Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-29
SQUADRON N A STORM
GOOD Se0|n0nShID Prevents d
Collision.
STOOD At Their POST
Men on the Warships Stare
Danger in the Face.
WILL SOON GO INTO CAMP.
virginia Troops VIII lie Ordered to R,ch
""nd Next Week, When They VIII
BE Mustered Into Service.
a Mascot for the
Dixie.
WILL SOON GO INTO CAMP

Dixie. E
ON BOARD THE GsHIP
SlicOlNLYE. OFF FORT NONROT
April 2s-For thirty-six hours the hy
ing squadron was unable ITO commnni q
cate with the shore. The storm struck
the coast Tuesday night and came IN
Hampton Roads like d fury. It whis-
tied ninety miles an hour through the
great superstructure Of the flagship
itrooklyn and whipped up the sea 50
that the white foam broke in huge
ehusetts and Texas. The heavy draft
of the big war vessels made 1t impossi-
pie FOR them TO get into smooth water,
ana they had to S;nnd the brunt of the
storm Inward morning the storm
ceased in Violence and as the tide turn
ed flood, the lookout on THE forward
bridge of the Brooklyn announced that
the ship was dragging it's anchor. The
officer Of the deck simultaneously re-
ported that the Brooklyn was getting
IN dangerous proximity to the battle
ship Massachusetts, Captain Cook and
Executive Officer Mason went to the
bridge immediately and ordered the4,
second anchor down At this time the
wind was blowing so tiercely the men
could hardly keep their feet ON deck.
The second anchor ran out about TWEEN
~ f,thoms of chain and stuck, and d!he
big ship stopped. and for a short time
DTCGSlcu inc WlEu ANA TIDE. u1uI IN a.
few minutes she began to back slowly
and ii was evident that there was no
hold for the anchors. The signal was
Immediately given to prepare to get
under way. Faster and faster she
went back, her big broadside swinging
coward the dangerous ram on the Prov
Of the Massachusetts. The letter was
signaNed to pay out her cable, and
drop away and she did so. In the
meantime on the Brooklyn the men in
charge of the forward compartments
went to their stations, closing the wa ter
tight compartments and preparing
without any outward evidence OF ex-.
element for the expected collision.
The Massachusetts cleared away her
big Blooms and prepared for the col
.l5i.hn. not daring to ship the anchor
for fear Of running herself on the sand
bar in close proximity, or drifting into
the Texas Faster and faster went
the Brooklyn toward the bautleship and
rhe men at the stations on both the
vessels stood untlns-hing1y, ready to
perform the special duties assigned
them in case of collision. There was
no confusion. On the bridge with cool
heads, sharp eyes and active brains
were Captain Cook and his executive
officer. While on the after bridge. not
interfering with the MAMA ement OF the
officers OF the ship. stood Commodore
Schley and his flag lieutenant, Sears,
Watching with interest but with as Mt
Tie excitement as they would a prac-
tice cruise the big ships coming to-
gether "A conflict of orders would
have meant great disaster, but 1lrre
was none.
IAN order from the captain and one
of the big anchors comes rartling up
and the ship drifts little faster
toward its evident fate. Then, In ODE
dtnce to the hel1n. the stern, now al
most scra ping the Massa chusetTs' bow.
swings out and the head partly con-
trolied by the anchors swings In as If
10 take the blow. Captain Cook looks
over the port side OF the bridge and
then says sharply, FUN speed astern.''
There is . clang OF bells, SILVER as
'lhe big engines turn, and then the cruis-
er slides rapidly clear OF the Massachu-
'cleverly done" says Commodore
Schley. as he goes down to breakfast
Clever seamanship. perfect discipline
and cool headed judgement had avert
ed the disaster. This ship obeys her
engines perfectly" said Captain Cook
Their out.
Toward afternoon the storm cleared
off. and the heavy sea quietly sub
sided. Boats began running from the
.:hips and comlllunica ton with shore
was resumed The steamers Of the
Boston and Providence line and the Old
Dominion Steamship Company. which
We're detained yesterday evening left. as
usual tonight. Anxiety is felt as to a
large schooner. three masted, disabled
by loss of maintop mast, part OF fore
mast and rails and anchored near
l'hicomico life saving station, which
S ninety miles south of Virginia Beach.
and twenty miles north OF Cape Hat
teras. The schooner. whose name was
aot known, was anchored two miles
north of the station. and was thought
10 be In danger if the wind continued
strong from the northeast, this last
Intelligence coming early yesterday
morning.
p Telegraph and telephone wires from
Virginia Beach TO the south are. many
Of Them, down as only Cape Henry ana
Virginia Beach We're heard from last
night. 4 section of the Virginia naval
reserves acting as Il signal corps, ls
stationed at Cape Henry, and are
having q taste OF rough weather.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
\ schooner which entered Hampton
Roads during the storm on "Wednesday
had narrow escap pc from being blown
up by one OF the submarine mines me
vessel was coming in before the WIND
with terrible velocity and, NOT knowing
of the torpedoes. the captain was head
ing directly for the torpedo ground
and before he could be warned he
had run his ship directly over one OF
the mines. Owing to the very nigh
tide and the light draft OF the vessel
il passed over safely, but IT would
certainly have been blown up nao l-ie
tide been low.
VIRGINIA TROOPS.
The Virginia troops will certainly De
mobiliZed at RiShmond next week. Inc
governor and his advisers went over
the list OF companies. but did not COM
plete the work OF selecting those that
Will be ordered out
liar S~fu uyh{ nj q "