The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-26
Gould Rush on an Enemy al a Min
ute'S Notice.
NO SHIP ADMITTED AT NIGHT
Peaceful Blockade Of the HarhOf
Established.

On Board the Flagship Brooklyn, ofe
Fort Monroe Va. April 25.-rhis port, the
entrance to Washington, the capital ce
the nation, Norfolk and Portsmouth,
where half a score Of vessels OF war arc
under repair for assistance IN the conflict.
Newport News, the great coallng place oG
the coast, and where the battleships Ken
lucky and Kearsarge are being constructs
ed, Annapolis, the naval academy of the
nation, Richmond, a great city OF the
South. and Fort Monroe. the key to tho
land situation, has been declared in state
of pacific blockade from sunset to sunrise,
and no vessel win be allowed to cnter
Hampton Roads between the hours hat
mark that period.
The enforcement of this pacific blockade.
established for precautionary purposes, is
not In the hands of naval officials at pres
ent here with the flying squadron, but Ia
carried out by the army officials located at
Fort Monroe.
Under the direction of Capt Casey OF
the United States Army engineer corps,
mines have been laid between Capes Henry
and Charles, and above them both in the
Chesapeake and James outlets of Hamp-
ton roads, and the arduous work of yester-
day completed them. 1t is, therefore,
dangerous for vessels TO come in at night
for fear the mines viii, by accident, be
exploded
A patrol force Of vessels, either owned or
chartered by the army department was,
therefore, sent out tonight and all ships
were warned and ordered to lay to until
daybreak
At that time the picket feet will act as
escort to vessels that have been held I'M
during the night, and will escort them
through the line of torpedo boats ana
mines, with which the harbor is now lined.
The Washington Norfolk and Richmond
steamers were allowed to leave tonight
as usual, but beginning tomorrow night
VIII have TO leave before sunset in time TO
be clear OF the harbor.
The squadron is upon the most warIika
kind of footing. A picket feet Of steam
cutters is out for the entire night, fully
armed, the officers OF the marine sentries
are armed, and some OF the gun squads
sleep at the guns. Engines are coupled.
full steam is up and anchors have been
sighted so that there win be no delay in
starting.
Up 10 nightfall the Montgomery had not
come down from Norfolk to escort the
Panther to Key West with it's eighty ma
rines. The Montgomery. with its rapid
fire guns, the Morrill and the Sioux with
their fast batteries. and the Panther with
its complement of eight rapid-fre guns,
It is believed, will form formidable feet
for an enemy near this coast.
The news OF the whereabouts OF the
Columbia was received with surprise to-
day, and wonder expressed at the reasons
for sending her to the New England
coast II, however, the San Francisco
and the New Orleans join this feet ii
will be strengthened for It's anticipated
meeting with the Cape de Verde feet OF
Spain.
The Rodgers, torpedo boat, came in to-
day, after being forty-eight hours ct sea.
and ran up TO the Norfolk for slight re-
pairs. She found that one Of her plates
had sprung because of the wrench she
gave herself In running on a sandbar last
week. The repairs will take but a short
time and she will be ready to join the
feet at Key West
All the ships of the squadron coaled
to-day in fun for what they have burned
while in waiting here.
The solace, an innovation in naval con-
struction. Is completed. and may leave for
Key West with the Panther convoy.
Her hull is painted white with a green
band around It. She is a ship Of $500 tons
and has a speed Of seventeen knots. so she
can easily follow the fleets Of America.
Carrying the flag OF the Geneva Red
Cross. II Is not believed that she win even
be threatened by the enemy.
Every comfort and convenience for
wounded officers and men win be found on
this floating hospital, and never before
have there been such provision for battles
on the water. There are hunks for the
wounded plenty OF operating tables large
steam launches 10 circulate ia and out
OF the fleet ana take away the wounded.
Tho launches viii undoubtedly save many
fQonffnuc1 "a, rsifth pee.