The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-12

A fine little steam yacht with a very
queer name came into Charleston haroor
yesterday morning. and with only a mo-
mentary pause along the water front
sreamed up TO Johnson's coal wharves.
and. like a man preparing for a big days
work. began TO strip her sails and deck
furniture. The yacht was the Kanapaha-
the New York Suns dispatch boat. bound
for Key West and the seat OF war" as
soon as there Is a seat OF war. The Kan
apaha. which WIS formerly the Corsair
and belonged to John Pierpont Morgan.
has been recently purchased by the. sun
and put in commission for use during the
expected hostilitieS. The boat will be
headquarters for The Suns correspond
ents. and will be under the direction Of
Mr.. job r. Spears, one OF the best
and most prominent newspaper men In
the country.
The Kanapaha came TO Charleston in
charge OF Captain Packard and a Mr..
Anderson OF The Suns stan. and after
taking coal yesterday steamed out and
away for Florida. As coal Is scarce and
high down in the neighborhood OF Ha-
vana the Kanapaha took on all her
bunkers would hold and a deck load be-
sides Of Pocahontas coal. Before slowing
this deck load, however. the boat was
stripped OF everything that could be
spared. Sails. deck furniture. chests.
rigg!ng. as far as possible, were taken
down. and only the necessary hatches
dA&4 tabAlA sNs A1AN 49, -
boat has a record OF sixteen knots and
il is anticipated that all OF her speed
will be needed. Every provision Is made
for the comfort OF the correspondents
and the safety and speed OF the ship.
Captain Packard has a full and compe-
tent crew and the boat is in excellent
condition. Mr.. John r. Spears, who VIII
be the chief war correspondent Tor me
Sun. will join the Kanapaha at Key
West.
The following from the New York Com
mercfal. tells of the boat and the CORE
spondent, and will therefore be OF special
interest at this time:
Should war break out tomorrow John
r. Spears is ready to rally around him
at Key West a corps OF experienced
newspaper men whose reports OF the pro-
gress OF events will supply the readers
of the New York Sun with the latest and
most complete descriptions of the Incl
dents of the conflict. Mr.. Spears Will
nave an advantage over most newspaper
men. in that he is thoroughly conversant
with naval matters. having graduated
from the naval academy a score OF years
ago. War is not a new thing for Mr..
Spears. He wrote dispatches TO me
Sun and the United Press that attracted
much attention during the war in Chlll
some years ago. His name is familiar TO
} the readers of Harper's Weekly as a
writer on naval topics, and his knowl-
edge of naval matters is shown by the
fact that he has just completed a four
volume History of the American Navy
published by Scribners. 1t was John r.
Spears who made a trip to Greenland
for The Sun. and also travelled through
Central America. sending On the jour
ney the most interesting accounts OF
what he saw in that comparatively I'M
explored country. Mr.. Spears will have
all the assistance from The Sun office
that he calls for as the war progresses.
and to him will be left the direction of
The Sun forces at the hottest points,
Charleston News and Courier.