The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-27
The HORNET
NAVAL RESERVES NEW TRAINING
SHIP

SHIP
She Reached Port Yesterday After.
noou-She In a Dandy ship and the
Reserves are I'm Nigh Feathers
Something About the Hornet-Her
War Record Was Gallant
AfsSr a great experience at sea, Com
mander George L. Morton and his crew
composed of Wilmington and Southport
naval reserves, arrived here yesterday
afternoon at 2 o'clock with the United
States ship Hornet.
Commander Morton, Lieutenant 7.
NJ. Morse, navigating officer, Lieuten-
ant ]. J. Adkins, of the Southport di-
vision, and their crew of forty-one men
left here Friday night of last week for
Norfolk to receive the Hornet. which
Commander Morton was very orunate
in securing from the secretary of the
navy for the use of the North Carolina
Naval militia. The Hornet left Ports
mouth at i p. m. Monday and reached
Hampton Roads at $50 o'clock that
evening, and on account of a heavy
fog, cast anchor until 2 o'clock Tues
day afternoon. She then weighed an
Choir and put to sea and with inexperi-
enced firemen, who, nevertheless, did
their duty faithfully, the vessel made
slow Roadway, as it was hard to keep
up steam. 1t took the ship twenty-four
hours to round Hatteras, and besides
the slow steaming the sea was rough
and old Neptune danced the boys up
o~1 1nuyn in a hno1fhv fashion E.N-
erybody on board was sea sick. AT u
o'clock Wednesday night the ship
reached Cape Look Out and anchored
in the Blight till 5 a.. m. Thursday, on
account of heavy weather. She sailed
at the hour named, reached Southport
at midnight, left there at 1880 o'clock
yesterday morning and tied up at the
! custom house wharf -abou 2 o'clock.
AS soon as the Hornet was made fast
a crowd of people went on board and
inspected the ship from stem to stern
She is painted in the regulation war
drab and is a very trim built and hand
some yacht. Her bottom is foul with
O~arnacles, but as she came up the river
she made good speed and glided grace
fully past the wharves as she reached
the city. She was formerly the Allan
ca and was the private yacht Of Mr..
H. M. Flagler, Of the Standard Oil
Company. She IS 160 feet in length, is
"a tG6C OIL DedIl, HAS d ulSpldCeIItHt VI
80 tons gross and 1876 tons net, draws
IL feet of water, and has a registered
speed of Is to Is knots per hoar, though
her average speed is about II knots.
She has a steel hull, is fitted with
triple expansion engines, and has an
indicated horsepower of $50. On the
%gundeck forward is a cabin n chart
room, with the bridge above, and on
the after deck there is another cabin.
On the berth deck, the Steamer is
handsomely finished. Forward are the
mems quarters with berths for twelve
men. Back of the mems quarters are
the petty officers quarters, and next is
the galley. Amidships are the officers
quarters, all handsome and comfort
able, and a pretty main cabin 1Oxl2
feet. finished with white enameled
moulding. There is also a ward room,
electric call bells connected with all
the officers quarters, and the ship is
equipped with a dynamo and a system
of electric lights. There are also many
conveniences which go to max up a
vessel of admirable proportions and ar
rangement.
When the war broke out with Spain,
the United States government bought
the Alliance for the auxiliary navy and
she went into commission July LIST, with
her name changed to the Hornet. She
mounted a main battery Of six guns on
her bow, stern and deck, and carried
an armament of rapid-fire guns, but
all of them were removed after the
close Of the war. During the var the
Hornet did splendid service in the
blockade of Havana, and The Messen-
ger has already mentioned the fact
thai the ship made several captures.
A few days ago we mentioned the Incl
dent Of her having headed off a liner
which was trying to run he blockade,
and hat during the chase of the big
steamer the Hornet with her ~starboard
battery raked off the bridge, killing
the captain and pilot. Her conduct
was also exceedingly gallant at Man
z~anillo, where she shelled the Spanish
batteries, doing splendid execution, I'M
til she was disabled by a Spanish
] shell. It was mad SO warm by the
Spaniards that the Hist abandoned the
Hornet aid she had to be lowed out
of reach of the enemy's guns by the
spunky converted tug Wampatuck,
which, it will be remembered, was in
Wilmington when she went on to war.
Accompanying the Hornet from Nor
folk were Lieutenant John G. Quinly,
U. S. N, and Past Assistant Engineer
Lyman B. Perkins. who were> sent
along by the navy department. On the
trip Commander Morton had as his
guests Mr.. H. NJ. Emerson, general
freight and passenger agent of the At
lantic Coast Line, Messrs, Brooke
French and M. w. Divine.
AS stated recently. it is proposed to
give an excursion to Southport and
out to sea on tie Hornet in order to
the reserves for the ex-
pense incurred in bringing her to Will
mington.
AT present the ship is at Mr.. Sprunt's
wharf at the foot of Nun street, where
she was taken yesterday evening from
the custom house wharf. A permanent
berth will be arranged later.
While the vessel is here she will be
in charge of the following crew, which
has been appointed for that purpose,
with salaries ranging from $50 to $50
per month: Messrs. Ernest Burriss,
boatswains mate; Joe. S. Lane. sea-
man: Tom Barr, oiler; John A. White.
Machinist.
Fighting Between Spanish and Philip.
pinOs