The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-15
UNDER SEALED ORDERS.
n Flagship New York Leaves Boston in
a Heavy Gale Under Sealed Orders-Sur.
misses AS to Her Destination.

misses AS to Her Destination.
Boston. June 10.-The United States
cruiser, New York. the flagship Of the
North Atlantic squadron, with Rear
Admiral Montgomery Sicard on board,
steamed out Of the harbor at ) O'Clock
this afternoon. not a soul on board
knowing to what port she is bound, for
it will only be when the big white CRUZ
ser is well outside of Boston light, with
her pilot over the side, that the sealed
orders from Washington will be open
ed and her destination ascertained. 1t
is generally believed, however, that
when she reaches Cape Cod she will
turn her nose to the southwark n
that her twin screws will not stop until
she is some where in the immediate
neighborhood of Cuba; for when she
started she was fully provisioned and
coaled, and could, if necessary, go as
far as Gibraltar or Rio Janeiro, with
out laying in more supplies.
The New York arrived here on May
Goth to participate in the ceremonies
attending the unwilling Of the Shaw
monument. The battleship Massachu-
sets came with the flagship, while the
battleship Texas had arrived some days
previously. The Texas left a few days
dSo, Dul lie olltI INO SHIPS nave DetH
swinging at their mornings off the navy
yard until today.
That Rear Admiral Sicard must have
had some inkling of an important
cruiSe seems probable from the fact
that for the past few days the entire
crew Of the New York have been at
work getting the ship ready for sea-,
while her coal bunker nave been filled
to overlooking. 1t was supposed, how
ayor that tho nrIIiCar u-nI,l1 my q rn1rr1
to New York, or, perhaps, Hampton
Roads and a local pilot was notified
that the ship would probably proceed
to sea in a day or two and that his SER
vices YOU be required.
Early this morning something more
han the usual activity was noticed on
board, and soon the excitement extend
ed to the navy yard. 1t was seen that
all the steam launches were being
hoisted aboard and secured as if for a
long voyage. while extra precautions
appeared to be taken to max every
thing snug.
At noon an officer came ashor and
notified the pilot to report on board at
once, and shortly after 3 o'clock it be-
came known that sealed orders lac
been received from the nav depart
ment by Admiral Sicard.
Shortly after 4 o'clock the guns of
liz " IoN "a " pdI ing SdluLC "
Commodore HOwisOn, Of the nav yard.
The anchor was weighed and the crui-
ser swung ound in the stream and
started out to sea, although a furious
gale was blowing.
Washington, June 10.-The navy de-
partment officials were S~ingularly re-
served about the movements of the
New York and showed a reluctance to
answer any questions. Secretary Long,
in answer to a direct Interrogation re-
piled: THE New York is not going to
Cuba; she will next be heard from at
some point on the Atlantic coast, we'll
north of Cuba" The secretary refused
to answer further, standing on the
short reply above given. The chief Of
the navigation bureau, who usually is
always ready to tell where a ship is
bound for, refused to say one word as
to the destination of the New York. It
was learned, however, that the cruiser
is expected 70 report next at Hampton
Roads, Va, and hat she will be at
sea about two days. 1t is surmised
hat the nav department. which las
been charged Of late with the whole of
the duty of looking after filibusters
aflOat, has been advised of the inten-
ton of some formidable expedition
bound for Cuba, to put out from some
northern port, possibly out of Della
ware bay, or perhaps there is to be a
repetition of the Horsa expedition, and
some steamer is to take Oh arms for
the Cubans off one of the nov deserted
sand beaches of Jersey or Delaware.
In such case the department wOuld
send out a smaller cruiser usually, but
it is said that at this time it was a
case Of the choice of the vessel able to
get underway first.