 those wig are watching the work and are
ANXIOUS 70 see the vessel al sea and In condition
" give good account OF herself
II IS however. the opinion Of the yard OH
Gals that there VIII be little chance OF her see
nag service IN Of war with spain. as her
po'.ers are s'ill IN the hOiler-shop of the steam
engineering Department. and their omplac cement
~ matter o. c0ns1erabe time. Besides this.
"e' battery VIII have % ne mounted and the
''i'Hor JOBS TO be- done before she can go into
.v"''hlss'on are . Ugh 70 stagger landsman
nv Atlanta = hardly far advanced as the
o"''~so' and the announcement made in this
.''u'ih some time ago that these tWo ships were
- " oe counted on In the present crisis does
"eea mobilization al present
Nehuon has been made Of the possibility q
rs .'e IAN alarm az a means ~ defence IN
80 80 VI attack. but he. Ike the Atlanta and the
= not available. She has been adyer-
a. AZ SAFE oy the Department. and has been
.''aah'!ed Her boilers are in he space back
VAC ''i'ei-s shops. and workmen were busy yes