New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-24
FLYING SQUADRON ASTIR.
OFFICERS HURRIED ABOARD THE BAT
TIE-SIsIPs LAST EVENING.

TON no GUARD THE COAST
~.unor, News Va. April c3-Much excite
~, was caused at Old Point tonight. when
a,out two minutes after the firing OF Inc
,.,,ock runs from all Of the warships loud re-
ror,s boomed from the flagship brooklyn ana
t,e cruisers Minneapolis and Columbia and all
,ha officers and ordcres were called ABOARD
vrhor OF officers We're at the Chamherhn ana
1Ivs.,a hotels at the time and fastened peH mel
~. Government: wharf and entered their
i.unehee. which sped away 10 the ships at full
speed
1,r,dr.ds Of artillerymen and guests FASTENED
a. IN. water front IN excitement. 1t was soon
Tanned that the Minneapolis and the Columbia
would put to seq under cipher orders from
Washington
=. was reported that Commodore Schley had
Ao., instructed 70 provide convoy to Key
West .or the transport Panther. which arrived
-. $50 o'clock tonight from Brooklyn. with
.sv.n hundred and Atty marines aboard. The
rs,o-t however. is not credited. these ma
-.,a. were ordered 70 AL vacancies on board the
,~e,.hics Of the Flying Squadron. Experienced
virginia pilots the same who accompanied the
,,ns N sea last week. have gone on board.
corn,odore Schley himself has left his rooms
o, the Chamberln and is now on board the
flagship.
He refuses 10 give out any information In re-
~o,d 10 the movements Of the cruisers.
There Is every reason to believe that the Min
neapolis and the Columbia going out 70
NEE. the American liner Paris. which should
now be one-third on the way TO New-York. The
report that the ships will escort the Panther
TO Key West is discredted
The Brooklyn also has her anchor up and
may accompany the ships as far as the capes
No greater excitement has ever been mani
tested among the guests and residents at Old
Point since the inauguration Of the war scare.
Several thousand people lined the wharf and
breakwater ready TO cheer the feet cruisers on
their departure
A late dispatch received here tonight report
ing the capture OF the Paris. we'll out at sea,
has ,nfamed the feelings OF the officers Of the
squadron. and all are envious Of their more
fortunate brothers on the Mime apolis and Co
Iunbia Surprise is manifested that the Brook
lyn was not ordered out. neither the Min
neapolis nor the Columbia is fighter.
II the Paris is really in danger Of capture.
said an officer to-day. ut is only reasonable 10
expect that at least two Of the cruisers will go
out 10 meet her or recapture her If under the
Spanish flag We will not be surprised 10 re-
ceive orders at any time look out for the
safety OF the liner Proba bly, the Brooklyn and
the Minneapolis will be selected for their sped,
in which event the flag Of Commodore Schley
would temporarily he transferred 70 the Co
lumbia
CRUISERS MAY GUARD THE COAST.
orhe orders retaining the squadron in the
North Atlantic with headquarters al Hampton
Roads. have more significance than appears on
the face II one stops 10 consider the import or
the step With war on its hands. is II posi-
bic that the Government would keep the cream
OF It's Navy here in idleness unless there was
possibility Of an attack? No. sir Spanish ships
are on their way to these waters, and II THIS
last six months. a year. or more
would II not be the first act OF an enemy 70 DE-
stroy. II possible. those two fine warships. the
Kearsarge and the Kentucky. which are now
IN the water. and can be commissioned IN five
months. and yet could easily be sent 10 the bot
tom by a torpedo boat. which could pass the
Virginia capes and Fort Monroe by night
You need not be surprised In few days 70
see the ships Of the Flying Squadron distributed
along the Atlantic Coast somew hat in this fash
ion The Massachusetts. in Hampton Roads. 20
cooperate with Fort Monroe. the flagship
Brooklyn outside the Virginia Capes, where IL
will control central point and he in easy con-
nection with Washington; the Columbia, at Della
ware Breakwater. the Minneapolis betwee
New York and Boston and the Texas az Port
Royal. &. c. OF course. 1t will be necessary for
Our ships TO Out, their stations now and then
for instance. II they were sent to convoy the
Paris. but you will find that the permanent as
sgnnents will be about as have stated. The
necessity for proper coast defence demands IT,"
COAL CONTRACTS AWARDED.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad received
to-day the contract for furnishing all warshps
now in these waters. and those likely 10 come
for repairs with New River coal C. B. circuit.
president Of the Chesapeake and ohio Coal
Agency succeeded In getting the contrast award
ed while Ia Washington this week All SHIPS.
as far as practicable VIII re coaled al Newport
News.
The last touch was put the hospital ship
Solace tonight. and she Will run over 70 the
Navy Yard on MOnday thoroughly fitted for
medical equipment
Naval Constructor Woodward to-day stated
the, it IS hardly probable thai armor VIII be OF
tached 10 the Dixie and Yosemite, as II is urgent
that both cruisers leave the shlpyard on n"Xt
Saturday. the time limit. The attachment Of
armor would require stay Of AT least hfteeh
DAYS longer.
The Atlantic Transportation Company's col
Ter City Of Everett. which has been inspected
by the Government, Will probably go under the
lnOn Jack on her arrival at Boston, from TINS
pot. with coal. She sails to- morrow. The She ~
nut. which sailed last night for Boston. VIII be
purchased on her arrival The shlpyard 10
day PAID out $4,000 in wages for the week. De
ing the largest In It's history. Only Govern
rncrt work is under way
A fort IL be erected once at Willoughby
Spit. opposite Fort Monroe on Hampton
Roads Government inspectors have ALREADY
made an examination of the ground. II viii be
mounted on structure Of stee supports
forming an arch chamber. In which the guns
vii be mounted Work VIII begin Tomorrow.
Senator and Mrs Hanna arrived al Old Point
Comfort to-day and ore al the Chamberr
Fortress Monroe. Va. Aprn 23-The convoy
Panther. with 800 marines on board. bound fo'
Key West. arrived here tonight at o'clock
Al O'clock Commodore SchleY Of the Flying
squadron received dispatch directing nm L
p,o'idc guard for the convoy. Tho Minneap
oils and Columbia we're Immediately detailed