The evening times., 1898-05-07

/ inspected yesterday Dy the special naval
board on auxiliary crusiers. They were
the Hudson and the New Orleans, of the
Cromwell line, and are designed for use
as transports or supply ships.
| Messrs. Tawresey, Patch and Dixon, of
the board, went to Boston to inspect
| several vessels. Passed Assistant En-
gineer G. W. McElroy. who has been
| detailed for duty as assistant engineer
| on the converted yacht Corsair. has been
assigned to duty with the board, during
the absence of Chief Engineer Dixon in
| Boston.
| Navy Yard Work.
New York, May THE colliers Abaron-
da and Hesperia arrived in the East Riv-
/ er yesterday morning and steamed to the
entrance of the navy yard basin. The
former was taken in tew by navy yard
| tugs and placed alongside the Cob Dock.
| The Hesperia was headed Off by the tugs
| and her captain was told that the Gov
ernment officers had not accepted her
| and she was not allowed TO enter the
| yard. She then was headed down stream
| and half an hour later she anchored in
| the upper bay.
| The steam yachts Viking and Thespia
| were taken out of dry dock No. and are
i now lying with their war paint on at
| the dock at the foot Of Main Street
The collier Kingtor. which arrived in
the yard three days ago, was placed in
| dry dock No. yesterday morning and a
| gang OF mechanics and machinists went
| to work at once on her to make the al
| terations which were deemed necessary
by the board of construction.
The auxiliary cruiser Yankee was still
coaling and awaiting the arrival of
| breech-blocks for her guns to complete
her main battery. 1t was said that the
Yankee would leave the yard today and
| anchor of Tompkinsville. S. l., to awaE
final Instructions from Washington.
The guns are being mounted on the
| steam yachts Ai.een and Restless. The
| latter is in the Wallabout basin and the
| former at the ouintard Iron Works on
the New York side of the river
The Columbia.
Bosom. Mass. May THE United
States cruiser Columbia anchored off
Boston Light last night. coming from a
| cruise along the coast of Maine and
the north shore OF Massachusetts,. She
will come up TO President Roads. in Bos-
! ton harbor. tomorrow. TO take on coal
| 1t is suggested that Prvincetown be
| made a coaling station. for the greater
| convenience OF fhe warships. They do
| not like the hazard OF navigating Bos-
| ton harbor. with its bristling equipment
| of mines and torpedoes.
| The Lancaster has been overhauled and
| painted lead colog at the navy yard. and
| is to be ready for sea early next week.
| The ram Katahdin. which began to take
| on coal at her anchorage OF the saluting
battery on Wednesday. is still coaling.
| The cruiser San Francisco lay at Prov
incetown all day. but at o'clock left
| on a shore cruise.
Naval Reserve Home Guards.
Secretary Long evinces disposition to
keep the naval militia forces of Illinois
and Ohio in their States, notwithstand-
ing three distinct urgent written recon-
| mendations made by Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt in the last week that they be
| brought East and assigned to duty In the
mosquito fleet or at the New York navy
yard. The organizations of these States.
as well as that of Michigan. were estab-
lished with the special view of protect
ing the Great Lakes in the event of war
| with Great Britain-a contingency SO
remote that, according to the reports OF
inspection officers, that Great Lakes mi
litia battalions were not inspired to the
same degree as the naval auxiliaries on
the Atlantic Coasc. and they were there
fore not in as good condition for actual
service when the war with Spain was
proclaimed to exist.
The Michigan divisions. however Sc
cured orders for active duty. and hear.i-
ly entered the service as ordinary sea-
men. abandoning their organization with
out hesitation. 1t Is not understood at
the Navy Department that the Illinois
and Ohio divisions have volunteered to
accept any duty to which they may be
assigned. and until the Navy Department
receives such assurances Of the most pos
tive character. 1t is not likely that the,
will be mustered into service. Practical
ly the same attitude is exhibited in re-
gard to the naval militia organizations
of Missouri, Louisiana, Georgia, South
Carolina and Virginia. The Rhode ISL
and battalion has. however, been ordered
to the Newport training station for du-
ty and the Connecticut divisions are
held in reserve for signal or harbor duty
at New York
All Quiet in the Canaries.
Funchal, Canary Islands. May T.
There were no warships at Teneriffe May
4. No excitement prevails in the Grand
Canaries.
Key West, May News directly from
Cardenas says Spanish officers are busy
laying mines in the harbor. The United
States ship of that port is watching this
work, but has not interfered, preferring
to be outside trying to entice three gun
boats out of the harbor from behind a
spur of land. ~
We left the Machias. says the sender of
ic mos vVhn NJ N ho ic-
patch boat Sommers N. Smith, to the east
of Cardenas. having told her commander
his first news of the Manila battle. When
we told him She could have the latest
newspapers II he cared to get boat
down, a boat was lowered at once and
sent for the papers.
Then we were asked IL we could spare
some vegetables and replied we could
send some potatoes. This fact was hailed
with delight, and the newspapers and po-
tatoes went aboard together.
When we picked up the Dolphin off Ha-
vana we were asked the news and on CIV
ing them the story of the Manila fight we
heard strong voice from the bridge give
orders for three cheers for Dewey. Cheers
with a will came in a volley from all over
the ship, and the dispatch boat moved on
We gave the news to other ships and
were hailed as harbingers of good things
all along the line.
Defending Chesapeake Ray.
Baltimore. May flight fully armed
fast sailing steamers will compose the
Chesapeake Bay defense feet. to go into
commission next week, or as soon there
after as the vessels can be secured and
armed. Commander c. T. Hutchins, of
the Navy, who will be in charge, re-
ceived orders today to close contracts