Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-18
BLOCKADE VIRTUALLY OVER
Feasting and Good Cheer Is Now
in Order.
FINE TARGET PRAC TIC {
lnduIged in by the Middies and General Salts
faction Resulted
FLASHLIGHTS ARE NOT SATISFACTORY
Did Very Well in Clear Weather, but
Gould Not Penetrate Fog-Where
the Ships Will Go on
GETAWAY Day.

Charleston, S. c., Feb. 17.--It is under
stood that the maneuvers of Admiral
Bunce's fleet off Charleston are about
over, that the remaining two days which
the ship will remain in these waters will
be spent in feasting and in 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 this port this morning,
tomorrow, but the work for which the
ships came to Charleston has been ac-
complished and the fleet will break UP
Saturday. 1t is understood that the New
York, Columbia, Massachusetts,, Indiana
and Fern will proceed direct to Hampton
Roads for coal and from thence to New
York, where they will arrive not later
than March 2. The Dolphin and Vesuvi-
us will go to the Florida coast looking
for filibuSterS and the Maine viii pro-
ceed to New Orleans. Should the Terror
join the fleet in the meantime she will go
to Norfolk with the flagship. The Am
phitrlte will remain here until Monday.
Tomorrow Secretary Herbert, Attorney
General Harmon, Admiral Gherardi and
a distinguished party of ladies and gen
tlemen will arrive in the city. They will
be guests of Charles ton during their stay
here. Gov W. H. Ellerbee and the state
officials and members of both houses of
the general assembly will also be in the
city for the occasion. A public reception
will be held by Secretary Herbert in the
afternoon at the city hall, and al 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
rendered the visitors by the city. And
this will probably conclude the blockade
of the port of Charleston.
1t is impossible just now to rightly es-
innate the results of the manouvres.
officers who will discuss the matter at all
express great satisfaction at what has
ly in exercises with the searchlights and
guns of the ships. Nightly there was
practicing with the lights on ships boa is
sent out for the special purpose. The
ship would pick the boat up and then,
following it with the light, record would
be made of the observa tions taken at all
distances until the limit of the light was
reached. The practicing with the main
batteries was especially important and
interesting. With the smaller guns con-
siderable accuracy was developed, some
of the ships striking their floating tar
gets frequently. The work with the heavy
pieces was less accurate, but far more
instructive, as the men needed this prac-
tice the most. The New York, for in
stance, struck her target no less than
twenty times during the practice with
both Of her batteries.
While the officers do not say So 1t is
probable that the work with the search
lights was somewhat disappointing at
times On clear nights the lights achieved
perfect results, but they proved utterly
inadequate to cope with fog or heavy
mist. On the night which the Vesuvius
ran the blockade the lights did not carry
400 yards.
The Maine will leave the fleet tomorrow
and proceed to Port Royal, where she
will coal. 1t is stated positively by per-
sons 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.