The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-24

chine is a wonder to any who sees one
for the first time. Yesterday, after the
vessel was at anchor, the guns were un-
sheathed and the surfaces polished, and
every bit of woodwork and ironwork
on the vessel cleaned. Away up to the
fighting tops the rapid fire guns were
given coat of polishing powder and
their grim faces washed with shining
fluid. Every squarefoot of surface
above the water line was made as clean
as possible and the work of the men
was early noticeable in the brighter ap-
pearance of ship and trimmings. The
younger officers were off on shore leave
soon after luncheon and the entire APP
pearance was one of holiday, though
today it will be a matter of taking on
board tons and hundreds of tons of
coal.
The coal will be sent out in the navy
lighters containing about 120 tons each,
and the plan is to take 600 tons to re-
place that consumed on the run down
from Puget Sound. 1t is expected that
the coal will be alongside early tomor-
row morning and the men will get 1T
on board by night if there is no more
sea than there was running yesterday.
The ship could take 100 tons an hour
if alongside a wharf, but the delay at
sea will make the difference. If the
coaling is not done within time the
ship may not be able to get stores
aboard and away until Saturday This
wait may be had at any rate so that
any mail which is aboard the Solace.
which left five days after the battle
ship, may be in the hands of the men
before they enter on the longer leg of
their cruise.
Admiral Silas Casey, who is in COM
mand of the Pacific Station, has his flag
up on the Wisconsin. This is the very
first cruise of the Admiral in these
waters. He has seen service in the
Pacific, in command of the Portsmouth
on the shores of California, and in
charge of the Twelfth Lighthouse dis
trict, also in Chinese and Japanese wa
tiers, but for the first time yesterday
ne saw Honolulu, while the Samoan
country is still to be discovered for
him. Speaking of his present trip,
which may take up a month or six
weeks, Admiral Casey said yesterday:
Everything is in good shape in my
division, and this trip is full of pleasure
to me, as I have never before cruised
in these waters. 1 am going down to
Investigate the charges made against
Commander Tilley at Tutuila. The
charges are such that If am convinced
of their truth, or that there is sufficient
in them to justify a legal investigation,
will at once order a court martial
For this purpose there are coming down
in the Solace, which was to sail from
San Francisco last Saturday, the 18th,
q corps of officers for service on the
board. The president of the board will
be Admiral Robley Evans, who left
Washington the same day we left Seat
tie. Another member will be Admiral
Henry Glass, the former captain of the
Charleston and more recently COM
mandant of the training station at San
Francisco, who was elevated to his
present rank upon the retirement of
Admiral Schley; Capt. Merry, in COM
mand of this station; Capt. Reiter who
is commanding officer of the Wisconsin;
Capt. Cooper, formerly in command of
the flagship of the station; Capt.
Thomas, who went through here in the
Oregon; Capt. Harrington and Captain
Meyers, the latter on board here, who
will be the judge-advocate.
These officers, with Commander
Sebree, will be in the Solace, which
shall keep in Page Page until the end
of the investigation, when she will be
despatched on to the Philippines by
way of Guam. The members of the
court will then return to the United
States by merchant ship. Capt. TIL
ley will be down in the ship leaving
San Francisco October oath, the Sono-
ma, which has Tutuila as a port of call.
This will mean that he will arrive after
we get there.
There is much talk of Hawaii in the
naval circles, and the opinion is univer-
sal that there should be no delay In
the opening of Pearl Harbor and its
Improvement. I shall see the harbor If
possible before 1 go on or If not will
make a stop on my return. I do not
deem 1t wise to make an attempt to
go into the harbor now, as I have
mission and do not want to take any
chance of an injury to the ship. When
1 come back the attempt will be made
to get up to the dock so that the ship
may have all the advantage of close
coaling and the people may see what 1
believe is one of the very best battle
ships. Despite the bad weather We had
a smooth trip, though of course on ac-
count of the poor ventilation with
everything closed up there was too
much heat below.
The tour of duty in the south may
last something more than q month and
then all will return through this city
on the way back to the coast"
Capt. George c. Reiter, the command
ing officer of the ship, says he is
kamaaina. and as soon as the ship was
well arranged for her stay outside
came ashore with the Admiral, and was
at once among friends. Capt. Myers,
marine corps, was here in the Charles
ton, and saw service at Picking. He is
cousin of DR.. r. p. Meyers. Other
officers who have many friends here are
/ Lieut.-C Commander G. W. McErroy,
chief engineer: Paymaster ]. Clyde Sui
Ivan and 1t. C. T. Vogelgesang. The
full roster of officers Is as follows:
Rear Admiral Silas Casey, Commander
| in Chief; BENJAMIN Tappan Lieutenant