The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-25


ed that the Kearsarge would leave the
ways at 10 O'Clock a. IN. Thursday
morning and the Kentucky one hour
! later. Mrs. Herbert Winslow, wife OF
Lieutenant Commander Winslow, and
Miss Christine Bradley, ,daugbtes. OF Gov
egTaor Bradley, the two ladies who VIII
clristen the Kearsarge and Kentucky,
respectively, will reach Newport News
! tomorrow. Governor Bradley and a
party Of 800 Kentuckians will arrive
, at the same time TO do fitting honor
- the ship which bears the name of
their state. After the launching an
hour will be given to inspecting the
shipyard, including the work on the
big battleship Illinois, and later, a col
latfOn will fbe served. Mr.. OTcutt
speaks in the highest terms of the new
battleships and says that on a pinch
they could be made ready for service
within eight months and possibly less.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PURCHASING
WARSHIPS.
The negotiations Tor rne purchase of
ships abroad is going steadily forward,
but there was a regretable dissappoint-
|. Elent in this connection today. The
Authorities had been exceedingly anx-
ious to get the big torpedo cruiser Tupy
built for Brazil. Sine is one of the most
formidable torpedo craft af1oat, her
size placing her in the cruiser class
while her torpedo armament gives her
the effectiveness of torpedo boat and
cruiser combined. 1t was learned pos
lively, today however, that the Brazil
ian government would not part with
the Tupy, and this closes the efforts for
one of the best ships under negotia-
tiOnS.
In a small measure this was offset by
the success of the navy department in
securing a trim little narrow built
launch, which, though very small, Will
serve as harEbor torpedo boat. She is
of the same class of craft as the Mox-
OTTO built for the Brazilian navy.
!. NEWS FROM OUR WARSHIPS.
The navy department was notified to-
day of tine arrival of the cruiser Gin
cinnati and the gunIboats CaStine and
Wilmington at Port Antonio, Jamaica.
This is about the same distance from
the south shores of Cuba as Key West
is from the north shore, The gunboat
Marietta announced her arrival at Pam
anna. The Marblehead has gone from
Port Tampa to Dry Tortugas.
A SECRET MISSION TO KEY WEST.
Captain Barker, naval aide ITO the
secretary of the navy, returned to his
desk at the navy department today
after a few days absence. He went to
Key West on a secret mission, the ex-
act nature Of which has not been dis
closed. Ina smuch as he conferred at
length with Rear Admiral Sicard, COM
manding tine North Atlantic squadron
and with Captain Sampson, president
of the navy court of inquiry investi-
eating the cause of the Maine disaster,
there appears to be good reason for the
Inference that this business related to
that affair and it's possible cOnSe-
quences.
One of the most active branches of
the navy department just now is that
engaged in the enlistment of recruits
for various positions in the service.
Yesterday notice was given by adver-
tisement that recruiting stations would
be opened at a number of cities, mostly
on the coast. Today in response to
representations that have come to
hand, the enlistment bureau gave
notice that board of officers would be
detailed to visit various cities in the
vicinity of the great lakes where, 1t is
said, there are a number OF persons
who would he willing to enter the ser
Svice. Many of them are ScandinaVians
who have been at sea in their native
country.
GENERAL GRAHAM'S TOUR.
ATLANTA, Ga, March 22.-General
Graham, commander of the department
of the gulf, will leave tomorrow morn
ing for a tour of inspection. He will
be accompanied by Lieutenants Barney
and ReEber. The officers go first to
Charleston and then to Savannah, ST.
Augustine, Key West, Mobile, Pensa-
cola, New Orleans and Galveston, i'm
the order named. The works at Gal
weston, nearing completlon, nave not
been approved but will probably be
turned over to the government during
or shortly after General Graham's visit.
Lieutenant ReIber, chief of signal ser
Vice for the department will examine
into the telegraph facilities at each
point visited.
Chief Clerk Bass of the adjutant
generals office, arrived today, and at
once took up his work in the Austell
building. There arrived also five other
clerks and the entire office force of the
signal corps.
Havana, March 22-The rumOrs that
General Pando has been recalled and
is awaited here with 5000 men are pro-
nounced to be without foundation. Cen
erals Pando and SalcedO, it is given
out, are continuing their operations in
the province of Puerto Principe.
The Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII en-
tered the new floating dock today, in
order t., have her bottom cleaned. La
ter in the day the dock rose without
mishap. AN the machinery is working
nicely and her crew are busy cleaning
the bottom of the vessel, but the dock
will not be accepted-untn more fully
tested by a heavier ship.
DIVERS WORK ON THE WRECK.
The wrecking contract divers have
been busy on the Maine today, raising
two 6-inch guns from the after cabin
with great difficulty, and getting am
munition from the magazine aft. In
doing this the divers are compelled to
go down through the turret aft in
marrow chute and then along the deck
to the magazine opening. They are
liable to he jammed, and great care is
taken. 1t may be necessary to cut a
hole through the decks direct into the
magazine. Moreover, the divers are
somwdhat nervous about handling ex-
plosiyes.
OFFICIAL LIST OF CASUALTIES.
chaplain Chadwick has completed