New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-30
CRUISER ENTERPRISE.
VesseE Lent to Massachusetts, for
Marine School.

Boston. April % (speciaD-The cruiser Enter
prise Of the few remaining dear old ships Of
long ago" lent to the State of Massachusetts, for
the service Of public marine school. Is under
going repairs at the navy yard preparatory to MAX
ing a summer practice cruise with the boys who
have chosen a future occupation and profession
"a life on the ocean wnve." These lads are under
a course Of instruction in port for eight months in
tho year six hours a day. in the ordinary cur
riculuno Of the secondary schools on shore, with
the addition that they take marine engineering
seamanship navigation and other technical sub
jects pertaining to their special professions. Their
ultimate employment will be officers in the
merchant marine up to the position Of commander,
and some will likely become warrant ofheers OF
the navy. as has been the cnse with many who
have been graduated before them OF the latter,
there is a chance that they may become admirals
in the navy in time. for under the law limited
number are allowed each year to compete for line
officers commissions
The chairman of the Public Marine School Com
mission is Rear Admiral n. Mayo Dyer. a retired
officer and one Of those advanced in rank for con-
spic,ous war service The principal officers OF the
ship are Commander William F. Low, Passed AS
sistant Engineer Robert Crawford and Ensign
Creighton Churchl-captain executive and chief
engineer. respectively-alI retired officers Of the
navy When the vessel was inspected in drydOck
a few days ago she found to be In excellent
condition but the propeller had TO be removed for
the main shaft to be looked after to arrest the
corrosion that had begun through galvanic action
ca used by the Of salt water the compost
ton propeller and steel shaft. The vessel showed
TO have been we'll cared for under the present ad-
ministration She is TO start on her practice cruise
in about month and will first cruise along the
Atlantic Coast Then she will start on three
months cruise in European waters returning to
the United States about October l.
The Enterprise is one of the very few vessels OF
the old wooden navy which was succeeded by the
present steel navy begun in 1882 under the admin
istration Of Secretary OF the Navy William H.
Hunt She is a bark rugged vessel and was built
at Kittery Me. She is of 1874 tons displacement.
and under steam can make about eleven knots
hour. Her service ranks her among those OF which
a verse maker has written:
Famous vessels were they then
Famogs % 9a1 H,n5,b and 1c Hen,
Loved b. friend and feared by foe.
Dear old ships Of long ago
There has been some talk of sending this vessel
to those berths in Rotten Row and this Will
likely be done II state get in her place the
Bancroft originally designed as practice ship for
the midshipmen at the Naval Academy and used
for that purpose In a limited degree. She Is too
small for that and she is declared by the
board Of construction to be too costly Of mainte-
nance and light OF draught and TOO poorly
armed for any other naval duty. The Bancroft is
a steel vessel built in 1892, and had her irst
commission in March. 1885, But the Enterprise Is
so stanch a ship that she can well for many
years yet in some duty or other
The new stone drydock at the navy yard still In
gers for its hrst work but the chances are that 1t
caisson was towed around TO the entrance of the
dock and the builders have had their experts
it during the week. looking toward fitting 1t in
place Some dredging will need to be done and some
adjustments made about the sill at the entrance
6t IL in it's place. Another cause OF delay occurred
a few days ago. when q flaw was discovered in the
piping running through the stonework under
meath the waterline This discovered while
working the pumps the final test The section
found defective is OF great weight and 1t will have
to be replaced. This will probably be finished about
the middle OF May, but hardly IL time to accommO-
date Of the large bottleshps to be sent North
from the home fleet 10 be locked and made ready
for the summer cruising.
The officers attached TO the navy yard gave an
invitation reception and hop 10 their friends on
Wednesday evening recognition OF the end OF
Lent and the closing Of the winter social season.
The wife of Rear Admiral Albert S. Snow, assisted
by her uausnttT ana the wives oL NuPthin george IL
KeaTny and Lieutenant Commander Charles w.
Tracy, received the guests under a canopy grace
fully formed by flags and bunting. The affair took
place IN the large hall OF the armory and there
nearly two hundred present including promi-
nent business men. professors and students from
Harvard University and others, The handsome
gowns OF the ladies. the uniforms OF the officers
the civilians in evening dress and the Marine Band
in uniform, together with the tastefuliy decorated
was served and the dancing ended at midnight.
The army branch of the government has also
commanded some attention at the navy yard. the
lllsIa beins the mammoth SUCTION dTedger Gen
eTal Gillespie The vessel Is new, comparatively
having been In commission about eight months
ana Is equipped with pumps ana other machinery
and bars wherever deeper water may be required.
The vessel has recently been employed removing
the material up through her immense pipes. depos
iting II in her OWL hold, which Is merely NAM
nolh tank, and then taking II out into the deep
wafer OF the ocean and dumping " where u can do
no harm 10 navigation Hence she II not only a
dredger, but she has the seaworthiness and the
speed 20 carry all material ont TO the ocean She
other machinery BY the navy yard people, and when
,S = cone she will go to Lake aiohsah 20 remove