The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-15
RETURN OF THE FERN.
GIadness at Mntanxas Stifled by an
OverpowerinE Dread.

OVcrpOWerlnE Dread.
Key West, March 14.-The United States
dispatch boat Fern arrived this afternoon
from Matanzas. The Ferns trip was un-
eventful. She reached Matanzas on SAT-
urday and at once began discharging pro-
visions into lighters. On shore a few per-
sons had gathered, but there was no dem
onstration of any kind. The share Of the
provisions for Matanzas was gotten lid
of in a business-like way and the Fern then
sailed for Sagua la Gran1e, where the
same programme was gone through on
Sunday, the operation of landing the
stores occupying about dve hours.
United States Consul Barker boarded the
Fern upon her arrival at Sagua to see an
American ship once more, even though It
was only the little Fern. The consul said
there were about 5000 starving recon-
centrados in his district
An officer of the Fern said to a corre-
spondent of the Associated Press to-day:
1T seemed as IL the gladness of the
wretched Cubans at our arrival was stihed
by the overpowering dread that hangs over
the people of Cuba, and that could not be
dispelled even with the coming OF the rood
for which they longed Naturally, we
saw little. Ours was no exploring trip But
we saw enough to convince us that the
stories emanating from Matanzas, and es-
pecially from Sagua la Grande, are not
exaggerated"
The Fern win probably go back with
more provisions about Friday.
The torpedoes and shells which arrived
Saturday were transferred to-day to Fort
Taylor, and considerable excitement raised
over the rumors that they were being
placed in position. An officer, who would
be connected with such work, however,
denied this report, and said: When you
see these mines or torDedoes being placed
you can make up your mind
that war is more imminent than
it is at present. They will
not be put in position until the last mo-
ment, for however good the mine, IL is
always liable to become useless through
the action of the water
1--WE are not going to risk the usefulness
of expensive explosives by premature sub
merson. All these toBSNdoes can be laid
in twenty-four hours. II we laid them
now they would not only be liable to cor
rosion, but everybody on the island would
| get an idea of their positions.
1.-THE delicate nature of these defense
torpedoes seems hardly to have beeen re-
allied by theorists as to the Maine explo-
| sion. 1t is incomprehensible to me thai
| the Spanish government in times of peace
| allowed high-priced torpedoes to lie at the
| mercy of the water in Havana harbor. II
would be against the judgment of all eX-
| perts and the practice ofIall governments
for nowadays, these weapons can be laio
| at the shortest notice.
although do not think Havana harboi
| was mined, know there were torpedoes
| in MORO castle and the naval arsenal thai
can be put in position very quickly"
The return of the court of inquiry Ii
| wearlly awaited, especially by the officers
| of the Maine, who will have been here g
month next Wednesday. They have beer
expecting to go to their homes on every
boat of late, and now that hope is de-
| ferred added to the fact that they are still
without adequate wardrobes. makes then
thoroughly discontinued. Their orders
which are here awaiting the courts pleas
ure, provide that they shall return to theil
homes and await orders, which probably
means a months leave.
The Impression is growing here that thu
report of the court of inquiry viii not b.
presented for some time yet. More tor
pedoes are expected, and some of these viii
l be taken to Tortugas for submarine de
| fense.
The torpedo boat Winslow has arrived
from Charleston, and the schooner Harry
| A. Bruner, Capt Hewitt, from Philadel
phia, is here with 1900 tons of coal for the
fleet The Winslow made the longest rur
ever made by a torpedo boat without
touching at port or coaling.
The fleet is reported stationary.