Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-05
down the coast craft of all sorts were visi-
BILE in every direction.

Precisely at O'Clock in the afternoon.
when eff Hog Island, the officer on watch
sighted the L. s. S. Dolphin some distance
Off headed for the Prairie. AS the ships
approached one another flag and whistle
signals were exchanged, and both reduced
speed. Quarters was sounded aboard the
Prairie. and in few moments everybody
was deck the marines under arms anC
the officers of the ship and of the Naval
Battalion wearing side arms A boat was
lowered from the Dolphin, and in it Assist
ant Secretary Allen of the Navy Depart
ment and Lieutenant Commander Souther-
land of the navy were conveyed to the Prai-
RE and were met at the gangway by Com
mander Mackenzie. The assistant secre-
tary accorded due honors and was
shown through the ship. The visit con-
stunned half an hour. When the party re-
turned to the Dolphin all hands We're form
ed in line along the port side of the Prairie
and the regulation salute given in honor Of
the assistant secretary. The warships then
resumed their respective courses, the Dol
phin making for New York and the Prairie
heading for Hampton Roads. She passed
in between the capes just the sun went
down, and steamed up Chesapeake bay I'M
til 1880 O'Clock, when anchor dropped
and the ship brought to a standstill for the
night
Inspection and muster was held Sunday
morning, the men of the Naval Battalion
joining in the ceremony with the ships
crew. All hands We're assembled on the
fo'caste the officers wearing dress uni
form. The naval regulations were read
aloud by the executive officer, and the roll
was then called each man marching past
salutfng and answering his rating as his
name was announced
During the afternoon the officers of the
ship who had served as instructors during
the cruise conducted an examination of the
officers of the battalion, going over all the
work taken up during the week. This con-
cluded the program mapped out for the re-
serves there remaining nothing further
than to proceed to Piney Point and transfer
the Washington men to the Fern.
Hint of Actual War.
Perhaps the most interesting day of the
cruise was Saturday. when the Naval Bat
TALON was given its first idea of what act
ual warfare means, so far as the navy is
concerned. The morning was devoted to
firing with the big guns, regulation ammu-
milton being used. The practice prior to
Saturday had been with dummy cartridges
in which 45-caliber ammunition was fitted
Now, the boys from Washington know by
experience what the real thing Is and they
are in position to appreciate the magni-
tude of the work performed last summer
by the men behind the guns, both at Ma
Mia and Santiago.
The active work of the day began at
o clock, when the anchor was lifted and the
Prairie headed out of Gardeners bay. A
southeasteriy course to sea was then taken
The ships crew displayed great activity in
making things secure, much to the wonder
ment of those to whom the proceedings
were entirely new. Incandescent electric
lamps were removed from their fixtures
port holes were closed and fastened and
doors were locked. When number of miles
out of sight of land target was lowered.
This consisted of triangular framework
of lumber dashed to casks. 1t was provided
with an upright, surmounted by red flag
Wings of canvas Were also attached on
u iah no: tod anlh hull
Prairie moved off and when distant about
three-quarters of mile began circlins
about the target at low speed.
The port batteries We're the ones operated
The 6-pounder aft was the first to open up
It's report was so loud and the vibration so
great that many of the Naval Battalion
lads were considerably Jared. Another g.
FOUNDER soon began active work, and Just