New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-08

been wounded
BAD WEATHER CREATES APPREHENSION
KEY WEST sQrADRoSs OFFICERS FEAR STORM
MORE THAN THE SPANISH Guns.
Key West. Fla. May "A heavy northwest
wind IS png the waters Of the Gulf up noun
tain high and fenr is expressed for the safety
O, some Of the vessels Of the blockadng squad
ron in the event OF the storm turning into
"norther" "Northers' and hurricanes are the
terror OF the mariners OF these waters, and this
morning the Indications pointed strongly toward
the possibility IL "norther" The prevailing
winds At this season 0. the ear the northeast
trades This morning the mercury fell rapidly.
and the wind which from the southwest.
hauled around to the northwest. and by o'clock
was blowing hall a gale.
Tn. SCI rose into great pillows. whose white
crests were torn OF and carried In flying spuine
10 the leeward Some Of the dispatch boats
which had headed for Cuba In the face or these
premonitory symptoms Of a heavy storm put
about and returned to Key West. Ever since
the blockade Of Cuban ports was established the
only real apprehension that has been felt for the
safc:y Of the feet has been due - the posi-
br.ty ~ a storm which might drive some OK the
smaller ships on the coast Of Cuba They
on leo shore with every harbor the coast
IN the possession 81 the enemy. and more than
one naval officer has shaken his head as he
hinted az the possibility OF another Samoan dis
aster The only place on the north coast OF
cuba where a refuge might be found is In the
lee u Salt Key Shoal. about nifty miles northeast
OF Cardenas.
There is Of course no doubt as 10 the ability
II the warships TO ride out any gale OF wind
II there were sea room; but Ice shore strikes
terror into the heart Of the stoutest sailor Some
Of the naval officers In discussing the possibility
OF being caught by a "norther' or hurricane.
have said that the only real safety would lie In
steaming into the blockaded ports and taking
possession witt shot and shell. Fortunately
"nnrthcrs'' are rare at this season OF the year.
and the terrific West Indian hurricanes seldom
av;ear before the latter part OF July. The
larger ships could easily weather any storm
likely TO rage az this season. The principal dan
ger would be for the torpedo boats. which are
not built 70 withstand heavy weather at sea-
The llsht-draught gunboats. like the Wilmington
and the Helena. which draw nine feet each. and
the Castine the Annapolis and the vicksburg
which draw twelve feet. are like can buoys when
their matches are battened down. and their ma
chinery Is heavy enough 10 keep them on shore
IN any thing short Of hurricane.
one of the officers ashore tonight said: 1T Is
all very we'll for the War Department 10 hest
tate about throwing troops into Cuba with the
wet season close at hand: but the Administra-
ton ought to think little at least about the
fleet We living within from three 20 ten
miles OF hostile coast where there iS not a
port open TO us and in two months We will be
in the midst OF the hurricane season. We can
take Ma.anzas or any other port except. per-
haps Havana, in half an hours bombardment.
but we cannot guarantee 10 clear the haroor Of
mines ir that time and we don't want TO have
to do either. lying TO in the teeth OF a "norther.
IF we nre going to remain on this station we
ought ~ have at least one port at our com
mand. or you will wake up some morning TO
read the story OF another Samoan disaster OFF
Cuba The damage gale would do to this
feet or Cuba would probably be greater than we
would get in whipping the whole Spanish At
lan,ic Squadron
The eunboat Annapolis and the other vessels
OF her class have the advantage Of being bark
entine rigged and better fitted to weather gale.
In the event of a sudden and severe storm there
are but two courses open TO vessel caught
with the one hundred miles OF Cuban coast
under her lee One is 10 steam out In the eye
OF tho gale III under the shelter Of Sand Key
light. at the entrance to Key West Earbor. n
distance OF eighty miles. and the other to make
Salt Key shoals one hundred and forty miles
from Havana but only ffty-thr miles from
Cardenao, the eastern end Of the blockade line.
THE AUXILIARY BOARDS WORK.
The Naval Auxiliary Cruiser Board devoted Itself
chiefly yesterday to the preparation OF weekly re-
port on the vessels examined. This was forwarded
TO the Navy Department Inst evening The more