Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-19
Not a Few Of It's Comman-
dants Achieved Fame.
DAYS OF CODE DUELLO
NOTED SHIPS WERE EQUIPPED
THERE FOR SERVICE.
Explosions In the Laboratories
When Whisky Was Considered a
Necessary Ration.


naval stations, even including those Ill the
newly acquired possessions of Porto Rico
and Hawaii, but in the matter Of historic
interest certainly there are none greater
than the old yard on the Eastern branch
of the Potomac river. Probably not many
persons know how replete with interest this
old post is identified with the navy career
Of the nation. history Of 1t, prepared
nearly a score of years ago by Chaplain
Hibben of the navy, shows in the course OF
its interesting length many attractive notes,
giving in detail the personnel of omcers
who have been detailed at various times for
service at the post, the work performed IN
the different shops and. in fact. a thorough
story of Its evolution. its use, and. II 1t can
so be called. its fall from the Importance
with which 1t has been invested through It's
prestige gained during most trying epochs
in the history of the republic.
1t was during the term Of BENJAMIN Stoo-
dart, who held Office as Secretary OF the
Navy under the administration OF John
Adams, that the country faced an emer-
gency which arose owing to French ag-
gressions upon American commerce. ana
as consequence, Congress was induced TO
make an appropriation of million dollars
for the building of six Of the largest ships
of war. 1t was III 1888, and the same year
the Navy Department applied part of this
upon which to build several navy yards, as
follows: One at New York. another at
Philadelphia, a third at Portsmouth, one at
Norfolk, and last, but not least, one at
ton yard consisted of forty acres of rolling
land and the original cost was $4,000.
The First Commandant.
The first commandant Of the Washington
navy yard was Capt. Robert Tingey, who
.F dn ut @
since then includes such well-known names
as Capts John H. Aulick, w. B. Shubrick,
Hiram Paulding and Franklin Buchanan.
Then the list is swelled by the names of
Commander John A. Dahlgren, since then
a rear admiral in which capacity he was
again in command Of the yard; Commo-
dores Charles H. Poor, John Rudd and
Alexander h. Semmes, who resigned ms
commission when civil war was impending,
and was dismissed from the service by
President Lincoln. Capt Richard Meade,
a brother Of General Meade, was In COM
mand of the yard for quite while. as was
also Rear Admiral Alexander H. McCor-
mick, who first saw the light of day on the
banks of the Eastern branch. and is widely
known and respected by multitude Of old
Westinghouse. The present commandant
of the station is Rear Admiral Silas Wright
Terry, who is native of Kentucky. Ad-
miral Terry was an ensign under Admiral
Porter at the time Of the famous Red
river expedition, and was highly compli-
for his services in that hostile en-
terprise.
When Capt. Tingey was fully invested
with all the duties and responsibilities at
tending his office he proceeded without
delay to make the post offensive and de-
fensive In every particular, and soon there
were in existence wharves, a derrick crane
building, slips, timber sheds. ETC.. to meet
every necessity. The commandments house
was located in the upper part OF the YARD,
and from that situation the whole nclo-
sure was under his eye. This was after
the manner of the commissioner of the
kings yard in England and the intendent
In France.
There was great activity at the yard in
those days In January, 1906 there were
in ordinary at the station the frigates
United States President, Chesapeake, New
York. John Adams, Constellation. Congress
and Boston. Grand representatives these
ships were of the old navy. At that time
for sea. The little brig Wasp was also
among the vessels, receiving her finishing
touches. Every school boy who knows
anything of the early history of his coun-
little vessel. with her fiery name, under
the command of Capt. Jones, severely
stung and captured the airy Britisher
Frolic, boat of equal armament, in the
war of 1912. Though Capt. Tingey was
an old sea dog, he certainly had land
Office business on his hands in those days
In carrying out the responsibilities of his
entirely new position. There was a multi
tude of improvements made under his ad-
ministration. The ships built and sent to
sea under his and subsequent manage
ments figured in some Of the grandest
eras In the history Of the American ma
ton.
Spirits and Code Duello.
1t may be mentioned in passing that in
the early history Of the navy there were
two things that are not countenanced at
present. One was the use of ardent spirits
as ration and the other was the duello
In the report alluded to in the beginning
of this article the information is contained
that August 6, 1872, "Mr. John Eliason of
Georgetown sent to the yard for navy use
40 barrels of good whisky at SO cents
per gallon" That was cheap price even
then for good whisky" but there were
no internal revenue taxes to be confronted
in those days.
Concerning the practice of dueling
among naval officers. it appears that among
others the valiant young middies were
prompt to recognize the code, all being
thoroughly imbued with the idea that 1t
was right and proper. 1t appears that Mid
shipman Lynch engaged in an affair of
honor in which. according to all accounts,
he came out second best. In letter to the
Secretary Of the Navy, reciting the event,
that official was asked that full pay be al
lowed n1r. Lyncn curing MS disability and
also that he might be placed in such sery-
ice as in his condition he would be able to
perform. The commandant. in his indorse-
ment of this request said: II do not think
that Midshipman Lynch was to blame in
the affair."
These little digressions are fair, as they
are directly connected with the conduct of
affairs at the Washington navy yard in It's
infancy.
The yard was. relied upon as great de-
Tense to the capital, but nevertheless when
the English troops entered the city in the
war OF 1872. on the twenty-fourth OF April
of that year. the apprehension OF danger
was SO great that Captain Tingey, instead
of allowing the British forces to fire the
place. did, by order of the Secretary of the
Navy, have the matches applied by those at
the yard to the buildings and shipping
about the same time that the English Gem
eral Ross was firing the other public build
ings of the city. Ross. in his official report
claimed that 1t was by his orders the navy
yard was burned. At any rate, his incend-
larry Intentions were anticipated by the
Americans.
It was not very long after the destruction
of the post that the work of rebuilding was
commenced and activities resumed. This
was unhappily followed by the death Of
Captain Tfngey, whose admirable efforts
in his last days were devoted to restoring
and enhancing the Importance Of the post
Several Fatal Explosions.
There have been several fatal explosions