The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-02-14
PASSED THE BLOCKADE.
The Dynamite Cruiser Vesuyius Success
fully Slides Past the Squadron.
AIDED HOWEVER BY IMPENEIRkBLE FOG
Previous Reported Attempts Ancor.
rcct-A Regular land
Eo:-Scarcli Lights Proved OF No
IAsnti-The DcIulcst Fleet Make
Eight OF Ihc llhttcS.

Charleston, S. c.. Feb. 13-They say
down at Admiral Bunce's fleet to-day
that it WAS neither a fair nor an official
test, but the fact still remains that the
harbor last night with an ease that
startled the squadron. The run was
made early in the evening. the cruiser
crossing the dead line ana wliStling Il
notice Of her success at 1872 O'Clock.
PREVIOUS REPORTS INCORRECT.
Statements have been made to the ef-
feet that the NeSuvius ran the block
ade on the first day that she Joined tho
fleet, but these are absolutely incorrcc.
An oiilceI from one Of the WarShipS wlo
saw the dynamitcr come in is authority
for this statement. Everybody is Of
course, excited over the event Of la.t
night. The officers OF the blockadn:;
line, of course. make very little Of the
achievement Of the cruiser. but The men
or the NeSuvius look at 1t in :, differ
ent light.
\ REGULAR BANKS EOC:
The order for the ships to fall into
me blockading line was signallad
from the flagship Il bit earlier than
uSual. The four ships then on duty. tnr
battlcship Indiana and cruiser Colum-
hlt steamed To the southwark taking
positions at intervals Of 5000 yards.
shortly after o'clock the NcSuvtus
Grew away TO the south also, ana was
soon LOST in tho fog. The wea thcr Lad
been bad for several days ana as nigh,
came cn a fo:, settled down u:,on the
race of the water hat kept every i.r
bell out beyond Sumter ringins At
CLOCK the test was well begun The
hlockadinG ships brought II cir search
liGEts into play. and II was Then .or
the first time that they began to rraJiyn
how small was their chance OF detrri-
hs me Nesuvus. Tho lights, which
usually threw Il brilliant path of ro,,I
anco for 5000 yards over the water.
proved utterly inadequate to tho task
of penetrating the fog
SEARCH LIGHTS OF NO Avail,
Objects 800 yardr away could scarcely
ne distinguished with the aid oC tho
most powerful of the searchlights and
when IL is remembered that Tho shins
were 5000 yards apart il will IL. ,col;ly
ina2incd that the Vesuvius had uretty
much everything her own way. She had
zone several miles TO sea and then re-
turned. As she approached the block
aIlhG line all Of her lights were shro,,d
tones. '''''NA
The little cruiser can under fayor,hl.
circumstances make 4 little better than
."ehE-tWo knots, but she did not tax
her capacity last night Her engines
were brought down 10 Il normal speed
tho heading in between two Of the fleet,
~, n
ioia OF trouble. All the precautions
Wh1ch she had taken 10 escape dctec-
Hon were useless, for in that fog She
could nave come III Just as we'll with all
nights going and never been seen.
MAKE LIGHT OF THE MATTER
Inc matter was made very ligh, of on
me iieet day and ii was claimed that the
tsSt co'i!n nor he counted as a fair one
1t IS a little difficult, however, TO crasn
The coGency Of this reasoning. /, is true
mas only four ships were on duty. the
Amph!iritc and Marbchead both being
III port, and il is likewise true That the
night was favorable TO tha blockade
runner. but it might be observed that
were inc NesnVlus real bloIilatier she
would probably have selected Just such
weather FOR her expedition, ana Admiral
Bunce knew lie did not have but four
or his ships IN line when ne gave the
NesuviuS her orders
DEMONSTRATIONS \ FAIR ONE.
Inc Nes'vius seems TO have demon
sirated fairly We'll on the whole that
tour of UNCLE Sans best wnrships would
not nc ne ape 10 keep Ltickader out Of
Cnar.cSton harbOr. All she would have
70 do would he to wait for Il heavy fon
ana then run in between the lines The
result OF The attempt to be made to-
night Will be waited with interest The
battleship Massachusetts joined the fleet
- t''H .'tNA 'It IilllI.lt mas resumed
hcr place in the line, the attempt will
consequently be made with six ships I'm
action. The weather is clear and cOndi-
ions are far more proptious for the
fleet.
THIS ATTEMPT UNSUCCESSFUL.
The dynamite cruiser Vesuvius made
live unsuccessful attempts to run the
blockade Tonight. The conditions were
exactly reversed from last night. as the
ar was free from fog or mist and the
Scarch.iShts worked perfectly For
stretch Of nine miles the waters Of the
Atlantic in front Of Charles on harbor
briStled with Uncle Sans floating forts
and CLEANED with the restless arrows
dozens of search lights. From the beach
channel on the north to Pumpkin Chan
mel on the south, the fleet Eeld the line
in the following order: Massachusetts
Maine. Amphitrite, New York, Indiana
and Columbia. The line was established
ut Z O'Clock and Eesuvius was sent out
10 sea.
The searchlights began at once to play
over the waters.
MAINE, CATCHES THE VESUVIUS.
1t was about 1885 when Light from
the Maine stopped in it's wandey.ngs and
beamcd long and steadily upon ore spot
The cause WAS soon known. She had
caught the Nesuvius. \ red and green
costOn signal told the tale and the lights
Of the fleet turned upon the spot brought
the white hull OF the cruiser into full