The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-11
MOVEMENTS OF WARsHIPs.
Minntonomoh and Katahdin in Commissions
Tho Flying Squadron.

Tho Flying Squadron.
WASHINGTON. March 10.-The placing Of the
monitor Minntonomoh and the harbor defence
ram Katahdin in commission to-day at the
League Island Navy Yard will DO followed on
the 18th by tho addition to the effective fight
ing force of tho navy of the swift commerce
destroye-s Minneapolis and Columbia. at the
same station. The Minneapolis and Columbia
will meet the armorod cruiser Brooklyn at
Hampton Roads, there to remain as the nucleus
OF q flying squadron Of ocean corsairs, and to be
| ready to respond to an emergency call 10 Key
West or some Northern port. The Katahdin
will presumably Join the Terror in New York
harbor, while tho Miantonomoh will guard tho
entrance to Delaware Bay.
The Oregon arrived at San Francisco from
Puget Sound yesterday to take on coal and
ammunition In preparation for assignment to
the naval force concentrated at Hong Kong.
within quick striking distance OF the Philippine
Islands, or to Admiral Slcard's squadron in tho
Gulf OF Mexico. Tho gunboat Wilmington
reached Barbados to-day. joining the cruiser
Cincinnati and tho gunboat Castine. These
three vessels will be held ut barbados until the
situation has developed sufficiently to nocessi-
tate their presence elsewhere. The Sunboat
yicksburg got to Saint kits to-day. and tho
cruiser Marblehead Joined the North Atlantic
squadron at Dry Tortugas this morning.
PHILADELPHIA. March 10.-The announce
ment that tho monitor Miantonomoh and ram
Katahdin were to be placed in commission to-
day drew q large crowd to tho League Island
Navy Yard. The visitors began to assemble
early at the gates Of the yard. and when the
time for opening them arrived. there were sew.
eral hundred people In waiting. The visitors
were not allowed to go near the vessels.
About IL o'clock five buses laden with sailors
drove up on the dock alongside the Richmond.
There were In all s~ixty-one OF those white
jacketed tars. fifty having come from Brooklyn
under charge OF Mate Wilson to serve on board
the Katahdin. and the others under charge of
Boatswain Killen. from the Wabash. lying at
Boston, for service on the Miantonomoh. Quick
" shouldering their bags tho sailors went on
board the Richmond to report to Lieutenant
Commander Day and to wait for orders to repair
to their own ships.
The Miantonomoh WAS tho first TO DO commits
stoned, and at tho appointed hour Capt. John
son. his officers and crew. somewhat short of tho
full complement OF l21 men, descended FROM tho
receiving ship Richmond. where they hive been
quartered. and marched across the wharf TO tho
monitor. Capt. Johnson and his mon ranged
themselves about tho quarterback. The men
barred their heads and listened while their
Captain read tho orders from the Navy Depart
ment authorizing the commissioning OF tho ship.
Then Commandant Casey formally transferred
possession OF the ship to Can't. Johnson, and the
latter raised tho United States flag and pennant.
The flag WAS run up on the flagstaff In the stern
OF tho boat. and the pen~nant-known as the
commanding officers pennant-was t1oated from
the masthead. This pennent consisted OF q long
red-and-white streamcr with a blue head,
As the crowd on shore saw tho flag they know
that the monitor was now In commission and
cheered.
Later in the day Capt. Wilde and his crow OF
oightyLhvo men took possession OF the Katahdin.
and with exactly the same ceremonies she Was
placed In commission.
Barge Lone star GoinE After Mnino WrscLaEs.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, March lO.-The i'm.
mense barge Lone Star arrived here to-day and
10 now taking Oh 400 tons OF coal to be delivered
to the cruiser Brooklyn at some Southern port.
from which the barge will 20 to Havana In tow
OF a tug w bring back those parts OF the nrnla.
n,ant aud fuFnitura of Ih0 Wreckad Maine tvliol