Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1898-06-11
ONLY WAITING FOR WIND.
Why the Gazette Fleet Has Not Yet
Gone to Sea.

On the morning following the ar
rival in this port of the Gazette troop
ship laden with veteran editors the
name OF the new admiral was nailed to
the principal mast of the flagship and
an announcement was made that on
the next morning a manifesto would be
issued defining the Gazettes future
policy and plan Of campaign. The
announcement created quite stir in
these waters. The Gazette's policy
is always Interesting for the reason
that 1t is never YEARLY mOnotonous.
No two policies are ever alike. There
fore the prospect that a new policy
would be presented for their inspec-
ton yesterday morning got many cit
liens out of bed earlier than
usual. Many gentlemen of ir-
regular habits did not go to bed at
all. But all were doomed to disap-
pointment. There was no policy in
sight, no manifesto, not even a bull
letin.
The flagship and the troop ship still
| lay quietly side by side, the admiral
lfiag floating from the former and the
decks of the latter swarming with
editors anxious to board the warship
and be doing something. This thing
of being elected to editorial positions
| in which there was no editing to be
done had already become irksome. The
editors were as impatient to see the
policy as the crowd on shore. 1t was
intimated from a semi-official source
that the admiral was waiting for
other reinforcements, but so far as is
| known none arrived.
| The late Admiral Dunbar mingled
with the waiting crowd and after gaz-
/ ing long and intently at the vessels in
the bay remarked with a serious shake
Of the head that he was glad he was
no longer in the navy. He predicted
an early marine disaster.
Late in the afternoon the auxiliary
cruiser the Heraldo, Captain Nor
fordo, which ad lain hidden behind the
flagship, steamed near shore and the
captain called through his megaphone
that there had been a misunderstood
| ing, that nothing unusual was going
| tC happen, that the editorial strength
3f the Gazette had not been increased
| and that the only thing that had
transpired at all was the retirement
| of Admiral Dunbar by age and the
promotion of Vice-Admiral Leitch tC
succeed him. Commodore Webb was
still on the bridge, however, but there
was no Captain Dalton, no Command
ers Monihon, Norton and Gray, no
Lieutenant Commander Murray, and
no Ensign Smith. The audi
ence on shore accepted this in
formation as a Spanish trick to de-
ceive the enemy, but having no mega
phones with which to talk back to
Captain Morfordo they could not tell
him what they thought of his veracity
Hadn't they known all along about
the recruiting of the editors, and OF
the lavish promise of distribution OF
! prize money after the August engage
ment, and of the final distribution
among the survivors after the battle
in November? Besides, could they not
at this moment see the editors 1alllns
over each other on the deck OF the
troop ship? Certainly. Nobody but
Captain Morfordo would have tried to
deceive people with eyes. Early TINS
morning the manifesto, the plan OF
campaign and the future policy OF the
Gazette may be issued and then the
vessel will put to sea. She's only wait
ling for more wind.
I,ater-A rumor was received at this
ioffice last night that there has been a
misapprehension about the type OF the
Gazette and her future movements. 1t
is said that she is not sailing vessel,
but is propelled by twin screws; that
she has been taking on coal for the
last three days and that the crowd on
the deck of the troop ship is not COM
posed of commodores and command
ers and lieutenant commanders and
captains, but coal beavers engaged
only for this cruise by promises OF
big pay.