The evening times., 1898-05-17

adr1ft by the interference OF passing veS-
sells was recovered yesterday and taken to
Fort Wadsworth. II was damaged SO
that It was dangerous to handle. and was
exploded by the authorities. These mines
cost about $500 each. and nearly one hun
dred have been displaced by one cause or
another. While no evidence has been OBJ
tanned that any have been cast adrift a
sharp lookout Is kept for suspicious per-
sans IN the vicinity Of the mine fields
Twelve powerful searchlights- were ship
ped yesterday by the quartermaster's de-
partment to various points along the
coast. One went to Gull Island. which Is
| being fortified by the Government to
guard the entrance to Long Island Sound
from the ocean in conjunction with the
forts on the Connecticut shore. six
inch disappearing rapid fire gun was un-
loaded at Plum Island. at the eastern en-
trance to Long Island Sound. from the
steam hakge- Panuco. 1t is for the fortifi-
cations there. The work Of mounting 1t
was commenced at once. A large amount
Of projectiles were also left at Plum ISL
and.
Orders were received from Washing
ton yesterday for the purchase of addi-
| tional transports. Each Is to be fitted
with condensing plant. capable of con-
densfng 5000 gallons of water per day.
Fast Yacht TO BE Fitted.
Portsmouth. N. H.. May 17.-Word has
| been received here that the steam yacht
/ Comanche. which was purchased by the
Government. has been ordered to the
navy yard here to be fitted out with mag
azines and a battery. The yacht is one OF
the fastest afioat and II Is said will reach
| here in less than ten days. She is now
on the great lakes Of the West.
Heavy firing off this coast was heard
by the men Of Battery X. stationed at
Fort Constitution yesterday. No war
ships of any kind were sighted at the fort
| nor did any word come from the signal
station at the shoals that any had been
seen.
Plans for q Hospital Ship.
New York. May 17.-Among the many
patriotic enterprises that war has called
| forth one which will appeal strongly TO
the people is the proposition made by the
New York Chapter of the Colonial DANES
TO equip and maintain a hospital ship for
service in Cuban or Key West waters.
| or wherever such an asylum of aid and
beneficence may prove to be most efii-
| cient.
No one knows yet that such an insti-
| tuition may be necessary, but the New
York Chapter of Colonial Danes. after
due medical advice and consideration, has
| concocted and developed the scheme of
maintaining Il hospital ship for war suf-
| ferers which can be moved as occasion
| requires. but which will always be re-
moved from the unheaithful conditions
| which would surround land hospital in
Cuba during the rainy season.
The idea which has already obtained the
| sanction of the proper Government Of
| fcials. is to furnish the ship. surgeons.
| doctors. nurses. medical supplies. and del
icacies to the Government, under proper
Government supervision. and to raise the
| funds necessary by popular subscriptions
as most of the sanitary commission funds
during the civil war were raised.
A committee headed by Mrs. Lewis L.
Delafield and Mrs. Richard Irwin, has this
project in charge, and will enlist the
sympathies of many well-known- women
| in their work. II occasion requires, a
public appeal will be made for funds.
The Celtic King.
New York May 1.-THE steamer Celtic
| King arrived at the Brooklyn navy yard
! shortly arter noon yesterday. She was
moored alongside the coal dock. where
she will remain until It is ascertained
whether 1t will be necessary 10 put her in
dry dock. The Celtic King will be fitted
out with a refrgerating plant for storing
meat and provisions for the fieets in
Southern waters.
The cruisers Chicago and Atlanta will
not be ready for sea service for several
weeks. The work of refitting their boilers
and machinery will be begun within a
few days. Two golfers are nearly ready
for service. ..---