New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-14
FLYING SQUADRON SAILS.
SOME OF COMMODORE scKLEYs SHIPS
WEIGHED ANCHOR YESTERDAY.
TIN REST TO FOLLOW TO-DAY-IARGE QUANTITY
or COAL TAKEN-ARTTLLERyMEN TO
LEAVE FORT MONROE

p.nry and Charles 1t is stated on good au-
thorty that Commodore Schley is under orders
10 report to Admiral Sampson.
AT last the burning desire for fight that has
ranked IN the breasts of officers and crews OF
the Flying Squadron bids fair to be realized
In the shape Of something more than hope.
We going to a place that won't be as hot
as s. but IL will be sight hotter than
Hampton Roads" were the words Of the officers
OF the last cutter 70 put away from shore early
this morning The departure OF the warships
which have graced these waters for the last two
months was made in a manner wholly unex-
pected and far different from any advices sent
out from Old Point Comfort
The cruiser Minneapolis sailed Unexpectedly a;
$50 o'clock tonight. and made for the AZ
high rate OF speed. Captain Jewell received
,Ynoortant orders from Washington which will
change the original programme as regards the
departure OF the part o. the Flying Squadron
left The Minneapolis and New Orleans ex-
changed signals q bout 5 o'clock tonight at Old
Point resulting in the departure half an hour
later u the former. Captain Folger. Of the
New-Oreans, IS holding himself IN readiness TO
follow.
Captain Sigsbee, commanding the St Paul,
also received important riders tonight and It
Is stated on authority that the cruiser will weigh
anchor and put 70 at midnight. The St. Paul
remarkable rapidly at 10 o'clock and 1t is not
unlikely that Commander Emory may also go
out IN the morning. Government tugs have
been ordered TO guide all OF the warships
through the mine fields IL they go out.
PREPARING TO START.
A. an early hour this morning 1t was noised
about the hotels Old Point and among the
men al Fort Monroe that the squadron would
probably leave Hampton Roads in the course or
the day At o'clock The Tribune correspond
ent received information from an official source
that the squadron would sail at noon in the
event the St Paul IN readiness 10 join the
other ships Otherwise the squadron would de-
Law possibly until 1 clock. for Captain Sigsoee
and II he were not prepared by that time would
proceed without him, leaving the Minneapolis
and the Columbia accompany the ST Paul
later
The original idea, however. even though all OF
the ships had sailed about the same time was TO
divide the squadron on passing the virginia
Capes This is official and Commodore Schley's
idea appears TO officers Of Fort Monroe who dis
cussed the departure not only practicable but
advisable The second class battle-ship Texas.
which sailed from old Point, Comfort early yes
teriay morning put back last evening, but do
not come UP the anchorage ground until
o'clock this morning. when the signal lights a.
the masthead Of the flagship Brooklyn flashed
series Of messages in quick succession until
every ship in the squadron answered that II
understood the orders.
The message in effect read: Put 70 sea at
6avbreak Are YOU ready Every ship
fully prepared. and Captain Philip signalled
that the result of his turret test surpassed ex-
pectatjons At break of day those who were up
and about on the Government reservation
noticed signs Of unprecedented activity aboard
all OF the ships. All cutters had been hauled
aboard guns in the turrets were at an eleva-
ton. crews were stationed about the ships
smoke curled from every funnel. and II was evi-
dent that something was in the wind
READY TO WEIGH ANCHOR.
Throughout the bay the ships lay with anchors
read,, N weigh and officers remained aboard.
ro- being permitted ashore on account OF the
ra-ure az Commodore Schey's orders The o.
fcers who came ashore in the cutters Tor 'h7
Official messages from Washington impaired the
news that the squadron had been ordered 20
sal II was not long before crowds began 10
assemble on the piers and along the break
water TO bid farewell 10 husbands. lovers ana
friends when the ships sailed az noon
When the hour OF 70 arrived. however the
Sims made 10 move. and 1t was again nolsed
about that o'clock had been set as the time
of danarfure That did not lessen tn crowds 70
any great extent. and all the afternoon inc
va,erfront was lined with people Al 80
o'clock the cutter IN waiting at the pier sH''
or in the direction OF the Brooklyn. with u
telegraphic message and everybody KAe" ina
the stay OF 5he squadron was limited 70 MN
utes More signalling with vari-colored hass
FROM the Brooklyn. and every ship started 70
weigh anchor
Another hals-hour % suspense, unexplained
. -hose on =nore. and the flagship Brooklyn.
CAPTAIN Cook started slowly out 70 sea. She
proceeded about q mile before the hatte-ship
Massachusetts. Captain Hgginson. moved iroh'
her anchorage and followed In the same ul'ec-
~, TIE Texas Captain Phillip. got under way
eaou, the same time. and brought up in third
place The little scorpion. Lieutentrl- Oh
marder Mark. Commodore Sch!eys Qispa,ch
boat was the rext l. start. ana the Dig c"'''~'
Sterling brought up the rear
Tho ,,.boie squadron passed out OF sight about
$50 o'clock and haY hour later cleared me
Virginia capes On the way 70 join Adii'fa'
The "a; that the first division carried the
collier ST Ring having on board $50 tons u
coal IS the best evidence that the FlyIng SquhG
ron g. bound fc- long voyage ana Not merry
coos. trlr Ever ship Of the squadron carries
a. unusually heavy supply OK aHHlGhi'' oH' A'.u
there is 10 doubt that Commodore Sci-!'y - "
h given IA chance 20 fight. unless the war con
aitions change materially before the opportunity
arrives
hRr1LERYMEN ORDERED SOUTH
Il IS learned tonight from an authoritative
source that the SIX batteries OF experienced ar
tiNerymen a, Fort Monroe. under Brigadier-
General Frank VIII start in the next Few hours
fcr Tampa. Fla. where they Will embark and
Join one Of the reets one OF the superior ON
al Fort Monroe stated that the ORDERING
OF arterymcn Unexpectedly 70 the bCehe %
action must D. taken as an indication th&t IN,
puaar faxa