The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-22

Captain J. Gore Jones, OF the British Navy, who
has been appointed to watch the evoutions of the
feet, and 1t is supposed, report thereon TO author
tiles at Washington.
The Gettysburg will leave here tomorrow morn
Ing for Pensacola, after which she proceeds to
Aspinwall and will be placed under the orders of
the commissioners of the Darien Exploring Expe-
dition.
Progress Of the Observation-Disclosures
ing Mcn-of-War Like Things OF Life
The Play OF War During the Sixth and
Seventh Days.
ON BOARD THE U. S. FLAGSHIP WABAsH,(
GULF OF FLORIDA, Feb. 49, 1874 !
The violent gale which during Monday and
Tuesday totally interrupted the exercises OF the
neet vanished on Wednesday morning, aud the
weather became everything that could be desired.
On board the flagship the coming of good weather
was hailed with JOY. Commodore Parker and Flag
Lieutenant Solely were early on deck. The mono
tony OF the scene as described in my last was I'M
changed. dreary waste OF water to
be seen on every side, unrelieved by
any traces of land. No chance Tor en-
thusasm over the majesty OF the ocean. When
we have looked upon one green sea we have seen
all green seas. The exercises were begun at the
usual time, and nothing occurred to interfere.
The various vessels are now manGuvred in q
manner showing marked improvement since the
first days. The history or the llth and 18TH of Feb
ruary, far as it relates to the great naval tunc
ton in the Gulf OF Florida, is given below.
The sixth day opened clear and pleasant; fresh
breeze from the northward and eastward; moder.
ate sea- The Despatch was sent to take position
eight miles southeast from her former anchorage,
| to serve as a mark Tor the feet. All vessels
got under way at nine, and formed col
umn of vessels in the natural order heading north.
The Ticonderoga, having been assigned to the
first division took her proper position after getting
under way Considerable time was devoted to
movements in column Of vessels, for practice in
keeping distances and changing direction in
column.
| THE FIRST EVOLUTION
was "Fleet by the left flank" Each vessel came
eight points to port and continued onward, head
ing east, the Congress flying the guide nag
At twenty minutes past eleven, the signal
was made, "From right OF divisions form
columns Of vessels: neet right obhque. right
vessels forward" The vessels on the right of
divisions kept their course. The others obiiqued
! four points and came into column in wake OF
their leaders. Time OF evolution fifteen minutes.
| The next evolution was. Forward into line, left
oblQue.n The leading vessel Of each division,
namely, the Congress- Colorado and Lancaster,
continued onward under steerage way. the
other vessels kept two points to port at full speed,
ana when they mad gained their proper bearing,
regulated their speed by the guide vessel and
stecred the same course. Fifteen minutes were
occupied in this evolution.
At half.past twelve the signal was made, Eject
by the right flank" and was executed same as be-
fore, bringing the neet into column Of vessels,
heading south in close order.
The signal, Heads OF divisions right was
made at one O'Clock. The leading vessel OF each
division kept eight points to starboard at once
the others stood on, and changed their course
cessively as they arrived IN the wake OF their
leaders.
The remainder OF the day was occupied in exc
! cutting flank movements in division columns. At
4:45 signal was made prepare to anchor" and
arrived at 80 from Key West and all adjourned
to their dinners.
THE SEVENTH DAY
began with every prospect OF pleasant weather.
immediate repairs to her boiler was ordered to re-
main at anchor and push forward her repairs as
last as possible. The Pinta was Immediately de.
spatched TO Key West for government boiler
Wyomings place in the Second division. buoy
by the lighthouse tender Geranium, to
serve as "a mark Tor the fleet in
miles north from the lighthouse at the northwest
channel to Key West harbor. At ten the fleet
weighed anchor and formed, column of vessels in
natural order. AT eleven the signal 'Fleet by the
lett dank' was made. This man9uvre has already
beeu been described At halfpast eleven the gen.
eral signal was made, "FrOm the right OF divisions
form column OF vessels, fleet right, right vessel
forward" The vessels on the right Of divisions
TO starb0ard came into column successfully in the
wake OF their leaders. This exercise was exc
cuted in fifteen minutes.
The next signal was divisions forward into
in yesterdays proceedings. Time occupied dlteen
minutes. The fleet was moved twice by the RICH {