The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-14
1T WAS THE VESUVIUS
THAT SUCCESSFULLY RAN THE
BLOCKADE Al CHARLESTON,
And the Speedy Little Cruiser Repeat
Discontinue of Admiral Bunce.

CHARLESTON, S. c., Feb. 13.-The sue
cessful running of the blockade by the We
suvius Thursday night is to-day COM
handing the admiration of hundreds OF
Charlestonians who ran the real blockade
in war times thirty years ago. Her trip
confirmed their belief that blockade run
ming is still possible. Notwithstanding the
developments of modern naval practice,
the aid of electric searchlights. high-speed
ships, long range guns and numerous
rapid-fire secondary batteries, all unknown
during the last war. To add to the dis
comfiture of the blockading fleet the saucy
little craft actually succeeded in repeating
her feat last night. Under orders from Ad-
miral Bunce the Vesuvius early in the
afternoon yesterday left the squadron and
steamed northward until she was lost to
sight. From that moment everybody on
the fleet was on the alert; every nerve was
strained, and the big searchlights sent long
streams of light as night fell in every di-
rection. 1t was all in vain, for about mid
night rocket went UP close to the flagship
and Admiral Bunce thus received notice
that the little flyer was lying quietly at
anchor alongside him after having cut
through the middle OF the fleet of watchers.
me DIOchduerS were nucn cndSTlneu, Out
explained the run was successful this time
owing TO the inability of the searchlights
to pierce the fog which lay thick over the
sea. The Vesuvius will probably again
play hide-and-seek with the squadron to-
night If conditions favor the attempt
Meanwhile the blockade line has been
strengthened The big battle ship Massa-
chusettS, sister ship to the Indiana ar
rived at noon to-day from New York, and
was promptly placed on station, and the
monitor Amphitrite, which came up to the
city few days ago for coal, has gone OUT
side the harbor and joined the fleet.
Naval officers on the station are seriously
concerned over the success of the Fesuvius
in these two trips and they have given
food for very disquieting thoughts to
evil possibilities in times Of war. 1t is not
so much the possibility thus made plain OF
d small boat Of the NeSuvius type eluding
the most watchful vigilance and all of the
aids of modern science and discipline-such
a craft could not infilct much damage AS "a
blockade runner, because it would not be
abel to carry cargo of any considerable
bulk and value-but it stands revealed to
naval officers that the Vesuvius on hostile
intent. might easily have blown up any of
the most formidable battle ships in the
fleet with her dynamite guns or with tor
pedO outfit, and If this is possible for the
NeSuviuS ii will be much more for one
OF the tiny and almost invisible torpedo
boats, not third the size of the Vesuvius
and that per cent. faster. Hence the con-
Germ that is felt in the fleet at the proba-
bility of finding an OUTCOME in Il revision of
the tactics that have been adopted from the
foreign practice TO govern biOckadeS. The
cruiser Marblehead has been ordered to
leave Charleston next week, and it is un-
0erGtoOd that she will go to the naval sta
ton at Port Royal to repair the damages
she sustained in the storm she encountered
en- the way down from Haml ton Roads.