The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-26
DEADLY MINES
IN THE HARB0R.
Hampton Roads is Lined
With Explosives.
A PACIFIC BLOCKADE.
NJ uo..oI Hon nfar mr. 0anart in tho
No Vessel Can Enter or Depart in the
Hours Of Darkness.
SQUADRON ON WARLIKE FOOTING
With Bunkcrs Full Of Coal, Full Steam
Up, and Engines Coupled, They are
Ready To- start on Moments
Notice-Thc Transport Pan
Their still Lying ut An
chor--Hospital Ship.

on BOARD THE FLAGSHIP BROOK
LYN, OFF FORT MONROE, April 10
This port-thc entrance To Washington.
the capital Of the nation. Norfolk and
Portsmouth, where half score of YES
sells OF war are under repair Tor assist
ance in the conflict. Newport News, the
great coalng place Of the coast and
where the battleships Kentucky and
Kearsarge are being constructed An
nap0lis, the naval academy Of the ma
ton: Richmond, a great city Of the South
aud Fort Monroe, the key 60 the land
situation, has been declared I'm a state
Of pacific blockade from sunset 10 sun
rise. and no vessels VIII be allowed TO
enter Hampton Roads between the hours
that mark thar period
DANGEROUS MINES.
The enforcement of this pacific block
adc. established for precautionary pur-
poses is put not ga the hunds of naval
officials NJ present here with the flying
squadron. but IS carried out 10y the army
officials located az Fort Monroe.
Under the direction OF Captain Casey
Of tho United States army engineer corps
mines have been laid between Capes
Hnry and Charles and above them both
in the Chesapeake and James outlets OF
HAMPTON Roads. and the .arduOus work
OF yesterday completed them.
II Is therefore dangerous for vessels 10
come I'm at night FOR fear the mines Will
by accident De exploded.
A patrol fOcc vfessels either owned
or chartered by the Army Department.
was therefore sent ont tonight and all
ships were warned and ordered 10 Law
10 until daybreak. A. that time the
picKet fleet viii act as escort 20 vessels
fsoFT f.rItt
will escort them through the lines Of
torpedoes and mines with which the har-
bor IS now lined.
The Washington. Norfolk and Rich
mond steamers were allowed TO leave
tonight as usual but beginning to-mor-
row night will have 10 leave before sun
set In time TO be clear-of the harbor.
on 4 WARLIKE FOOTING.
The squadron IL on the most warlike
kind Of 4 footing tonight. A picket
fleet Of steam cutters Is out for the en-
tire night fully armed the officers Of the
decks and the marine sentries are armed
and some Of the gun squads sleep at their
guns. Ensigns are coupled. full steam
Is up and anchors have been sighted so
that there will be no delay i'm starting.
Up TO nighlfall the Montgomery had not
come down from Norfolk 10 escort the
Panther 10 Key West with its eight hum
dred marines. The Montgomery with
its rapid fire guns. the Morrill, and the
Sioux with their fast batteries and the
Panther with ita Complement Of eight
rpid fire guns il is believed will form
too formidable a feet for any enemy
near this coast. The news Of the where
abOuts Of the Columbia was received with
surprise to-day and wonder expressed at
the reasons for sending her 10 the New
England coast. If-howeveT, the san
Francisco and New Orleans join this feet
II will be strengthened for it's anticipated
meeting with the Cape De Verde fleet OF
Spain The Rogers. torpedo boat, came
I'm to-day after being foTty-eisht hours
az sea and ran up 10 Norfolk for slight
repairs. She found that one Of her
platcs had sprung because Of the wrench
She gave herself in running on a sand bar
last week The repairs will take but n
short time and she will be ready to join
the feet at Key West.
A FLOATING HOSPITAL.
All the ships OF the squadron coalcd to-
day in full for what they have burned
while i'm waiting here. The Solace. an
innovation I'm naval construction, Is com
pleted and may leave for Key West with
the Panther convoy. Her hull Is painted
white. with a green band around IL. She
IS a shin OF $500 tons and has a speed Of
seventeen knots. go she can easily follow
the fleets of America. Carrying the flag
OF the Geneva Red Cross. il is not be
licyed that she viii even be threatened
by the enemy.
wounded officers and men VIII be found
ON this floating hospital and never be-
fore have there been such provided for
battles ON the water. There are banks
Tor tho wounded. plenty OF operating Ia
bles large steam launches 20 circulate
I'm and out OF the fleet and take away
the wounded The launches VIII undoubt-
edlv save many officers and sailors from
death by drowning. The wounded Will
be carefully taken by cables and tackles
forward and az soon as they are on the
deck of the SOlace carried 10 the oper-
atino room or taken 20 the hunks. There
are operating rooms for use Of officers
and sailors. bath rooms, convalescing
rooms. a laundry. disinfecting machines.
quarters for officers and crew Of the ship
and there will be on board corps OF
trained male nurses from New York
PURCHASE MORE STEAMERS.
n is believed that the steamers Juanita
and Howard. belonging 10 the Merchants
and Miners Transportation Company, and
running between Norfolk, Boston. Balti-
more, providence anu SdNeHidHf VIII De
purchased BY the United States govern
ment for It's use.
Whether they will be converted into
cruisers or used for transports or troop
ships Is not known.
The Howard Is in here and the work OF
unloading her cargo was pushed forward
during Yesterday and last night. The
Juanita is now on her way TO Norfolk
and on her arrival the same programme
Of speedily unloading will be carried out.
The steamers are well known staunch.
stout. and seaworthy and would be val
liable additions to the navy Of the United
States.
II is only a few months since the Juan
tia. a new ship. made her first trip 10
Norfolk from Boston. and she is speedy
and comfortable. The Howard. an older
ship. is quite up TO the same standard.
The harbor tonight late presents a
most warlike appearance. The guard
fleet OF the fort stops all vessels and
warns them of danger after passing their
papers. They are also told that they can
not 20 out except by daylight. To-mor-
row night no vessel will be allowed IN
or out OF the harbor bStween sunset and
sunrise