Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-14
THE SQUADRON SAILS
TIE VESSELS PUT TO SEA AT TWO
TWENTY YESTERDAY.
MUCH EXCITEMENT AT OLD POINT,
There IL "s0mcthing In the wind"
Hut Nobody Knows just what
IScfuI Invention.

OLD POINT COMFORT, VA, April lS-
(special)-The Hampton Roads squadron.
more popularity known as the flying
squadron. under command Of Commodore
Wingdcld Scott Schley, weighed anchor
at . o'clock to-day and put to sea twenty
minutes later-not with its fun strength,
however. as the Minneapolis found diff
Guilty in releasing her anchor. and is sull
lying TO several miles below Fort Monroe.
1t is rumored here, on the strength of
press dispatch received from Washington,
that the squadron has gone TO sea only
for fourteen hours, and will return prob
ably az daybreak tomorrow.
SOMETHING IN THE WIND.
Little crcdence is placed in this report,
as storm signals are flying and 1t is un-
likely that Commodore Schley, even were
he not under sealed orders, would take
his ships to sea for practice work, or
squadron manoeuvres i'm the face Of
gale. There is something I'm the wind,
as an officer from the Katahdin express
cd it. and when the flying squadron Is
next heard from IT will probably be well
/ TO the South and heading for one of the
Spanish island possessions.
The stationary position Of the Minnea-
i polls down the Roads i'm full view of Oid
/ Point has created considerable speCula-
ton as 10 her purpose in remaining, as
she was expected by naval officers to BE-
. one of the most scrviceable ships with
J the squadron. owing TO her high rate OF
speed. 1t is rumorcd here tonight that
the cruiser went aground on making the
/ turn. after releasing her anChor, and her
. proximity to the shore links color 20 the
/ report
"ALL ABOARD"
1t was learned here about 10 o'clock
This morning that Commodore Schley had
received orders to sail with his squadron
at o'clock. and the greatest excitement
. prevailed i'm the intervening hours. COM
modore Schlcy came ashore at 1880 TO pa
Mrs. Schlcv farewell at the ChambeiHh
House. He remained i'm the hotel about
half an hour and then returned 10 the
BROOKLYN i'm his private launch. Al li'''
the gun for "All aboard was fired rom
the flagship. and every officer. seaman
and marine under Commodore Schlty WAS
fl, hits uropcr place. From that time on
the government and hotel piers ana inc
braal5vqter We're crowded with enthusiasts
tie mon. women and children ANXIOUS
to witness the departure OF the 'I,.,N
w8rshius II was very evident lI"I" '5
shore that unusual activity pre- ''',,
aboard am the ships OIhceIs an" me-
could be plainly distinguished I's.e
ID. Giving and obeying orders ana an o.
the launches and boats Were hoiS'e'
abroad.
THE BROOKLYN FIRST.
..,.,- clock "a set Of signals were
raised To the flagship 1oIepe"A an.
.,..r,. anchor was raised At 22O more
.i,r,lline, WAS done and the lead-colore&
monsters Immediately got under way
Tho flagship Brooklyn, Captain +. \
C',l, headed the column, closely follow
s5 vrau to the starboard by the first-clas'
t.ttlasbip Massachusetts, Captain +. >
uiagfuson. and the protected cruiser
. MINNEAPOLIS. Captain j. II. Sands, Amos
u her wake. c
Tba protected cruiser Columbia. cap
,ofr T r. Jewell. sister to Minneapolis
pa,sed by. and was followed by the Sc
! cond-cIaes battltehip Texas. Captain D
NJ. Philip. The Minneapolis stopped oil
Fort Monroe. and after starting CAM
10 another run stop several miles uoWi
the bay. At $3.50 the Columbia was ais
covered coming I'm. and She soon RAJ
close by the Minneapolis. The other snip
p came i'm sight again, and awaited the SIS
ter sbfps. At 44j O'Clock the two ship
started together but the Minneapoli
came TO q fun stop eight miles below.
LOST TO VIEW.
; The Columbia proceeded TO sea, and wa
D soon lost 10 view. the other ships haNin
% continued. When the squadron move
- down the bay the crowds on shore cheer
ad and waved handkerchicfs i'm patriot
q farewell. All of the warships dipped thel
y colors as they pulled out. The rar
$ I<atabdin moved up from her first an
choragc after the departure OF the ships
o and IS living off the government pier Tn
training shin Alliance is close 10y. At g.,
- the MINNEAPOLIS started again, and q
ID dark is making for the capes at hie
. rate of speed. She probably overlook tn
. other ships about o'clock. IL was late
% leaned that She fouled the telegrap
p. oarIa 10 Norfolk the last time and Oh
. delay was due TO a desire not To cut IN
% wires.
4 USEFUL INVENTION.
@ ,-b. onpineers at Fort Monroe to-da
C. ar,f,,ed mt q decision which is Of vast i'm
pOrtance TO the engineering world. IN
- rircuit closer invented by Fred. q. Ill
t NOR q private at the post twelve yeal
O. 400 was adopted for use in connecuo
% with the electrical current 10 be used
Pr Grinr, the submarine mines in Iiamptc
20 pods The invention has been stowe
% 80, n, the fort for ten years. and q
~ Ey