The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-18
BLOCKADE is LIFTED.
MANEUVRES AT CHARLESTON
ARE ABOUT OVER.
Fleet to Be Visited by Secretary Her
bert Today and Several Days of
Pleasure Will Follow-Results of
the Practice.

Charleston, S. c., Feb. lit is under
stood that the maneuvres of Admiral
Bunce's fleet, off Charleston, are about
over. and the remaining two 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, when he sails out
in the Dolphin, which came into port
this morning, tomorrow, but the work
which the fleet came to Charleston for
has been accomplished. 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
looking for flibusters, and the Maine
will proceed to New Orleans. Should the
Terror join the feet in the meantime, she
will go to Norfolk with the flagship. The
Amphitrite will remain here until Mon
day.
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 the guests of Charleston during their
stay here. Governor Ellerbe, all the
chief state officials and the 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 city han, and at night a
dinner will be given by the chamber of
commerce. Speeches will be made by
Secretary Herbert. Attorney General Har-
mon, Mayor Smyth and others. Friday
a military and naval ball will be ten
dered the visitors by me city. And this
will probably conclude the blockade of the
port of Charleston.
1t is impossible just now TO rightly esti-
mate the results of the maneuvres. Off
rRA rr~fn not tor oil
express great satisfaction at all that oc-
CURED. This consisted mainly in exer-
cises with the searchlights and guns of
the ships. Nightly there was practicing
with the lights on ships, boats sent out
for the special purpose. The ship would
pick the boat up and then following II
with the light. record would be made
of the observations taken at all dis
tances 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
tice the most. The New York. for in
stance. struck her target no less than 20
times during the practice with both of
her batteries. While the officers do not
say So il is probable that the work with
the searchlights was somewhat disap
pointing at first. On clear nights, the
lights achieved powerful results but they
proved utterly inadequate to cope with
the heavy fog or mist. On the night when
the Vesuvius ran the blockade, the lights
did not carry 800 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.
currents nor gear of any md receiving
any injury.