Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15
THE FERN AGAIN AT KEY WEST.
Her Mission of Relief-Stories of
Suffering Not Exaggerated.

suuer1ng NOT ExuSserateu.
KEY WEST. FLA. March s14-The
United States dispatch-boat Fern arrived
here this morning from Matanzas.
The Ferns trip was uneventful She
reached MatanZas on Saturday, and al
once began discharging provisions into
| lighters On shore a few persons had
gathered, but there was no denionstra-
| ton of any kind. The share of provisions
| for Matanzas was gotten rid of in bust
nesslike way, and the Fern then sailed
| for Sagua la Grande, where the same
| programme was gone through on Sunday,
the operation of landing the stores occu-
| plying about six hours.
| United States Consul Barker boarded
the Fern upon her arrival at Sagua. He
! was overjoyed to see an American ship
| once more, even though II was only the
| little Fern. The Consul said there were
about 1900 starving reconcentradoes in
his district.
An officer of the Fern said to the cor
respondent of the Associated Press to-
day. 1T seemed as II the gladness OF the
wretched Cubans at our arrival was
stified by the overpowering dread that
hangs over the people of Cuba, and that
could not be dispelled even with the
coming of the food for which they longed
Naturally, we saw little. Ours was no
exploring trip. But we saw enough to
convince us that the stories emanating
from Matanzas, and especially from Sagua
la Grande, are not exaggerated"
The Fern will probably go back with
more provisions about Friday.
TORPEDOES AND SHELLS.
The torpedoes and shells which arrived
Saturday were transferred to-day to Fort
Taylor and considerable local excitement
was raised over rumors that they were
being placed in position. An officer who
would be connected with such work, how
ever, denied this report, and said: when
you see these mines or torpedoes being
placed, you can make up your mind that
war is more imminent than 1t is at pres
ent. They will not be put in position un-
I'll the last moment, for however good |
the mine. 1t is always liable to become |
useless through the action of water
I'VE are not going to risk the useful
ness of expensive explosives by prema-
ture submersion. All these torpedoes can |
be laid in twenty-four hours. II we laid |
them now they would not only be liable |
to corrosion, but everybody on the island /
would have an idea of their position"
1.-THE delicate nature of these defence
torpedoes seems hardly to have been
realized by theorists as to the Maine ex-
plosion. 1t Is incomprehenslble to me
that the Spanish Government, in time of
peace, allowed high-power torpedoes to lie
at the mercy Of the water in Habana
harbor. 1t would be against the judg-
ment Of all experts and the practice OF
all governments, for nowadays these
weapons can be laid at the shortest
notice
Although / do not think Habana har-
Dor was mined, i know there are tor
pedoes i'm MORO Castle and the naval
arsenal that can be put in position very
quickly"
MAINE OFFICERS IMPATIENT.
The return of the court OF inquiry is
YEARLY awaited, especially by the Of
icers of the Maine, who will have been
here a month next Wednesday. They
have been expecting to go to their homes
)n every boat Of late, and now the hope
added to the fact that they are |
still without adequate wardrobes, makes
hem thoroughly disconnected. Their or
iers, which are here awaiting the courts |
pleasure. provide that they shall return
% their homes and await orders, which |
probably means a months leave.
The impression is growing here that the
eport of the court OF inquiry will not
,e presented for some time yet.
More torpedoes are expected, and some
Il these will be taken to the Tortugas
or submarine defence. Tho torpedo
,oat Winslow has arrived from Charles
on. and the schooner Harry A. Bruner.
,aptain Hewitt, from Philadelphia, Is
he Winslow made the longest run ever
made by q torpedo-boat without touch | !
- at port or coaling. The feet Is re- ,
orted stationary ~. p.s .