Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-20
Regular Troops Are Speeding to the
South by Rail.
GREETED WITH CHEERS EN- ROUTE
Great Enthusiasm Manifested by
National Guard at All Points.
ACTIVITY IN THE NAVY

in readiness for the battalion of invasion
| to proceed south. The steamer Panther.
which is to convey the battalion to Key
West, and probably to Cuba, is not quite
| ready, being still at the Morgan iron works,
where a gang of mechanics is busily en-
gagged making necessary alterations. The
Panther which was formerly the Venezue-
la of the Red ID Line, will go into commits
sion about noon today, under command of
Captain Reiter, who reported to Admiral
Bunce this morning.
The Scorpion will be ready to sail by
! Friday aud the Sterling by Monday. The
San Francisco will be locked probably by
the end of this week, and it is expected
that the vessel will be ready in less than
ten days. The monitor Nahant will leave
her anchorage off Tompkinsvile, 81, this
forenoon for the yard.
The New Orleans is now lying alongside
| the coal dock directly forward of the San
Francisco. Several mechanics are at work
on her, but just what alterations are be-
ing made could not be ascertaned at the
commandments Office.
AT the commandments Office this morning
it was said that no vessels would leave thu
navy yard today.
Signal station at Quogue, l.. /.
In accordance with hurried orders re-
ccived from Washington, d large force OF
men were put to work today erecting d
high signal station ut Quogue, L. l., for
the use Of the signal corps of the New
York Naval Reserve. All the carpenters
near Quogue have been called into requiSi-
ton, and the frame tower ii is expected ,
Will be ready within twenty-four hours.
The men Will work all night. The mem
bers Of the signal corps VINO are to flash
war signals between the Long Island coast
and the cable building in New York will
probably be at their posts tomorrow night.
Superintendent kimball of the life-saving
service has been authorized by the govern
ment to use the life-saving crews il
operation with the signal corps in watch
ing for hostile vessels.
The office of the Spanish consul general
was the scene OF great activity today. The
entire corps of officials was ON hand, and
ali of them were preparing 10 close up tne
affairs of the Office.
There were about fifty impecunious Span
iards in the office, all of whom received
passports and passage on the Spanish
steamer Panama tc Havana.
Consul Baldansala refused to be inter-
viewed.
Naval Auxiliary Board.
1t is probable that the remaining work
of the naval auxiliary board may be rushed
to a finish, or that the present board will
be dissolved and the government make
other arrangements for the purchase OF
vessels in this vicinity. Yesterday Naval
Constructor Tawresey, while in Brooklyn,
where he and other members of the board
had gone to inspect a number of sea-going
tugs, received telegram ordering his i'm
mediate detachment: from the hoard
He has been appointed to personally SUI
perintend the changes to be made on
the four recently purchased American Line
steamers in the Cramps shipyards in Phil
adeiphia. He returned at once to this city
and left early this morning for his appoint
ment.
A member Of the board said today that
in his opinion the board officers were want
ed by the government for other and more
important duties in the line of active serv-
ice.
Lieut.. Com. Kelley, who is confined to
his home in this city suffering from pneu-
monia, is reported to be much better
Lieut. Com. Reeder and Chief Engineer
Dixon inspected the yachts Verguna
Anita and Aileen today. The yachts which
are all owned by New Workers, are of
light draft and over 100 feet in length.
Regulars Reach New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS. April 2O.-six compa-
MES of the 18th Infantry, Major Kelly COM
handing, and four companies Of the 23d
Infantry, Col. Overshine arrived last even
ing. Col. Overshine will be in command of
the camp at the race track until the arrival
Of General Shafter and the main body of
troops.
Calls for Volunteers.
LINCOLN, Neb., April Ex-Governor Hol-
comb, through Adjutant General Barry,
has issued an order permitting several COM
panies of the Nebraska National Guard to
recruit up to the limit of sixty-tive men.
BUTTE, Mont, April 2O.-On account of
the question raised as to the status of the
militia in case of war and the prospects
that they will be held at home TO repel
invasion, the services of the Montana Ma
tional Guard have been rendered the gov
eminent in the capacity of volunteers.
SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,, April 2O.-General
Joseph w. Vance of this city has issued
a call for a regiment of volunteers in case
of war with Spain to be placed at the dis
posal Of the state authorities. General
Vance attended West Point, was an officer
in the Union army. and was adjutant gen.
eral of Illinois from 1884 to 1891.
Negotiating for Lake Steamers.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, April 2O.-It is report
ed that the government is after the steam
ers Northwest and Northland of the North
ern Steamship Company, which operates
between Duluth and Buffalo. These two
steamers are capable of making u miles
an hour. are steel built and have been used
exclusively for passenger service so that il
secured by the government IT is thought
they will probably be used as trocp ships
President J. ]. Hill of the Great Northern
railway. who is also at the head Of the
steamship company, is in Europe. having
reached Bremen yesterday. and cannot be
seen to deny or affirm the truth of this
statement
SAN FRANCISCO, April 20-The tug
Vigilant has been added to the fieet of
Americas naval vessels. The purchase
price is $780, GOO. The vessel was Immediate
1y taken by the naval Representatives to
the Union iron works, where she will FORM
aily be in the Ifrito<7 Cxa tov s..,vs.,o