The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-02-24
Their Work is Done.
Blockading Fleet Will Have
Two Days of Play.


Bunce's feet off Charleston are about
over and the remaining days which
the ships will remain in these waters
will be spent in feasting and pleasure.
There will doubtless be review in
the presence of Secretary Herbert OF
the navy when he sails out in the
Dolphin, which came into port this
morning. to morrow, brt the wo:k
for which the ships came . Charles
ton has been accomplished end the
fleet will breat up Saturday 1t is
understood that the New York, Col
umbia, Massachusetts, Indiana and
Fern will proceed direct . Hampton
Roads for coal and from thence to
New York. where they Will arrive
not later than March 2 The Dol
phin and .Vesuviius; will go to the
Florida coast looking for 6libustering
parties. and the Maine will proceed
to New Orleans The Amphitrite
will remain until Saturday To NOR
row Secretary Herbert, Attorney
General Harmon, Admiral Gherardi
aud distinguished parry of ladies
and gentlemen will arrive inthe city
They will be the guests of Charleston
during their stay here. Governor
w H Ellerbe, all the chief State
officials and the members Of both
houses of the general assembly will
also be in the occasion A public
reception will be held by Secretary
Herbert in the afternoon at the city
hall and at night dinner will be
given by the chamber Of commerce
Speeches will be made by Secretary
Herbert, Attorney General Harmon,
Mayor Smyth and others Friday a
military and naval ball will be ten
dcred the visitors by the city And
this will probably conclude the block
ade of the port of Charleston.
1t is impossible just now to rightly
estimate the results of the manoeu-
vres Officers who will discuss the
matter at all express great satisfaction
with what has been accomplished
This consisted mainly in exercises
with the search lights and sguns Of
the ships. Nightly there was prac-
ticing with the lights on ships boats
sent out for the special purpose The
ship would pick toe boat up and then
following it with the light a record
would be made of the observations
taken at all distances until the limit
of the light was reached. Practicing
with the main batteries was especial
Iy important aud INTEREST," :, With
the smaller guns considerable accu
racy was developed, some of the
ships striking their floating target
frequently The work of the heavy
pieces was lees accurate, but far more
instructive, as the men needed this
practice the most The New York,
for instance, struck her target no
less than 70 times during the practlce
with both of her batteries. While
the officers do not say 80 it lie pro-
bable that the work of the search
lights was somewhat disappearing
at times On clear nights tie lights
achieved perfect results, but they
proved utterly inadequate to cope
with the heavy fog Or mist. On tie
night which the Vesuvius ran the
blockade the lights did not carry 500
yards
The Maine will leave the feet to-
morrow and proceed to Port Royal
where she will coal. 1t is stated
positively by persons in a position to
know OF what they speak that the
ships stood the firing of the great
guns well, neither the guns, turrets
nor gear of any kind receiving any
injury.