The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-09
THE FLEET AT KEY WEST
Intense Enthusiasm Reigns Among tbC
Officers and Men


Key West, Fla, April S.--The day
here has been one of expectancy and
conjecture. There have been no adyices
from Washington indicating any change
i'm the situation. and the little remain
ing preparation has gone on with inces-
SAINT vigor.
Apart from the arrival of the Man
grove from Havana and the monitor Am
phitrite, from Port Royal, $. c., the
only incident of the day was of Il tragic
character Chief Gunners Mate John.
of the gun boat Newport, while making
an examination of the ships bottom,
met sudden death from aSphyXiation.
The exact cause is unknown but ii ,S
thought the air pipe became entangled in
some way. He was down some time
and, as he gave no signals, he was
drawn lIp. when he WAS found TO be
dead. The accident has cast Il gloom
over the ships company. The remains
will be inferred here tomorrow morning.
The examination was a routine affair
and not made because of any supposed
defect
(On board the United States ship De-
oit,)-This ship steamed out for patrol
duty tonight with deck rails swung
down. netting spread 10 catch snlintey
and everything bare for n leaden hail.
/ The precautions in watching the in
coming vessels were rcdoubled. The
Puritan passed the Detroit as she pro-
| ceeded to her station at the Havana en-
trance TO the harbor. The usual courte-
sizes We're exchanged.
There was not naval officer but
hreathed easier when the monitor joined
her smaller sisters. the Terror and the
AmDhitrite. A navigation lieutahant
on board of the larger ships as he
looked through his glasses at these for
midab craft said TO the correspondent
of the Associated pTces: ''Those three
! floating forts could. by themselves whip
the whole Spanish Navy
When knowledge of the plan of block
ade of Havana-as reported in these dis
! patches last night-Spread through the
| fleet today. no end of discussion enstled.
The general impression is that the men
on the torpedo boats would stand but lit
tie chance Of ever coming out of an en-
gagement alive. This view was thor
oughly confirmed by tho torpedo boat
| men themselves. and the matter of fact
way in which they discussed their
chanceS was Il striking illustration OF
| American pluck and of Indifference TO
death in their cOuntry's cause.
Intense enthusiasm reigns among Off
GERS and men alike. The movement
upon Havana is eagerly looked forward
to and is thought to be certain to oc-
cur. beginning next week, unless Spain
backs down completely. In spirit and in
preparation Captain SIMPSONS squadron
Is ready to fight and on all sides tho com
plalnt is heard that the expected opposi-
, ton Is of such poor calibre. While it
may be truthfully said that there is
/ yer" little sympathy for the Cuhans
themselves among the officers. this long
Derlod OF suspense and uncertainty fol-
lowing the Maine disaster has wrought
them up to an unequalled pitch of ex-
element
The steamer Olivette. from Tampa
with her passengers, lay TO eight miles
from shore this afternoon. There was
considerable excitement over the renort
that she was aground. The agents here
sald mat she was at ancnor awaiting
hlg tide and would soon proceed 10 Ho-
vana on her regular trip. Tn 70 mid
nght she still lay off shore and had NOT
landed mail or passengers.