The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-12
HER MISSION
A MYSTERY
The Cruiser il Is; New York Suddenly
Sails From Boston. .
HER COMMANDER GIVEN SEALED
oRDERs-THE CRUISER MAY BE
BOUND FOR cUBA-FULLY PRO-
v1sroNED AND coALED THE
wARsHIP WEIGHED ANCHOR
WHILE A FURIOUS GALE WAS
BLOWING AND STEAMED OUT
OF THE HARBoR-MAY BE Az
TER FILIBUsTERs.

Boston, Mass, June 1.-THE United
States cruiser New York, the flagship of
the North Atlantic squadron, with Rear
Admiral Montgomery Sicnrd on board,
steamed out of the harbor at 5o'clock
this afternoon, not soul on BOARD know
ing to what port she is bound, for it will
only be when the big white cruiser is
we'll utside Of Boston Light, with her
pilot over the side, that the sealed orders
from Washington will be opened and
her destination ascertained. 1t is gener.
ally believed, however, that when she
reaches Cape Cod she will turn her nose
to the southwark, and that her twin
screws will not stop until she is some
where in the immediate neighborhood OF
Cuha; for when she tarted she was fully
prov'sioned and coaled, and could, if nee
essary, go so far as Gibraltar or Rio Jo-
metro without laying in more supplies
The New York arrived here on May 2G
to participate in the ceremonies atterd-
ing the unveiinR Of the Shaw monument
The battleahip Massachusetts came with
the flagship, while the battleship Texas
had arrived same days previously The
Texas left a.few days ago, but the other
two SHIPS have been swinging Mt their
moorings off the navy yard until to-day.
That Rear Admiral Sicarl smust have
had some linking of nm important cruise
oSSiio PhObhOC lrOiD UIlC lttCU UnuU LOT The
past few days the entire crew OF the New
York have been hard ut work getting the
ship ready for sea, while her coal bunkers
have teen filled to overfiowing.
1t was supposed, however, that the
cruiser would run around to New York
or perhaps Hampton Roads, and local
pilot was Eotified that the ship would
probably proceed to sen in day or two,
and that his services would be required
Early this morning something more
than the usual activity was noticed on
board, aud soon the excitement extended
to the navy yard. 1t was seen that all the
steam launches were being hoisted aboard
and secured as if for n long voyage, while
extra precautions appeared to be taken to
make everything snug.
at noon an officer came ashore and no.
titled the pilot to report or board at once
and shortly after B o'clock it became
known that sealed orders had been re-
ceived from the Navy Department by AID.
miral Sicard. Shortly..after o'clsrk the
guns of the cruiser boomed parting sa-
Lutte to Commodore Howison, of the navy
yard. The anchor WAS weighed, and the
cruiser swung around in the stream, and
started out 70 sea, although furious
gale was blowing.
Washington, June 1.-THE Navy De-
pal tment officials were singularly re.
served about the movements of the New
York, and showed reluctance TO answer
any questions. Secretary Long in an
swer to a direct Interrogation, replied,
THE New York is not going to Cuba; she
will next be heard from at some point ON
the Atlantic coast well north CT Cuba"
The secretary refused 70 answer further,
standing on the short reply above given.
The chief of the navigation bureau, who
usually is always ready to tell where
ship is bound, refused to say one word as
to the destination of the New York, 1t
was learned, however that the cruiser is
expected to report at Hampton Roads,
Va, and that she will be at sen about
two days. 1t is surmised that the Navy
Department, which has been charged of
late with the whole of the duty of looking
after filibusters afoat, has .been advised
of the intention of some formidable expe-
dition bound for Cuba to put out from
some Northern port, possibly out of Del
aware Bay; or perhaps there is to be
repetition o. the Horsa expedition, and
some steamer Is to take on arms for the
Cubans off one of the deserted sand
beaches of Jersey or Delaware. In such
case the department. would send out
smaller cruiser usually, but it is said that
at this time 1t was q case of the choice of
the vessel able to get under way first.
SOAKED IJIS HEAD