Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-11-24
AT THE PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD.

with two 15- inch guns, ielt me yard last night
and dropped down stream TO Fort Miffiin, where
she took on board ammunition. The Powhat
tan left at noon, and stopped at Fort Mititn for
her supply. They left this morning for Key
West, the Powhattan acting as convoy. The
other vessels at the yard are being made ready
for sea rapidly.
AT THE cHARIEsrowN CLASSY NAVY YARD.
The frigate Franklin was taken out of the dry
dock Saturday, and is now lying at the loves
shears wharf. The riggers viii begin work I'M
mediately upon both the Brooklyn and Frank
Ign: The entire force Of the yard was at work
yesterday.
EFFECT OF THE NAVAL PREPARATIONS ON
COAL MINING.
correspondent of the y. Y. Times from
Wiikesbarre, Pa, November 10th says. The
principal topic here to-day was the rfrginiuS
affair and the possible complications likely 10
arise therefrom with Spain. The recei pt of q
dispatch this morning setting forth the fact that
the government had purchased y, 900 tons OF
anthracite coal, was looked upon as good omen
for the coal operators especially as IL was stated
in the same communication that this was mere
ly first installment of purchases vet to be
made. 1t was considered that as it had been de-
cided to put into commission the whole of the
IRON clad fleet there would be such an increased
demand for anthracite coal as would probably
Keep an sne mines IN I'M operation throughout
commissioned they would be kept so for some
considerable time. AS their consumption of
be to Improve the condition of the mining Susi
ness throughoutthe country. Senator Summers
letter was freely commen.e led upon, but the gen.
tftl pttllnR IN tUlS GeCl0edIy adverse
to the arguments and sentiments contained in
1t, and there is no Disgusting the fact that a
brush with Spain would be greatly approved Of
by the inhabitants of this section.
Public Opinion.
THE CUBANs OF PHILADELPHIA.
meeting of the Cuban Patriotic Association
took place In Philadelphia on Saturday night
and the president, NJ. A. Montijo, read num-
Der OF communications, two OF which referred
to the alleged recruiting of troops for Cuba car
ried ON in Philadelphia under the auspices of
a n farfl hNsI IA,.n
emphatic terms the prosecution of any such
measures. The president supplemented this
denunciation BY expressing at great length the
opposition the Cuban assoc aton entertains for
any measure which win cause violation of the
laws OF the state, o. the United States, Of in
ternational law.
yoLUNTRERs-wHITR AND coLoREp
The citizens of Duvall's Bluff, Kansas, held
meeting Wednesday and adopted resolutions
rendering regiment of 200 men, armed and
equipped for service, in behalf of the republic
OF Cuba.
Captain Robert l.. Hobson, of the Attacks
Guard, colored, of Richmond, (recently on a
visit 70 this city, has sent letter 10 Governor
Walker rendering through him TO the President
their services for duty in Cuba or elsewhere in
case OF war being declared. The Carney Guard,
OF Richmond, Captain Il. Ii. johnson, and the
Union Guard, of Manchester, Cap .ain James
Worsbam, doth colOred companies,) have
also passed resolutions rendering their services
through the Ad5Gtant General of the State
General Villa =. Richardson, 70 the Presi-
elsewhere, should it be necessary"
SALT LAKE CITY AROL SID.
The sentiment ia Salt Lake City regarding
the Nirginus atrocity is for ample reparatlon OF
war; A public meeting Saturday night adopted
resolutions declaring that the people will rally
TO the support of the government should it be
necessary to declare war to yindicate the honor
OF the nation.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, DITTO.
Last night one OF the largest meetings ever
held in Georgia gathered in columbus, to ex-
press indignation at the late Spanish atrocities
Resolutions of a hitter
adopted. Intense enthusiasm was manifesto.
MODERATION OF THE CINCINNATI BOARD OF
TRADE.
resolution was unanimously adopted BY the
board OF trade in Cincinnati Saturday, "rhat
we recommend the national authorities TO RELY
upon peaceful arbitration for the settlement OF
the difficulties, and that while we denounce the
atrocities of the local authorities of Cuba we
sympathize with those who are struggling TO
form republican form of government in
Spain"
Torpedoos.
OPERATIONS AT GOAT ISLAND.
Tine Newport Or, H. .Nsacs of Thurs Law even
ing says: "We have in the immediate vicinity
Of Newport mandatory of what our OH ,ers
beheye to be the most destructive weapon that
has ever been used in war. The torpedo las
been more attractive TO Americans than any
other deadly instrument, and we have bro 1 ght
the thing to state of perfection unknown in
Europe. Although it is true that any fortifca-
ton can be battered down in course Of time, it
is also true, according to Admiral Rowan, that
any Notification can be passed by ships of war.
lection 10 bafbor. All our torpedoes, it Is well
known, are made on Goat island. They differ
widely in size, their charges Of Igunpowdsr
varying from 50 to /, geo pounds Their often
slye use is not confined to boats especial made
for them, but war vessels of any kind can use
them. They are discharged by electricity, I'M
der water, and while their execution on the
vessel they are touching is terrible, a few feet
Of water is ample protection for the vessel from
which they are discharged. The torpedo may
be towed astern, unseen. and brought against
the enemy's shin nv runniup U or
launch may be sent of with the torpedo, or
the war vessel herself NAV run up alongside of
the the enemy and discharge torpedo in passing,
the torpedo being attached t. a boom which
can be run out from ~ to 10 feet from the ship
In any case, If the torpedo is exploded while in
contact with an enemy's ship, II will make an
immense hole below her water-line.
ADMIRAL PoRTER's ToRPEDo BOAT
has just been launched at Brooklyn, and its
mate is nearly ready for launching at Charles
town. These are powerful iron steamers, 40
rect long, propelled by double screws and pro-
vided with massive rams projecting from the
bow under water a considerable distance. These
boats il is believed will be strong enough 10 run
up under the guns of any iron-clad frigate and
sink her without giving her a chance to prevent
1t. The Law torpedo boat, which had so many
trials here last spring is believed to be in prac
tical working order, and If so, IL is the most
terrible engine Of war known. A boat that can
be sent in any direction, beneath the surface of
the water, two or three miles, be steered in any
direction, from which a torpedo may be dis
charged at any time, and which may be brought
back safely after it has done its work, and n
this without any crew except man stand NJ on
shore and operating magnetic instrument,
sounds chmerical enough, but the Lay boat has
done this, ana ii is believed that she can be re-
lied on 10 do 1t every time. Such a boat as this
will supersede all land Notifications, for il can
sink the heaviest iron clads fast as they come
within reach. Commodore Reynolds, chief of
the ordnance bureau. has arrived at the torpedo
station, Tor the purpose of inspecting the estab
lishment and hurrying up the work. The force
has already been increased to about eighty men.
and VIII probably be still further Increased.
Night-work Is contemplated. The officers ex-
pect war vessels here at almost any time, and
intend to he ready to respond to all calls for
torredoes."
PREVENTION OF FIREs.-Some sensible sug-
gestons as to the prevention of fires were made
by the committees of chief engineers, which
closed its sessions in New York Last Eridav