The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-24
Their Departure Causes a Lot oi
Excitement.
co OUT IN TEETH OF A GALE
First Theory Was That They Were
TO Convoy a Troop Ship.

Fort Monroe, April %, s:1o D. m.-The
convoy Panther. with 800 marines aboard,
bound for Key West, arrived here tonight
at o'clock.
At 8 o'clock Commodore Schley OF tho
Flying Squadron received orders directs
Ing him to provide a guard for the con-
voy.
The Minneapolis and Columbia were Inn
mediately detailed. and at $40 o'clock tha
Minneapolis fired a gun for all aboard
The gun from the Minneapolis was ths
signal for great excitement, both on shore
and on board the ships.
Officers with side arms notified those
ashore 10 hurry aboard and there wee
good -byes said in a hurried way. while Of
ficers on both boats professed ignorance
of orders so far as destination is con-
cerned.
Commodore schley said to the Associated
Press representative: II cannot divulgs
the destination of the detached vessels.
They are going to sea-"
Rumor said that the vessels might have
different destination after passing tho
merely conveying the transport with
troops. It was possible that the two fast
ships might go out and meet the Paris
en- route to New York city. The trans
port with the marines on board might stay
close enough TO the coast to run In shore
II any enemy was seen, and the Paris was
too valuable ship to lose.
On the other hand, II is fairly certain
that the two fast cruisers will simply bo
convoy for the troops transport the
Columbia and Minneapolis are the fastest
ships in the navy and can make an aver
age of twenty-one knots per hour.
The last rumor was to the effect thar
the Minneapolis was to run after tho
Paris and the Columbia 10 guard the trans
ports TO Key West. but the improbabllity
OF this is seen In the fact that the Paris
could be In New York harbor under forced
steam before the Minneapolis could find
her.
1t is highly probable that both cruisers
will be in Key West in a day or two with
the troops transport. Both cruisers are
heavily armed, and will give hot fight To
any enemy known TO be on this coast
There is one thing that lends color to
the theory that one ship is after the Paris.
and one TO be convoy, and that is. that
there is no Spanish ship near this coast
that could not be controlled by either one
OF the big cruisers.
There was nothing of exciting Interest,"
during the day about the Lying squad-
ron, and nothing more to be said about
II than that II Is in complete readiness Ia
move at short notice.
Officers had shore leave during the aft
ernoon. but the end Of such leave saw ev-
cry one on board.
The usual drills were gone through with
on all tine ships.
The converted revenue cutter Hamilton
passed the flagship Brooklyn on her way
out this afternoon, and asked permssion
TO proceed. She did not give her destina-
ton.
The Hudson and Merrill, both converted
revenue cutters, also went out to their dcs-
tination. Key West to-day.
Fort Monroe, April "a, a. m.-The MINI
neapolls left at 1O:45 o'clock last night, fol-
lowed by the Columbia, few minutes la
ter.
The transport Panther with 750 marines
aboard Is still anchored In Hampton
Roads. A heavy gale is blowing.