The Portland daily press., 1896-05-11
SHIPS AT ANCHOR.
A Gallant Fleet in the Harbor OF New
York.

Warships Ready for the Sea-Most Formid-
able American Fleet Ever Assembled
A Beautiful Sight,
New York, May 9-Before next Sun
day week the most formidable American
fleet ever assembled will be anchored
off Staten Island -Four of, the vessels
which are to compose this force of Un-
Gle Sans ironclads are there already,
namely, the New York, Admiral Bunoe's
flagship, commanded by Captain Win.
field Scotch Sohley; the Cincinnati, Cap
tain Mortimer L. johnson; the Mon5
gomery, Commander O. n. Davis, and
the Raleigh, Captain Merrill Miller.
The Newark, now completing her re-
pairs in the Brooklyn navy yard, under
temporary comma nd of Lieutenant c.
G. Cornwell, will anchor near her sister
ships on Monday.
M-And the monitor Terror and the ram
Katahdin, also in the Brooklyn navy
yard, will in all probability be added to
the fleet on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Besides these, tho cruiser Columbia
will come up from Hampton Roads next
week, commanded by Captain James H.
Sands, and the battle ship Maine, Cap
tain Aren't S. Crowinshield, will accom-
pany her.
The flagship New York and the cruiser
Raleigh arrived on Thursday night from
Hampton Roads, and anchored off Tomp
kinsville, the former about 400 yards from
St. George, the latter further of.
The two other ships came from Now
London yesterday forenoon, and anohoreu d
lower down and further out.
With their white hulls and yellow
smoke--stacks they present
A BEAUTIFU L SIGHT;
nothing, however, to what it will be
when the other ships rendezvous. The
whose feet will have 396 guns, and will
be manned by from five to six thousand
seamen of the best quality.
What every one was asking yesterday
| was, what is this great sea force as
| sem bling for? Is it for emergencies in
| case of trouble with England, for a
! threatened war with..Spain, or merely fol
summer cruise and the praoticing of
the ocean manoeuyers which Rear Admi-
raj Bunce Is SO fond of.
Tompkinsville was pretty lively yester-
day what with sailors and marines or
shore leave. About one hundred mer
from each ship who live in Greater New
York or IT'D vicinity got leave to see their
| friends, and number OF the crews of the
| four vessels were seen In the city last
| night enjoying themselves.
American tourists Europe-bound may
feel thrill of pride when they look upon
the array Of warships the liners pass in
review when going out or coming into
port. They will know that these superb
engines of war were fashioned by Ameri
can ship-wrights and built of American
| steel.
The fleet. when finally assembled, vii
consist of the battleships Indiana, Mass
achusetts, and Texas, the armored cruis-
ers New York and Maine, the commerce
destroyer Columbia, the ram Katahdin,
the double-turreted monitor Terror, an6
the cruisers Cincinnati, Newark, Mont
gomery, and Raleigh. Twelve fine ship
In all! Acting Rear Admiral Bunc,
should feel proud Of his command.
While not anticipating any information
al trouble, the Commander in Chief hat
deemed it advisable to keep his fleet read,
for instant service whenever called on
Every commanding officer has received
orders to keep his vessel constantly coaled
and with the full regulation supply OF
stores and ammunition on board. 1t
was boast made by an officer of th
flagship yesterday that any vessel of thu
fleet, or the entire body would be able t,
trip anchor and start on voyage to an,
part OF the world within two hours after
| the reception Of orders to go.