The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-02-09
THE BLOCKADING FLEET OFF CHARLESTON

THE BLOCKADING FLEET OFF CHARLESTON
A FEDERAL SQUADRON TAKE,
CHARGE OF THE HARBOR.
The Finest Ships Of tho Navy Will
Assemble for n Comedy of War
The Occasion Will be Made Memo
rable.
Charleston Sunday News.
The greatest heet OF war vessels
that has ever assembled at any South
ern port for manocuvres will be of
Charleston next week. Admira
Francis M. Bunce, with the entire
North Atlantic squadron, supplement
ed by number OF the larger boats o.
other stations, will arrive off Charles
ton carly in -" sn""~.l ok ~ iHebru.
arr, AKA ~. tio weeks Tue greaO ships
OF war will drill and manOeuvre. One
OF the principal features of the rem
Gezvous will be the blockading OF
Charleston harbor. So far as under
stood several OF the swlftest Of the
vessels will undertake to "run the
blockade," while the others will do
everything possible to prevent this
being accomplished. There will be,
it Is supposed, mock battles on the
sea, with boarding and overhauling.
The search lights will each night be
crossing tho waters with bars of fire,
aud each point touched will come out
guns may be used with blank arr NUM-
tion, and the ships will be moving
about constantly.
| a score OF vessels are in the SQUAD
ron Of evolution, and they are Of the
finest and largest in the United States
new aavy. The aggregate cost OF the
ships that will be seen at Charleston
next week Is over $32,000,00O The
number OF officers and men on board
these vessels will be 5,519. The
Indiana, with her great thirteen-inch
guns, is considered the finest battle
| ship in the navy, and a visit from this
ship alone would be considered an
| event of Importance.
The railroads have promised to
make low excursion rates to Charles
ton during the naval rendezvous, and
| thousands OF visitors are expected in
the city. The hotels are preparing
for their coming, and the city will be
en- fete.
All sorts of social functions are pro-
posed, among them being Grand
military and naval ball at the United
States Custom House, but these mat
ters have not been definitely fixed upon
as yet.
Secretary Hillary A. Herbert has
displayed a keen interest in the naval
display In Charleston harbor, and it
Will be interesting at this time to learn
from Secretary Herbert just how the
demonstration about to take place in
Charleston harbor was brought about.
Ia discussing the subject, Secretary
Herbert said /:
Admiral Bnncc came to see me
sometime ago as to what disposition
should be made of the North Atlantic
squadron. He said that he was anxious
to take the feet into Southern waters
for the purpose of instructing his Of
ficers and men in certain cvolutiOns.
1t has been usuarto send the fleet
into the West Indies or tho Gulf of
Mexico for winter practice, but owing
TO the complication with Spain, grow
ing out Of the Cuban controversy, it
was deemed inadvistlblo to proceed too
far south at this time. Admiral Bunce
was anxious to get away from Hamp-
ton Roads for deep sea practice, so he
suggested that Charleston would be q
desirable place for the fleet to rom
deZ Gus while the practice was in pro-
greGs. That suggestion met my cor
dial approval, and | at once directed
him to arrange tho details accord
ingiy.,
1t has been the policy Of the navy
department, during my administra-
tlon, to give our people every reason
able opportunity to see our navy and
receive an object lcsson in the great
work Of building up our navy. l con-
tend that these exhibitions of the
wonderful progress that has been made
In naval architecture can bo better ap-
preciated by such demonstrations as
that proposed in Charleston harbor.
Charleston has excellent facilities for
such an exhibition and [ am glad to
give the people of that city an oppor-
tunity to see the feet. | have en-
| deavored, so far as possible, to display
our modern ships in all parts Of the
country, because our people naturally
| take pride in our greatly improved
naval establishment.
am delighted to note the interest
the people OF Charleston are manifest
ing In the navy generally and the pro-
posed demonstration in particular. 1t
is my purpose to visit Charleston du-
ring the second week in February to
| Vho anu l. nave bO
written the committee to that effect
Not only shall l enjoy witnessing the
manoeuvres of the fleet, but shall be
glad to meet so many OF the citizens of
my native State.'
Secretary Herbert will be accom-
panied to Charleston by Col. II. Stobo
Farrow, auditor Of the war depart
| ment.
The warships will come into the har-
Dor of Charleston, and, in the words
OF Admiral Bunce, "all on board will
be glad to meet the citizens OF Charles
ton and to afford them every facility to
visit the ships" Secretary Herbert
Is coming also, and will be the honored
guest of the Charleston Chamber OF
Commerce.
Mayor Smyth has received the fol-
lowing letter from Admiral Bunce
Fortress Monroe, Va,
January 20, 1897.
Dear Sir. forward by same mail
an acknowledgment of the resolutions
OF the City Council Of the City Of
Charleston, received at tho same time
with your letter of the 9th inst. and
thank you most heartily for your ex
pressed intention OF entertaining me
As have stated in my reply to the
City Council, it is impossible for the
heavier ships Of the force under my
command to enter the harbor of Char