The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-29
That's Quite as Dangerous
as Spain.
NATURES FORCES All WAR.
WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON
OFF FORT MoNRoE-rERR1nLE
sToRM THAT HAS BEEN RAG.
ING At HAMPTON ROADS.
HUGE SEAS BREAK OVER THE
VAR SHIPS. THREATENING TO
swAMP THEM SOME ExcIT.
ING INCIDENTS.

- av.E ENNM va MHaNH HNHHHET. IN.
ON BOARD THE FLAG SHIP
BROOKLYN, OFF FORT MONROE,
Va. April S2s.-For Thrift. six hours the
flying squadron has been unable to
communicate with shore. The storm,
which sin prevails. making Il unsafe
40 use the steam launches or cutters, a
tug brought out the mall this morning.
The storm that struck the coast Tues
day night came up Hampton Roads
like q fury. 1t whis,led at the rate OF
ninety miles an hour through the great
superstricture OF the flagship Brook
tynsand whipped up the sea so that the
white foam broke in huge masses over
thetdecks Of the Massachusetts and the
Texas
Theheayy draft OF the big war vessels
madefit impossible for them to get into
smooth water and they had to stand
the brun, of the storm. Towards morn
Ing II increased In violence and as the
tide turned flood the lookout on the
forward bridge OF the Brooklyn an
nouncedk that the ship was dragging rs
anchor. The officer OF the deck stimuli
&taneotsly reported that the BROOKLYN
was getting In dangerous proximity 10
the bettleshiph Massachusetts,. Captain
Cook and Executive officer Mason went
to the bridge Immediately and ordered
the second anchor down. AT this time
the wind was blowing SO Hercely that
SmenScould hardly keep their feet on
deck. The second anchor ran out about
twenty fathoms Of chain and stuck and
the big ship stopped and for a short
4 time breasted bravely the wind and
tide. But In q few minutes she began
@to 30 back slowly and It wac evident
that there!was no hold for the anchors,
The signal was immediatelySgiven to
prepare 10 get under way, and in the
feantlnei 1t was hoped that the anchors
would catch and hold. Faster and tfas.
ter she went back, her big broad side
swinging towards the dangerous ram
on the PROV Of the Massachusetts. The
latter was, slgnalled. to pay out,her ca
bic and tdroptaway and she did so. In
theSlnean.ime on the Brooklyn the men
in charge OF the forward compartments
went to- their stations. closing the wa
Ster-tisht compartments and preparing
without any outward evidence of ex-
element .or the expected collision. The
Massachusetts cleared away her big
boo.as, and prepared for the collision,
notldariag to ship the anchor, for fear
OF running herself on the sand bal In
close proximity or drifting into the
Massachusetts. Fastets and faster went
theFRrooklyn towards the battleship
dnd the men at the stations on both
vessels stood un%flirchingly, ready to
perform the special duties assigned
them In case OF collision. There was no
confusion. On the bridge, with COO!
hands, sharp=eyes and active brains
were Captain Cook and his executive
officer. While on the after bridge, not In
terterlrs with the management Of the
officers Of the ships stood Schley and
I his flag lieutenant. Sears. watching
with Interest but with as little excite
ment as they would a practice cruise
theio.g ships coming together. A con-
tl!ctso:: orders would have meant great
dlsaster, but there was none.
An order from the captain and one of
!; the big anchors comes rafting up, and
the ship drifts on a little faster to-
wards Its evident fate. Then, II obedi-
ence totthe helm, the stern, now almost
scranins the Massachusetts, bow.
SWINGS out, and the head partly controll-
ed by the anchor swings In as II to TAKE
the blow. 1t is within Il few yards of'the
huge battleship and all are awaiting the
crash. Captain Cook looks over the
4 port side of the bridge, and then says
sharply: Full speed and asten." There
is n clang OF bells, a SILVER as the big
.feheInes turn and then the cruiser slices
rapidly clear OF the Massachusetts with
Z barely a hand to spare. .f!leverly dc7t,'
says Commodore Schley, as he goes
down to breakfast.
Clever ~seamanship. perfect discipline
and cocl-headed judgment had averted
a. disaster. This ship obeys her en-
!isgines perfectly" said Captain Cook,
modest!y, after he had anchored further
out.
The storm continued without abate.
ment all dag and tie patrol. boats that
keep the hartor closed had u rough
nights work. This morning there was
H little abatement OF the gale.
-tNstf ------- ~
Patriotic S~inriintbnrG
A Special Dispatch to the I~ntellIgencer.
MARTINspURG, W. Va, April u.s.
t.