Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1914-07-09


a u San Pablo bay had the habit of
49, helping themselves to horses Of
their Spanish neighbors, Senior
castro, the owner of one Of the
large California rancherias, chose
bleak-looking island on the eastern
arm Of the bay as a haven for his
steeds. AS most of the livestock were
brood mares, Castro naturally called
the island Isle de la Yegua, or, trans
lated into plain English, Mare island.
Inc christening of the ranch by the
ola Castilian marks the beginning of
MARE islands history. With its two
ana fourth square miles of undulat-
Ing fields, Castro's island remained
more or less in obscurity until 1S4e.
In tnat famous year of the rush for
the yellow metal, Isle de la Yegua
was bought by Captain ]. Frisbie of
the United States army. Frisbie in
turn sold the island to the firm of
AspinwaH, and eventually it became
the property Of the United States gov
eminent
FaTTagut First commsndan..
Inc facts concerning the selection
or Mare island as navy yard are in.
lerest1ng. A naval station was needed
on the Pacific coast, and since the
Mexican war the government -beeE.
on the lookout for good location. q
iocatlon that would in every particular
answer the most exacting wishes of
naval experts. convenient to the sea
but not easily accessible to the enemy
able site for the proposed navy yard.
Dut this proposition was offset by Can.
tain Blunt, U. S. N, who in 1850 yigor.
ously recommended Mare island. After
much quibbling on the part of the off,
Gals, Commodore Sloat of "Bear Flag
1ame, persuaded the government to
puy the island at cost of $50, 900
1t was not until 1854, however that
Mare island was officially made q
navy yard, with Captain Farragut as
lts nrst commandant. 1t is interest.
Ing to note that the residence of the
hero of the New Orleans blockade still
remains and, like several other domi-
Giles Of the naval station, is in q fair
state OF preservation. Covering a ma.
ROO or sixty years, from Farragut's
tlme down to the present command.
ant, Captain F. M. Bennett, there have
been 80 commandments in charge of
the navy yard
soon after Farragut's assignment
Mare island became a scene of actiy-
ity. shops were built, trees planted
and more than 100000 expended tn
convert the former ranch into a naval
station. At this particular period of
the Islands history, much credit is
due Senator Gwin, chairman of the
committee Of naval affairs, who
worked indefatigably to make the
th1rty-second congress understand the
Importance of appropriations for the
navy yard of the Pacific. There were
many sages at Washington who failed
to understand the weight of Gwin,a
harangues, and as a consequence
these men had to be inveigled into
opening the doors Of the treasure
But notwithstanding certain Clean
years." the newly acquired navy ward
waxed strong, and by degrees deveI.
oped into the important station that
1t is today. -
FROM the time or Its first command.
ant, Mare island has been what we
might call a progressive navy yard
or course, like all such places that
depend on annual or semi-annual an.
preparations, the island has had its
periods Of apparent retrogression and
dullness, but naval history can point
to more than one great achievement
wrought by the workers at Mare in.
land.
AS shipbuilding plant It is infer.
Tor to none, and in fact, superior to
many Of the other navy yards. The
Mohican, the first vessel to leave the
ways, proved herself one of the best
Of the old time frigate class. The
Monadnock, long building for lack OF
appropriations, was q first-class iron.
clad and gave a good account of her.
self in the battle of Manila bay. But
Mare islands glory In ship building
rests on the work accomplished In the
construction of the repair ship Prone.
theus and the collier Jupiter. or their
type, these vessels had proved them.