From a Naval "Veteran."
On Wednesday, October 2d, I saw the new United States armored cruiser Brooklyn launched in Cramps' ship-yard. There was a large crowd outside the gates when I arrived. The Brooklyn rested on an inclined platform, which was well greased with tallow. She looked superb and gigantic as she rested there waiting for the time to come for her to take her first plunge. When the time did come the cheering of the spectators and the shrieks of the whistles were deafening. The launch was entirely successful from every point of view.
The Brooklyn's keel was laid in the summer of 1893, and she will be finished next February, when she promises to be superior to any cruiser afloat. After the launch I had a look at the United States war-vessels Indiana, Massachusetts, and Iowa, and the steamers Curaçoa and Comanche. About two weeks later I again visited Cramps' and went on board the Brooklyn. All over her were men busy finishing her. I was also aboard the Comanche and Paris. The Indiana and Curaçoa were no longer in the yard, and as the Massachusetts was being repaired no one except the employés were permitted on her. I expect to see the Iowa launched. On Saturday, October 5th, accompanied by a younger brother and a friend, I visited the United States Navy-yard, which is situated on League Island in the Delaware River. We saw the monitors Montauk, Canonicus, Mahopac, Manhattan, Lehigh, Catskill, Jason, and Nahant, which lay in the arm of the Delaware that separates League Island from the mainland. For fully an hour we clambered all over the monitors, which had but one turret and two guns apiece, and we thought, as we left them, that the Catskill was the best.
These monitors, as well as the ones we saw later, were in the civil war, and since then, up to the middle of last August, when they were ordered here, they have been lying in the James River, not far from Richmond, Va. Crossing the island we went on board the receiving-ship Richmond, where boys are "received" for the United States Navy and then sent to Newport, R. I., to be instructed before entering active service. We also saw the monitors Miantonomoh and Ajax. The former has two turrets, each containing two great guns. Upon our giving him a "tip," a man showed us all over her, and explained how her men and officers "bunked," how she was ventilated, how her turrets were moved, how her guns were loaded and fired, etc. After a jaunt of an hour or more over the island, we wound up our visit with going on board the United States dynamite cruiser Vesuvius, which we inspected in every part.
I am much interested in naval matters, and am collecting, besides stamps and autographs, pictures, scenes, etc, of the navies of the world. I like Mr. W. J. Henderson's stories, especially "The Old Sailor's Yarns," and Afloat with the Flag. Any one who is interested in naval matters, and who would like to enter the Naval Academy at Annapolis, I will give a sample of the style of entrance examinations, and also a few hints.
Sir John H. Campbell, Jun., K.R.T.
413 School Lane, Germantown, Phila., Pa.
Santa Barbara's Flower Festival.
I do not think that you have heard much of the yearly flower carnival held in Santa Barbara. This city is noted for its large and beautiful flowers and foliage, and also for semi-tropical trees, such as palms, bananas, guavas, lemons, oranges, and loquats. The festival lasts about three or four days, and comes almost always in the middle of April. The one I am going to describe is that of last April. Unfortunately about a week before it the pavilion in which was to be the carnival ball was burned, and with it all the flags, bunting, and other decorations. This dampened the spirits of the people, but thanks to the help of some of the prominent citizens, money was soon raised for the decorations and a temporary pavilion was built.
State Street, the main thoroughfare, was beautifully decorated, and several arches spanned it. Tribunes were erected for a block and a half, in which the people were to sit while the procession passed by. The carnival opened on Monday. The first feature was the riding at rings at the race-track. On Wednesday there was the flower show at the pavilion, followed in the evening by a concert. On Thursday the grand floral parade took place, and this was the gala day of the carnival. Floats, spring wagons, surreys, phaetons, carts, and horses were covered with flowers, and prizes were awarded to the best-decorated vehicles. Friday night a grand flower ball took place, opened by the French minuet in costume, and attended by a number of United States naval officers of the United States cruiser Olympia.
Sir Fredric N.
California.