Evening star., 1901-07-29

target was rlSgeQ Win three WnNe Cali
vas sails, with a twenty-four-inc bull y
eye painted In the center Of each sail, SO
that when floating one side is always vis-
ible. 1t Is the regulation kind adopted by
the United States navy in its target prac-
tice at sea.
In the afternoon the men were given
practice at the same guns at 1900 yards
The work at this distance was also OF a very
high order, but scarcely equal to the morn
ings performance. 1t was the first time
that a great many Of the men had ever
fired big gun at this distance. and this
taken into consideration, the entire work
at the targets is most remarkable. The
target practice has proved a feature OF
the cruise, and the results have been most
satisfactory to the division officers, as well
as the commanding officer. The two semi
automatic six-pounders commanded by
Lieut.. A. P. Lang on the main deck did the
best work. These guns were received
few days previous to starting on the cruise
and from the showing made In today's
practice. proves their value to the local
reserves.
Personnel OF the Guns Crews.
The FOUNDER in the bow Of the Fern
was commanded by Lieut. J. A. DemDf,
with the following crew: Capt. Rupert,
Plugman Newton, Loader McDougal, Shell
men, Corcoran, Terrill, Unsworth, Boards
more, Molineaux, Delmage, Rhodes. Keller,
Frazier, Kirby, Taylor. Lyons. Soper. Cook,
The two six-pounders were commanded
by Lieut. A. p Lang, with the following
crew: Capt. Hennessy, Plugman Sullivan,
Loader Evans, Shellmen Mahorney, Nor
gan, Rizzo, Smoot, Patterson, King, Nc
Donald, Uthoff, w. E. Simpson, Mace. Bar
ry, Johnson, Garner, Pitney, Bieber. Dex-
ter, Fox.
The starboard one e-pounder was command
ed by Ensign Lantz Of the First Division,
and the following crew: Capt. c. Getzen-
1a r1l1t 1a1lv
Lieuts. Bieber, Lang, Brummett, Cox. Pow
er, Pay Clerk Sigourney, Chase, Snow
Herfuth, Kirby and Mahorney.
The starboard Colt rapid-fire automatic
the following crew: Capt. Fenton, Loader
Smoot, Shellman Maddox, Lieuts. Bieber,
Power, Brummett. Ensigns Berry, Fisk
Pay Clerk Sigourney, Frazier, Chase, Nor
gan, Hennessy.
The port one-pounder was commanded by
Ensign George A. Berry, with the follow
ing crew: Capt. e. Getzendanner, Loader
Hendley, Shellman Thompson.
commanded by Ensign Berry, with the fol-
lowing crew: Capt. Kirby, Loader Lyons
Shellman Wilson, Commander Hams,
Lieuts. Brummett, Lang, Ensign Fisk, Ma
horney, Sullivan
After target practice the Fern got under
way and steamed for Colonial Beach,
where an additional supply Of Ice will be
put aboard.
SATURDAY the men VIII De instructed In
boat drills, landing parties, and the after
noon will be devoted to cleaning ship.
washing down decks. scrubbing clothes
and hammocks and putting the ship in
condition for inspection. She will then
steam up slowly, arriving at the dock foot
of Water street southwest about Sunday
noon.
The health Of the crew is still excellent
and no complaints have been heard from
any quarter.
Shore Liberty for the Men.
July 25 the men were given "shore lib
erty," and the summer resorts in the vicinity
Of Old Point Comfort were well patronized
all day by the tackles" Some Of the men
journeyed to Norfolk, others to Phoebus,
Ocean View, Hampton. Newport News,
Buckroe Beach. Sewell's Point, while q
number spent the day at Old Point Com
fort.
The ships company was divided into two
watches. The starboard watch was given
shore liberty from 8 am. to 1 pm. The
port watch and the members Of tho engi-
neer's force were given the afternoon from
/ pm. to pm. Commander Hams directed
the crew in order that there should be a
watch on duty at all times while the Fern
was lying at anchor out in Hampton Roads
party Of officers from the Fern COM
posed of Lieuts. Brummett, Lang, Bieber
Dempf, Cox Ensigns Fisk. Lantz and Pay
Clerk Sigourney visited the Newport News
shipyards during the forenoon and spent
several hours going through the battle
ships and liners now being constructed in
the yards. They were received by the
naval officers upon their arrival and were
treated In most courteous manner. The
officers visited the battleships Missouri and
Illinois, monitor Arkansas, the two fast
Pacific mail steamers Korea and Siberia,
the 81 Stglo and several other vessels now
being constructed by that company. All of
the different branches and departments
were visited In the yards, and the day
proved most interesting as well as inst.uc-
tive
In the afternoon the party visited Hamp-
ton, Phoebus, Old Point. and from the lat
ter place took the steamer for Sewelfs
Point, where the remainder Of tho afte.-
noon was pleasantly spent. The party re-
turned to Old Point In time to pull of for
the Fern before she weighed anchor
Everybody being aboard at O'Clock, the
Fern short time afterward was gotten
under way. making for Cornfield Harbor,
on Point Lookout. The weather was
squally, with stiff northeast wind blow
Ing and SUFFICIENT sea on to cause the Fern
to roll considerably.
Chief Machinist Chase OF Chief Powers
force. IN addition to being an expert in his
line. proved his efficiency with the six
FOUNDER In target practice.
Ensign Berry reported the mosquito feet
OF Point Lookout at four bells Friday
morning.
Electrician Fox again demonstrated his
proficiency in target practice at 1 100 yards
Fireman Roney Of the engineers force Ia
q born sailor. as Is shown by the numer-
Gus duties which he performs on deck
while or duty. He has won the high re-
gard of all the officers and men on the
present cruise.
The following article, which appeared In
a Norfolk paper when the Fern anchored
In Hampton Roads, afforded Commander
Hains much amusement when shown him:
The Fern, which acted as a dispatch boat
for the American feet during the Spanish
war, yesterday anchored in Hampton
Roads She was dyipG 4 penusut which