New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-17
THE BEGINNING OF THE DRILL.


THE BEGINNING OF THE DRILL.
DEPARTURE OF THE FLEET FROM KEY wEsT-THE
CRUISE TO FLORIDA BAY-THE OPENING hANEu-
yERs-sUNDAY ON TIE COLORADO.
rRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUsEl
IT, s. FRIGATE COLORADO, BAY or FLORIDA,
Feb. s.-The feet which for 10 long time has been
collecting at Key West, exciting the attention and
conjecture of people both ct home and abroad, has
at length gone into action, although not OF very
hostile character The principal officers OF the fleet
are impressed with the idea that the drll VIII
develop very important and beneficial results; but
the middle-grade officers are not 80 sanguine,
alleging that the era of wooden ships has passed,
and that the result would be far more beneficial if
the attention of the authorities were turned to the
construction Of iron seagoing vessels which could
compete with those of other nations already in
service. According to the official schedule the
following vessels compose the fleet Oh the North
Atlantic station:
Wabash, Capt g. r. Franklin Franklin, Capt. e.
Simpson; Colorado, Capt. @. NJ. Ransom; Lancaster
Capt. s. Nicholson; Brooklyn. Capt. W. T. Truxtonj
Congress Capt. A. c. Rhind; Worcester, Capt W. ID.
whiting; Powhatan Capt j. G. Beaumont; Alaska,
Capt r. Carter; Ticonderoga, Capt f. Barrett Can
sndaigua, Capt. r. b. Lowry; Shenandoah. Capt. T.
Scott FillebrOwD; JuData, Commander ID. l.. Braine
Ossipee, Commander John Waters Wachuset, Com
mander d. b. Taylor; Wyoming, Commander W. b.
Cushing; Kansas, Commander A. V. Reed; shawmut,
Commander ii. l.. Howison.
Iron-clads-Ajax, Capt. =; Dictator, Capt. W. F.
spicer; Canonicus, Capt. -; Mahopac, Commander
James o'Kane Manhattan, Commander A r. Yates
Saugus, Commander A. L. X. Benbam; WyaDdotte,
Capt -.
Tugs-Do.patcn, Lieut. Commander Frederick Rod
gers; Piuta. Lieut. Commander ii. ii. G0rrlnge; For
tune Lieut. Commander F NJ Green MayGower, Lieut.
Commander N. NJ Dyer.
OF this fleet of 30 vessels there actually on the
station only the Wabash, Franklin, Colorado, Ian
caster, Congress. Alaska, Hconderoga Canandaigua,
Shenandoah Wachusett, Wyoming, Kansas, Mabo-
pac Manhattan, Saugus Despatch, Pinta, and For
tune.
OF these the MahOpac, Manhattan, and Saugus
will remain at Key West for the present. In the
event of mimic battle they will probably be moved
to the scene of the exercises. The intention OF
the Navy Department and Of the officials In COM
mand of the fleet ID to exercise 1t to the fullest
possible extent. As such fieet has never before
been cOnRegated at one port within American
waters it was determined to equip 1t as thoroughly
as circumstances would allow and exercise 1t as
fleet in evolutions while under steam. As CommO-
dore Foxhall Parker had written a standard work
ON that branch of naval tactics and one which is in
use in the United States Navy he was called to assist
Rear-Admiral Case III applying the tactlcs as Chief
of staff.
On Monday evening it was ordered that final
preparations should be ended, and that all who were
going to participate should be on board their respect
i've vessels, as the feet would start early IN the
morning. In accordance with the orders of the Adj
mral the second division under.command of Capt.
Ransom, weighed anchor at an early hour on Tues
day. and moved toward the designated position at
the entrance Of the main channel OF the outer har-
bor Some hours after the third division also moved
out into line, but owing TO q slight arrangement OF
the machinery Of the Wachusett the whole fleet, in
obedience to the orders from the flag ship Wabash,
cast anchor for the night AT daylight tho follow
ingmorning however. the feet was again under way,
somewhat retarded this time by the sowness OF
the Shenandoah, which appeared to have some dill
Guilty in preserving her proper position in ine The
start as ordered was made in columns, but changed
to divisions the vessels Of each division forming
abreast, the flagship Wabash moving at will along
the lines. The intention had been to maneuver the
vessels very thoroughly on their way to the Tor
tugas but the uncertainty of finding plenty OF sea
room and the danger of running upon hidden reefs
or treacnerous shoals, made the principal officers
very wary and there was very little attempt to haz-
ard future usefulness by present unnecessary risk
On Wednesday, however, the line was changed so as
TO bring the vessels into single column, in the fol-
lowing order:
Wabash, Pinta. Congress, Canandagua, Wyoming.
Fortune Colorado, Wachlsett, Shenandoah, Despatch,
Lancaster. Alaska, Kansas, and Franklin.
The line, with occasional exceptions was fairly
regular. Now and then vessel would break from
the line and lose her regular distance and position,
but extra efforts were made and soon as circum-
stances would allow she brought into position
again. As all the movements of the vessels were
regulated from the flagship sharp lookout was
necessarily kept on the movements and signals OF
that vessel The poop and quarter-decks of the sew
eral vessels were constantly occupied by the signal
men attached to them and the officers Iwhose special
duty il was to note the movements of the flag All
day long signals regulating the speed, position, and
sails of the vessels running up and down
from the mastheads of the flagship, rendering
necessary the utmost vigilance, as any misnterpre-
tatiou was sure to meet with rebuke. AS the fleet
approached the Tortugas the flagship signaled to
spread fore and aft sails. The stanch old Colorado
the heaviest armed vessel OF the feet. Immediately
spread her acre of canvas at the same time sacken
ing the speed of her engines. So great was the
impetus. however that the little tug Fortune which
was Immediately ia advance of the Colorado, was
Obliged to sheer off to avoid being down, but the
speed of the Colorado increasing with the wind,
Cant Ransom tho commander of the Colorado and
the Second Division was obliged to telegraph
TO the flagship that with fore and ait sails his vessel
could not keep in position, owing 70 her speed The
Franklin which closed the column, had fallen a