The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-23
THE NAVAL RESERVES
TRY THEIR new BOAT
Initial Trip of the Fern as a
Practice Ship.
Down the River as Far as Alex
andria and Return.
Major Sylvester and Comm issiOn 4
Wight acknowledgements der Hams
Pleased With His Charge.

Trim and neat and manned by one hum
bred volunteer naval reserves, the his
toric vessel Fern, which was last year
transferred TO the District by the Navy De-
partment to be used as n practice ship
by the District Naval Battalion, made its
initial trip down the Potomac River yes
terday afternoon. In addition TO the mem
bers CT the naval battalion in their new
white uniforms. the vessel carried a num-
Der of guests, present by special invitation
of Commander Robert p. Hams.
The Fern saw service prior to the war
as lighthouse vessel and enjoys the dis
tinction of having been the first American
vessel to enter Havana Harbor after the
destruction of the battleship Maine. The
Maine Court Of Enquiry also held its ses-
sions in the forward part of the vessel,
so that in those exciting days the little
craft was in a certain sense the cynosure
of the eyes of the world. After the war
with Spain Secretary Long assigned the
vessel to the District Naval Battalion, and
it was Immediately brought up the river
from Norfolk. where it had been lying.
With appropriate ceremonies the vessel
was turned over to the battalion last fall,
and although fire drills and other naval
tactics were practiced during the winter
months, no attempt was made to handle
the craft until yesterday.
The members of the battalion were proud
and enthusiastic when they manned the
vessel yesterday and with cheer lifted
anchor for the primary practice trip. Com
mander Hams was in command. Turning
her nose toward the south, the Fern left
her mooring place the foot of the Tenth
Street wharf and steamed down the Wash
ington channel toward Alexandria.
Among the invited guests on board were
District Commissioner Wight, Charles
Moore, secretary of the Senate District
Committee: Major Sylvester, Chief of Po-
lice; J. r. Sutton, District Harbormaster,
and other District officials and prominent
citizens and press representatives. Dis
trict Commissioners Ross and Beach and
Gen. George H. Harries, commander of the
District National Guard, were invited to
accompany the reserves, but were unable
to be present.
The trip consisted of seven-mile run
down the river TO point opposite Alexan-
dria and return, and the craft covered the
distance in excellent time. Although the
crew had not handled the Fern previously,
many of them had seen service in the reg
ular navy and exhibited much skill and
the results of careful training in their
work. At the conclusion of the trip Com
mander Hams expressed himself as being
greatly pleased with the showing made by
the battalion. The invited guests were
liberal with their compliments to the
crew.
During the return trip the Fern was
tested as an ice-breaker and was run upon
the ice in several places where it was very
thick. The vessel is about 100 feet long
and her great weight enabled her to glide
through the ice with ease. The fact was
clearly demonstrated that the Fern is
powerful enough for use as an ice breaking
boat, and in future emergencies the Dis
trict Commissioners may avail themselves
OF her for that purpose.
Commander Hams will give his men
practice voyages for short distances during
the coming spring and summer This will
be done 10 increase the efficiency of the
battalion.