The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-08
Yesterday Spent by Men and Omcerf
in Getting Coal, Ammunition
and Food Aboard.
DON'T MIND GOING TO HAVANA
AN OFFICER TALKS BRIEFLY ABOUT
THE MISSION OF THE SHIP.
Court of Inquiry still I'm Session at
Maine-Divers' Plans Exhibited.

KEY WEST Fla, March 7.--Orders were
received here at noon to-day resembling the
instructions given to send the Fern to Gu
ba with supplies, and reiterating the origi-
nal order naming the cruisers Nashville
and Montgomery as the vessels to carry out
that mission. Soon afterwards telegram
was received from Washington, which was
followed by "a nurried conference between
Admiral Sicard ard Commander West, and
shortly after o'clock Admiral Sioard coun-
termanded the order issued at noon and
directed the Montgomery to proceed as soon
as possible to Havana and the Fern was
again assigned to the duty of carrying sup
plies to Matanzas. The Montgomery is be-
ing hurriedly coaled, and work on her will
be carried on through the night. 1t is
hardly expected that she will leave for
Havana before morning, and her departure
may be further delayed. The official reason
for the Montgomery's going to Havana is
that she is merely to relieve the dispatch
boat Fern. A naval officer-one Of the few
who at the time this dispatch is sent are
aware of the latest change of plans-said
that he thought it most significant that
cruiser of the Montgomery's caLiber should
be sent to take the place os a mere dispatch
boat. The officials expressed the greatest
surprise when shown a dispatch from
Washington regarding the sending of the
Montgomery to Havana, as the strictest or
ders had been issued here to keep this
movement secret. The frequent changes in
orders during the last twenty-four hours
have thrown all the naval arrangements
and opinions on the situation into more or
less disorder.
The correspondent of the Associated Press
went on board the cruiser Montgomery late
tonight. The coaling had been stopped, as
the men were too weary after packing away
tons Of ammunition to perform this addi-
tional labor. A high officer on board said:
mo, we do not mind going to Havana a
bit. We shall be off in the morning, unless
we get a countermanding order. These
changes have Kept us the jump, and we
hardly know where we are With provi-
sions and ammunition aboard however we
are prepared to go anywhere. l have not
the remotest idea how long we shall be in
Havana. 1t seems only in accordance with
the Navy Departments policy that we are
going The department wants the Fern TO
carry provisions to Cuba: the survey boat
Bache is being used to bring back the bod
les of the Maine victims, and so. with the
court of inquiry at Havana, it is absolutely
necessary that some boat should be at the
disposal Of the American officers there in
addition to the lighthouse tender Man
grove"
The coal lighters are still alongside the
Montgomery at midnight. and it is pre-
sumed that coaling will be resumed at day.
break. The coal used for the Montgomery
was originally intended for the New York
Fifteen tons of ammunition were also
placed on board the Montgomery. The
Nashville will remain here. There are ru-
mors that the Detroit and the MarbIehead
will shortly join the fleet at the Tortugas.
A Mallory line steamer Is expected Wednes-
day with provisions for Cuba. This after
noon the torpedo boat Porter arrived from
Mobile. The torpedo boat Cushing probably
viii have to be laid up for repairs, and the
Ericsson Is in none too good condition. A
schooner with coal for the fleet at the TOR
tugas passed during the afternoon
The coast survey steamer Baehe arrived
here from Havana, having ON board the re-
mains Of six more victims Of the disasterV