Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-16
PRACTICE AND INSPECTION.
Naval Battalion Makes a Good Rec
ord in Both,

| The annual inspection, muster and tar
| get practice of the Naval Battalion, D. c.
| n. G., took place yesterday aboard the
| L. s. S. Fern. The battalion, under the
| command of Lieut.. Commander Sherburne
| G. Hopkins, was under orders to leave her
wharf, at the foot of 9th street southwest,
| at 1 o'clock yesterday morning, but. owing
| to dense fog, which prevailed at the time,
| 1T was delayed until S:55.
| Shortly before o'clock Maj. Charles H.
| Ourand, inspector geneial of the militia;
| Capt. Alfred p. Robbins and CaptC. Fred
Cook, aid-de-camps, D. C. N. G., who COM
posed the inspecting board, put in their APP
pearance aboard the Fern. Capt. Thomas
S, King, inspector of rifle practice of the
LIST Regiment, D. c. N. G., also accom-
panied the party Mr.. Richard j. Hodgson
of London and Mr.. Richard ]. Beal of this
city, guests of the officers of the Fern,
Joined the party later.
The work of inspecting the crew of the
vessel occupied the downward trip, Contin-
ulng until anchor was dropped just off In
dian Head at II 30 o'clock. The men of
the two divisions of the battalion were lined
up on the spar deck and closely inspected.
The result exceeded the expectation of the
Inspecting officers. the work in every part
of the ship having been done in a most
satisfactory manner
The target practice at Indian Head prov
ed the efficiency of the jack tars In this
branch of the service. The firing was done
by squads on the starboard side of the
forward deck at floating target 200 yards
squad was handed one of the regulation
rifles and when the command to fire was
given the jackies proceeded to riddle the
targets.
At the conclusion of the firing by the
sailor boys the petty officers proceeded to
the main deck and also did splendid work.
The practice work of the officers concluded
the exercises on the main deck, after
Cd in,
boat and proceeded to count up the total
score of the battalion. When the targets
were returned to the ship they were found
to have been completely shot to pieces, and
the days work.
Capt. King, who had charge Of the scor-
ing, was much pleased with the work, and
hopes to see a team of crack shots organ
On the return trip the different watches
were mustered and inspected. which con-
cluded shortly before reaching the dock at
Washington.
landing at the clyde wharf, shortly after
Z o'clock last evening, collision between
the Columbia Of the Washington and Alex
andria ferry boat line and the Fern was
narrowly averted The Columbia, under
Capt. Entwisle had almost reached her
wharf on the last trip from Alexandria,
and the Fern, which had turned in the
meantime, was headed down stream for her
dock. The ferry boat was crowded with
passengers at the time. and all were badly
frightened. Everybody was assembled on
the decks of both vessels, and had it not
been for prompt action the Fern would
have crashed into the Columbia.
The officers who We're aboard the Fern
yesterday were: Lieut. Commander Hop
kins, Lieut.. Brummett, Surgeon Cox, Chief
Engineer Power, Lieut.. shepley, Lieut..
Bradbury, Ensign Covell, Ensign Buck, En-
sign McLachlen. Paymaster Bieber and Pay
Clerk Fisk
Maj. Chas. H. Ourand assisted by Capts
Robbins and Cook, will inspect the separate
organizations of the National Guard at the
National Guard Armory. The organizations
which have been directed to assemble are:
Engineer Corps, Signal Corps, Ambulance
Corps, Battery A, Light Artillery, Brigade
Band and Corps of Field Music This will
complete the inspections and muster for
the season.