The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-14

i Minneapolis, put to sea at 80 0cloch
this afternoon under sealed orders.
/, 1t was learned at Old Point at j,
O'Clock this morning that Commodore
Schley had received orders to put MS
! feet at sea.
| The news spread rapidly and hundreds
fof people hastened to the docks TO see tht
war ship depart.
At ii 80 o'clock Commodore Schley
and the other officers of the ship came
ashore TO bid farewell to their wives
and families, who are guests at the
lhotels.
| lit was an affecting scene.
/ Tho ladies followed their husbands IT,
1.-The dock. clinging to their arms with
TEARS streaming down their cheeks. for
who knew but that it was the last fare
we'll that would be spoken in this world
J A few minutes later the all aboard gun
was fired from the Brooklyn, and the
Officers stepped aboard the launches.
From the stacks of the vessels smoke
Icurled. and there was great activity on
the decks.
The Massachusetts moved away first,
followed by the Columbia Then the
brooklyn began slowly to steam off,
the Texas following.
A few seconds later the Minneapolis
started, but she moved only a short dis
tance from her anchorage before she
stopped.
In the meantime the Brooklyn was
leading the fleet and heading straight,
for the open sea.
Far up the bay the four ships of the
squadron halted for the Minneapolis to
catch up. and after waiting an hour sig
nails were exchanged with the belated
vessel, whose anchors had been most
provokingly tangled in her cable.
Much hard work was done before one
of them was hauled up on the port how
But then the tangle was only halt
Strengthened out. The other with the
heavy chain twisted around it as
if it had been tied in hard knots by
some unseen giant of the deep, had TO be
freed.
The delay evidently caused impatience
on board the flagship, for shortly be
fore o'clock the Columbia was observ
ed steaming toward the Minneapolis.
What assistance. if any, was rendered
by the Columbia could not be learned.
At any rate. however, the two vessels
were soon bound at high speed. and half
past FIVE O'Clock not a trace of the Fly
ing Squadron was to be seen.
Tonight it was reported on what Is
believed TO he good authority that the
squadron was ordered out on practice
cruise. and that the feet will return 10
Old Point some time tomorrow.
The ships are stripped for action and
carry a full. supply of provisions and
TRIM LOT OF FIGHTERS.
Virginia Beach, Va, April 13.-(With
Flying Squadron, April 13.)-Commo-
dore Schley started TO move the Flying
Squadron to sea precisely at 2:30 O'clock
and by dark would have been many
miles from land, but for the fact that
the Minneapolis fouled her anchor chain
and wasted over two hours in an effort
to free it. Finally, when near Cape
Henry the Minneapolis, not having join
ed the squadron, Commodore Schley
sent the Columbia back to Fort Monroe
to tell the Minneapolis that she could find
the rest Of the squadron fifteen miles
east of Cape Henry, where they would
await her arrival.
Beyond this fact none of the officers
or men on board the Brooklyn were
aware at 6 o'clock of her destination.
and Commodore Schley declined to say
what her mission was.
The squadron presented a most impoS-
ing picture when it finally got together.
First came the Brooklyn, then the Mas
sachusetts. then the Columbia. then the
Minneapolis and finally the battleship
Texas, holding left of line, the second
place of honor. They bowled along at
splendid speed, and Commodore Schley
said. as he looked back on them from the
bridge: There's good lot of fighters
for you. I'd like to see anything that
can whip them
The Brooklyn had 504 men on board
when she left Fort Monroe, four having
gone ashore because of illness.
If the cruise started to-day is not a
practice one, the first stop will be made
at Bermuda.