New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
AUXILIARY FLEET GROWS.
THE NUMBER OF VESSELS ACQUIRED is
Now SIXTEEN

SOMETHING ABOUT THE LATEST ADDITIONS
OTHER VESSELS TO BE PURCHASED.
The fleet OF auxiliary naval vessels secured
through the efforts Of the officers OF the Navy
detailed for the work three weeks ago now in
cludes seven yachts. which are being rapidly con-
verted into torpedo-boats. eight tugs for like use
and large steamship for floating hospital.
The vessels still sought required for coal and
water carriers and repair ships, although one or
two tugs likely TO he taken. In case
war breaks out. ter dozen supply boats for the
purposes enumerated will be obtained at once.
At the beginning Of last week fleet Of a dozen
yachts and tugs had been purchased The add-
lions announced yesterday were the two large
steel yachts Sovereign purchased from NJ. C. ID.
Borden and the Josephine. obtained from =. \. Is.
Widener: the steamship Creole. of the Cromwell
Line and large tug The Sovereign has been
ahoat for two years. She Is 25l feet long.
twenty-e:ght feet in beam. and Of eighteen and a
quarter eeet depth. with tonnage OF 42I Her
twin screws enable her TO make twenty knots an
hour, and she is finely fitted up With the pos
sible exception of the Mayfower, she is the hnest
member OF the auxiliary fleet. The Josephine is
rival. and while only Isl feet long. has a
tonnage Of 400. and make eighteen knots an
hour. The price paid for the latter was about
sos 900 1t is understood that Mr.. Borden asked
q much higher price for his yacht one statemen;
being that she valued by him at 10000 which
was the sum paid Tor the Mayilower. but a mem
Der OF the Board said that The price paid was no
where near that amount.
The first Of the many large steamships looked
over and reco amended by the Board TO be pur-
chased by the Government is the Creole. which
upon her return TO this port from New-orieans
early this weef will be unloadcd and turned over
10 the Government. She will be put In shape at
Newport News with all possible speed for hos
pital ship, TO be able &c accompany the
Flying Squadron on emergency orders She 10 q
arj fast
her new uses in a short time
The members of the Board yesterday com,
Pleted full report Of what has been zone amd
mandcr Reeder. Chief Engineer Dixon and Naval
building yard Of lewis Nixon at Elizabethport *
J. in the afternoon. and saw the new vessel Wnlch
boat rapid dispatch boat. ana aoout wi'', u,
there has been some mystery: They refused 10
state the result of the inspection, which was ior
warded to Washington ,.,... ~.
The Yacht Sovereign went TO the tfrookiNi >asH
he armed wiki :ap;d-fre guns and torpedo tubes
and he made ready to join her sister Nesseis III a
S SeTso 10 ba the Yacht josephine viii be similarly
reAtted Philadelphia The revenue cutter rds,
son started on her way 10 Key West yesterday
afternoon. leaving the Barge Once az 81. o'clock
Her Officers are Lieutenant Frank H. NewSome:
f;euaenant F. F. Mead navigator; Passed As
tistant Engineer NJ T. Cutehin: engineer naSs sl
Sineer: John F. Mountain. boatswain. The sea
men aboard Gusave Andersen AndTgw ha are
Tob, LAWSON James Reilly. William Spratty and
John NJ Reilly. Henry Savage IS steward. ana
r y Johnson the cook The Hudson vii stop al
Sorfok on her way down the coast. Il Is un-
derstood that she will keep within The three marine
league limit of the jurisdiction or the 'n'ed states
on her trip. ,,., hos ,or
Governor W. A. Richards. of Wyoming. has ,or-
u{rded his enlistment TO the officers OF the Ma
,ionsl Volunteer Reserves. He is the hrst GOV
ernor TO do So and ne promises all the ad IN ms
nower TO the movement Brigadier-General Charles
t,Ie,eland Dodge called the office OF the f.xecu
tive Committee yesterday and rendered ms a'o anu
accepted the post OF one OF the military com,
,nanders Colonel David f. austen. tormerlF OF
,ha ,r,h Regiment has assured General Molineux,
~ tho committee that he will assist the movement
a. any way ne can The enrolment Is going FOR
ward rapidly.