The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-30
NO BIDDER FOR THE ADULA.
THE BRITISH STEAMSHIP NOT
WANTED AT $4,000.

Large Crowd Gathered, But Evident
~ Out of CuriOsity-Bidders Ex-
pected Up to O'clock in the After
noon. But None Appeared-RepOrt
VIII BE Made to the Court and An
other sale May BE Arranged for.
Possible Purchasers Considered
the Price Too High.
Promptly at eight bells, noon. yesterday
the British steamship Adula, the prize
captured by the cruiser Marblehead off
Guantanamo Bay, was put on the block
and offered to the highest Bidder that is
above $500 the minimum price fixed by
the court.
There was not a single bidder out of all
the large crowd that gathered, nor was
there any offer made for the vessel during
the day. It looks as If the minimum price
fixed by the court is little more than
those who want a good steamship are will
ing to pay. The court will have to pass
a new order, and the auctioneer's pro-
ceeding will be repeated.
There was an exceptionally large crowd
gathered at the custom house when the
Adula was offered for sale. As 1t devel-
oped there is no doubt that they were
all there out Of curiosity Some 300 or
more people gathered in the street and
on the steps at the noon hour. Mr.
Charles H Dorsetts red auction flag
swung to the breeze from the top of the
steps The auction bell was changing as
at a sheriff's sale
As the clock struck y Mr.. Dorset went
out upon the steps There were with him
Marshal John NJ Barnes. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney w. r. Leaken, Deputy
Marshal Charles J. White, and nearby
stood Prize Commissioners Schley and
Denmark. Deputy Marshal White first
reed the order of sale and the advertise
ment, after which Mr.. Dorset read the
catalogue of the property. This last docu-
ment, covering several typewriter pages,
went into details describing every COM
partment, and every piece of machinery
on the ship. 1t showed, too, that she was
well fitted out for the passenger business,
having lot of furniture, bed linen table
ware and other necessary articles. There
was also one lot of coal, valued at s35.
Having concluded this Mr.. Dorset said
in accordance with the decree of court,
the schedule and terms he was prepared
to offer for sale the British steamship
Adula, stating that no bid for less than
$4,000 could be considered, since the court
had so ordered. He stated also that the
purchaser would have to deposit ten per
cent. of the amount bid in cash.
Now who will start 1t at $55, 00O?" Mr..
Dorsett asked
Nobody said a word.
A man over here says he'll give 1000"
said a humorous bystander.
There's no use in bidding less than
S55O00" Mr.. Dorsett said, for the court
will not accept it. Now, who will start
it?"
A dozen times the question was asked.
but nobody started it. There was eager
expectancy in the crowd. Everybody
thought somebody would bid. There were
shipping men in the crowd, among them
representatives of the owners, the Atlas
Steamship Company of Liverpool. There
were representatives present also Of the
transportation lines centering in Savan-
nah, but 1t appears that they, too were
there out of curiosity
1t soon became apparent that in all the
crowd there was not a prospective pur-
chaser. at least not at the minimum price
fixed by the court Mr.. Dorsett then an
hOuiAcGu Nudt DAuS WOulQ De received at
the marshal's office in the custom house
up to 4 o'clock In the afternoon. The
wind then very appropriately furled the
red auction flag around it's pole, and the
crowd dispersed.
At O'Clock inquiry at the marshaTs
officeNdeveloped the fact that no bid had
been received. A report will be made TO
the navy department, and also to District
Attorney Marion Erwin. The matter will
again be brought to the attention of the
court, and another arrangement will have
to be made with reference to the sale
The court may fix another minimum price
lower than the first, or an order may be
passed for the sale of the steamship the
court reserving the right to reject any or
all bids. Unless the Adula Is sold the
government win, In all probability, take
charge of her and use it in Its own inter-
ests.
A statement was published Sunday with
reference to an effort to stop the sale
through the authorities at Washington.
1t is due to Assistant District Attorney
Leaken to say that the information con-
tanned in the telegram received by him
on the subject was not made public by
him. The telegram was addressed ~. s.
Army" and was innOcently opened by an
other party. Through that fact it became
known that the effort had been made.