The times., 1899-06-27
NAVAL RESERVES At SEA
The U. S. S. Prairie Sails Away
From Piney Point.
One Hundred and Eighty District
Men Go on the First Annual Cruise
incidents of the Trip Down the
Potomac-Alnrms of Fire and Man
ovcrbonrd-Aid to n sunken Craft.

Piney Point, Md. June 2s-The District
of Columbia Naval Battalion was trans
ferred from the Fern to the United States
steamer Prairie early this morning and
everybody is comfortable on the larger
vessel. In spite of the fact that 1S0 in
stead of the 130 men who were expected,
reported on board the Fern Saturday night,
there was no crowding and the Prairie, in
which the first practice cruise of Wash
ington sailor boys will be made, could
easily accommodate twice the number of
men she is required to. The start down
the river was made late this evening with
out incident and with everybody in the
best of spirits.
After an instructive trip down the Po-
tomac, during which the boys were kept
constantly on the alert by practice drills,
Piney Point was reached at 10:15 o'clock
yesterday evening. Shortly after anchor
was dropped rain began to fall, which
prevented the men from enjoying them
selves and from remaining on deck, as
they otherwise would have done. The
Prairie was not at the anchorage when
the Fern arrived, and 1t did not put in
an appearance for two hours, which the
jack tars put in to good advantage in
making preparations for the change of
vessels. The Prairie was just from Balti-
more, having recently returned from a
cruise with the Maryland Naval Reserves.
Her signal flags were flying. and Lieut.. R.
B. Brummett, chief ordnance and signal
officer of the battalion, Immediately an
swered them from the deck of the Fern.
Lieutenant Commander Hopkins, of the
District Reserves, reported to Lieutenant
Commander Mackenzie, commanding the
Prairie. After breakfast this morning, on
board the Prairie, work was begun at once
in the gun drills.
Practice with the big guns will take
place in Gardeners Bay, at the east end
Of Long Island Thursday the battalion
will be at New London, Conn, and the
boys Will witness the Harvard-Yale boat
race. Further plans of the battalion are
not known with regard TO the movement
Of the ship. II is expected, however, that
an interesting route has been selected for
the rest of the cruise. The men would
be satisfied TO spend several weeks aboard
the Prairie. They have roomy berth
deck, while each officer has a state room.
Commander Mackenzie has done every
thing in his power TO make the boys COM
Portable The Fern will remain at Piney
Point until the return of the battalion,
when the transfer from the fralrle VIII
be made, and the return 10 the city COM
pleted on board the Fern. Three members
Of the battalion who were sick this morn
ing will probably be sent home today. The
trip down the river was eventful and full
of interest Alexandria was reached just
as the sun was rising, and the Potomac
looked its best. At eight bells, when the
Fern was a short distance below Indian
Head, it was reported that a sloop was
in distress and sinking. The vessel was
wrecked, but the crew had been removed.
The work of the crew of the Fern in
manning the boats and going TO the as
sistance of the sloop. while it did not re-
suit in saving any lives or rendering as
sistance, afforded an excellent opportunity
for practical practice drill. After the reg
ular Sunday morning inspection, an alarm
OF fire was sounded which. though false.
showed the bat-si o be under excellent
discipline. This was followed by an alarm
Of man overheard" also. of course, false.
The manner in which the boys responded
to the order to man the boats showed to
what an extent the battalion has been
drilled.