New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-05
FINAL TOUCHES on THE BROOKLYN.
THE FLAGSHIP Will. PROBABLY PIT TO SEA
O-DAY-COMMopORr sCHLEY's ORDERS
TIE SQUADRON NEARLY READY
FOR ACTION

Newport News. April (specaD The cruiser
Columbia weighed anchor at $50 o'clock this
morning and steamed down Hampton Roads to
old Point Comfort where she hove 20 near her
sister ship. she Minneapolis which has not
moved from hcr first mcornGs. of the Hygeia
Hotel
Commodore Schicy fully intended last night to
have the flagship brooklyn 90 out with tn" CO.
lumbia and continue out 10 sea for the purpose
81 testing the formers now cIcvatinS gear. but
the work had not been completed TO his salts
faction Ids morning. and he concluded TO remain
until everything is In readiness FOR the test.
which VIII Ice a severe one
The elevaing apparatus put In by the Cramps
was entirely too Irall To- stand hrm under IN"
recou ~ the powerful chArS"s with which The
recoi ~ finders II these guns can clear the yoke
oi the elcyatlng gear the test viii be- fatisfhc-
tory as there Is no doubt about the sUcng III
Of The ncW apparatus T:,e INA! touches On the
gear were put on to-day. and Il IS probable that
The Brooklyn VIII weigh anchor and steam
directly TO SEA early tomorrow morning. not
stoppiug ut all az Old point. Her four N-inch
gun turrets were painted lead color to-day, IN
kccDing with the rest u the ships.
The report that Commodore Schlcy hal re
cci1ed scaled orders from Washington by mail.
to bc oprrcd on tho receipt 81 subsequent orders
by telegraph IL without foundption according
to an officer from the Rrooklsn. In order 20
have. been sent on Saturday. and T. was not
POSSIBLE for the Navy Department - predict At
that time tho best eours' fOr tn nying squad
ron According to this officer Commodore Schley
was not dlsp.cascd over his inability to put to
sen to-day. as ne wished 10 be near Il telegraph
Office in cage of important developments at
Washington. once beyond Old Point. IN" nag
ship cannot be reached hT wire unless inter
ccptcn down the coast and this method would
necessarily cause considerable delay. There Is
n possibility that Commodore Schlcy VIII not 20
out on the Brooklyn when sh" puts 10 sca. pre-
fcrring 10 remain on the Minneapolis at Old
p Int. in order to u" a hand when the crisis IL
reached
Thiriy-fve naval cadets under command Of
Lieutenant A. &. Hndggon. who vas been do
tachcd from Annapolis AMI ordered 10 tie Gag
ship arrived here this morning and We're trans
f,r~od 10 the BROOKLYN In whalebo,is. These
cadets have not yet passed their examinations.
Tut the critical condition Of National affairs do
rnaudod that they be ordered 10 AT once Tho
LIST of the woodwork around the pilot houses on
tho Bronklvn. Massachusetts and Columbia was
removed this morning and Transferred 10 tho
ehipy,rd together 9TH other .nnammahlc parts.
for safe kc~plnF The Minneapolis has not vet
been treetod in thie manner TIL" work ~ paint
ing tic Minneapolis lead color WAS finished to-
nght.
william ". l.andon. local agent Tor tho Old
pomlnior S'namship ComDanv. to-rght denied
tho report hat tho steamships Princess Anne
ard Jamestown had been sold 80 the Govern
ncrt anI would lc sent to ~" shiDvard on heir
arrival boz" 10 le converted into AUXILIARY
cruisers The comuany will not part with these
fine ghins until Obliged 10 DO so. as they are
valuable TO rs scrv CO.