New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-07
FREE LANCE FOR INNER PATROL.

COMMANDER FIELD GETS ONE VESSEL. TO WATCH
THE HARBoR-THE CARE OF THE MINES.
one vessel has finally been secured for the coast
oelence patrol. inner line. which Commander Field
Is In charge Of for the Third Lighthouse District.
under Rear Admiral Erben. the commanding officer
for the entire coast. The Navy Department has
consented to allow the yacht Free Lance. which
r. Augustus Schermerhorn presented 10 the Gov
eminent. to be used for patrol duty. She will be
placed at the Sandy Hook entrance to the channel
leading into tho harbor. to vessels TO keep
within the 300 feet limit marked by white buoys
between the submarine mines.
The Free Lance 10 now at tho Navy Yard In
Brooklyn. being put In order for She had
to be caulked and strengthened and will not he
ready for before Monday Tuesday. Two
Calling guns have been put aboard OF her. In
the p!lot-house and astern, 80 that It will bs
possible to enforce orders to keep OF the mine
fields. Commander Field said he thought the Free
Lance was hardly large enough to be stationed
at Sandy Hook in rough weather but that at all
other times she would be Of service there. He went
TO the Navy Yard yesterday 10 SEQ about having
some 6-pounders put her. but ascertained that
tho guns Of this calibrs ordered had not arrived
and that the Gatlns guns had already been put in
place.
He said there several other light-draught
yachts. such tho Restless and others OF her
class. at the Navy Yard and he proposed to
, try to get them. Meanwhile no expects TO have
half q dozen naphtha launches which belong to
the yachts the Government has purchased and
have been removed from them to patrol tho inner
harbor. These will have 20 be provided with can
vas protection for tho men aboard Of them before
they be used. and This Will take several days
Meantime tho harbor will go unpat rolled. save by
tho boats which tho Engineer Corps Is using in
putting down the mines In the Narrows and Lower
Bay.
Lieutenant McGregor. who has charge Of tho
work Of laying mines reported Major Adams
yesterday that the tug Mars. OF Philadelphia with
four barges In tow. passed through the Swash
Channel outward bound. at go a. m. in violation
Of tho harbor regulations. She was not fred upon.
but the will be reported to thu Pilot Commits
soners and tho vessel may loss her license This
means Is to be taken TO cnuse compliance with the
regulations on the part OF captains.
A resident OF North Long Branch. where many
fine cottages owned by wealthy people Of this
city sent word TO tho Government yesterday that
they would Ike % have tho submarine mine re-
moved which drifted In there last week. and was
tied I'd 10 a pier which tho residents built at
largo expense. The mine was n menace 10 them
and their property. and they would like 10 have II
promptly taken away. Last Sunday a great thronS
Of people focked 10 tho place TO see the curiosity
and day before yesterday man was detected
try,nr 70 cut III. bolt heads on OF Il with a ham
mer and cold chisel The families in tho vicinity
feared that he would not only blow himself up but
al,o DESTROY them and their houses II a chance
h,ow should Cause the hundred odd pounds OF dyna-
mite In Il 10 explode II was also feared that
heavy wave might tho spherical mine 10
strike the pier with force enough 20 explode
A tug was sent alonG tho coast yesterday 70 take
n m. d.r.I,c, mines which have been reported,
hut the surf was high to land and TO" tnem
out TO tho vessel But 1t was promised 'ha' 'hcy