Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-26
OLD POINT BLOCKADE
No YeSSe! Allowed 10 Enter the
Roads at Night.
MINES IN THE HARBOR.
TOrpcdoeS Between the CapeS. in The
Chesapeake, and in the James,
FLYING SQUADRON MOST wARLIKE.
Guard Fleet stopping All Craft, and
warning Them of Dangcr-Thc
IIospitaI-ship SOlacc. a Mcrciful
Iuunvafiou,
Innovation.

HospitaI-ship soiacc. II Mcrciful
/ Innovation.
! OK BOARD FLAGSHIP BROOKLYN.
! OFF FORT MONROE, April 25.-Thls
port. the entrance to Washington. the
/ capital of the nation Norfolk and Ports
| mouth. where half score of vessels OF
war are under repair for assistance in
| the conflict; Newport News, the great
| coaling place OF the coast and where the
/ battleships Kentucky and Kearsarge are
being constructed; Annapolis, the Naval
| Academy of the nation; Richmond, a
great city OF the South, and Fort Mon
roe, the key 20 the land situation, has
been declared in state of pacific block
AIDE from sunset TO sunrise and no YES
sells will be allowed TO enter Hampton
Roads between the hours that mark that
period
The enforcement OF this pacific block
ace established for precautionary pur-
poses, is not put in the hands Of naval
officials at present here with the flying
officials located at Fort Monroe. Under
the direction of Captain 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
Hampton Roads, and the aiduous work
of yesterday completed them. 1t is there
fore. dangerous for vessels to come in
at night, for fear the mines may 10y ac-
cident be exploded.
\ patrol force of vessels, either owned
or chartered by the Army Department,
was sent out Tonight. and all ships were
warned and ordered to lay TO until day
break At that time the picket fleet
will act as escort TO vessels that have
been held during the night. and will es-
cort them through the lines Of tOrpedoes
and mines with which the harbOr is now
lined.
THE RICHMOND STEAMERS.
The Washington. Norfolk, and Rich
mOnd steamers were allowed 10 leave
tonight as usual. but beginning tO-mor-
row night will have TO leave before sun
set i'm time TO be clear of the harbor.
The squadron is on the most warlike
kind of q footing tonight. a picket fleet
OF steam cutters is out for the entlIe
night. fully armed: the officers OF the
deck and the marine sentries are armed,
and some of the gun squads sleep at
their guns. Engines are coupled ny, fun
steam is up and anchors have been
placed so that there will be no delay III
starting.
IN 10 nightfan the Montgomery had
not come down from Norfolk to escort
the Panther, with its 500 marines, to Key
West The Montgomery. with It's rapid
fire guns: the Morrill, and the Sioux, with
their fast batteries, and the Panther,
with it's complement of eight rapid-fire
guns. il is believed, will form too formid-
able a fleet for any enemy near this
coast.
The news OF the whereabouts Of the
Columbia was received with surprise to-
day. and wonder expressed at the rea-
sons for sending hef to the New Eng
land coast. II, however, the san fran
cisco nd New Orleans join this heet, IL
will be strengthened for its anticipated
meeting with the Cape de Verde fleet, OF
Spain.
The Rodgers torpedo-boat came in TO-
day. after being forty-eight hours at sea-
and ran up TO Norfolk for slight repairs.
She found that one of her plates had
sprung. because Of the wrench she gave
UtIStl
week. The repairs will take but short
time, and she will be ready 10 JON the
fleet at Key West.
All the ships of the squadron coaled to-
day i'm fun tor what they have burned
while in waiting here.
AN INNOVATION.
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 q speed of 81 knots, so that
she can easily follow the fleets OF Ameri-
ca. Carrying the flag OF the Geneva Red
Cross. il is not believed that she will even
be threatened by the enemy. Every COM
fort and convenience for wounded DILL
GERS and men will be found on this float
ing hospital. and never before have there
been such provision made for battles on
the water There are hunks for the
wounded, plenty of operating tables. ana
large steam launches 10 circulate in ana
out Of the fleet and take away the
wounded. The launches viii undoubted-
~ save many officers and sailors from
death by drowning. The wounded Will
be carefully taken up by cables and
tackles forward, and as soon as they are
on the deck Of the Solace carried to the
operating-roOm, or taken to the hunks
There are operatiug-rOOms for the use or
officers and sailors. bathrooms, Gonzales
cing-rooms, a laundry. disinfecting ma
chimes and quarters for the officers and
crew Of the ship. and there will be on
board a corps of trained male nurses
from New York.
MORE SHIPS FOR UNCLE SAM.
1t is believed that the steamers Juanita
and Howard, belonging TO the Merchants
and Miner Transportation Company,
and running between Norfolk, Boston,
Baltimore, Providence. and Savannah,
Will be purchased by the United States
Government for its use. Whether they
will be converted into cruisers or used
for transports or troop ships is not
known.
The Howard is 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 speedy unloading will be carried out.
These steamers are well known 10 be
staunch. stout. and seaworthy, and would
be valuable additions to the navy OF the
United States 1t is only few months
since the Juanita, a new ship, made her |
first trip TO Norfolk from Boston. and |
she Is speedy and comfortable. The How |
ard an Older ship, is quite up 10 the |
same standard.