Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-23

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steamer John q. Jones. OF Norfolk n
80 ',s'al r power; the iron barge Lone star
~ =, DoS'on' capable OF carrying 5000 tons
,,se ,ne noating derrick Monarch. capable O
',"s IoV tons, the largest floating der
TICK IN the country, and another derrick
capable OF lifting thirty tons,
Inc forwarding OF the boats. derrlclks
ana men Will begin at once. Telegram,
| were sent to-day to begin the ontflttina
'ne taxing on Of coal, and the assemblinf
OF men and equipment
ne ooats are ready 10 start at any
uihe' out II will take day or two to
-. 'osether the exceptional facilities re-
| CURED Tor this large undertaking. The
wrecking companies officials saw II viii
oe impossible TO assemble this material
ana get II into Habana harbor ready for
work Tor week. They will make every
enort however, 10 expedite the work
Inc underwater has a crew OF seven
teen men, Including her own STAFF OF
u'Ners, who are veterans In this line OF
work The Jones has a like crew and
equipment OF divers. The crews are
available for wrecking work. but aside
from these men, there will be forty ex-
perienced wreckers. Each wrecking YES
sci has a large complement Of pumps.
anchors. iron masts, with heavy holsting
gear. cables, etc.
Who will command the expedition has
not been determined thus far, as the com
panles nave several experienced wrecking
masters available. The wrecking mas
ter will be In complete charge. as the GOV
ernment will trust entirely to the experI-
ence Of the wreckers. although a naval
officer will be detailed TO inspect the work
as 1t proceeds.
FACILITIES AMPLE.
The officers Of the two wrecking COM
panies said to-day that after the expedi-
tion was assembled i'm Habana harbor
a complete inspection OF the wreck would
be made. and the exact line of work de-
termined upon. The facilities will be so
ample that all of the divers will be able
TO work at one time on different parts
Of the wreck
Most OF the lifting will be done by the
smaller derrick, which is Of sufficient ca
pacity for the lighter upper works of
the Maine but IL will take the monster
derrick Monarch to lift the huge turrets
of the Maine and the guns mounted with
in them.
Captain Humphreys stated that the pur-
pose was not to separate the big guns
from the turrets, but to lift them as a
whole. This will be a tremendous un
dertaking. as the combined weight Of each
turret and its guns is 166 tons But the
Monarch can lift 25o tons, so there is an
ample margin Of lifting power.
The wreckers were 10th to express an
opinion as to their ability to raise tho
hull Of the Maine. Mr.. Chapman and
Captain Humphreys stated that nothing
but close personal inspection would
permit "a decision on that point. They
are hopeful however. that the ship can
be brought to the surface.
The iron barge. Lone Star. will be used
TO receive the turret guns and wreckage
and as fast as the loads are made up she
Will be towed to the Norfolk navy-yard.
The most potent sign that the first and
exciting stage Of the Maine disaster has
been passed was the fact that not 2
single cablegram was received over
night or this morning at the Navy De-
partment from Habana.
CUBAN TOBACCO EXPORTS.
Acting Secretary Day had very little
news to communicate He had received
one dispatch from Consul-General Lee
and that related to the shipment of Gu
ban tobacco to the United States The
department has heard nothing of the re-
ported revival of the Weyler edict pro-
hibitng the expectation of tobacco from
Cuba. On the contrary, General Lees |
reports show that the movements are In |
regular progress, or. at least, had not |
been checked up TO the sth instant.
Judge Day had received no news Of the !
rumored capture of the Dauntless. and, /
In fact, the above telegram was all that |
he had had from Habana In the last |
twenty-four hours
The naval officials assert that the re-
port to the effect that the movements of
ba
way are with a view to the early as
sembling Of the vessels near Habana is
without foundation.
This movement, they say is direct ac-
cord with the plan outlined in December
last by Captain Chester, of the Cincin-
1ati in command Of the squadron. and
approved by the department. This plan
S about as follows
After the smaller vessels were docked
At Buenos Ayres he would assemble the
squadron and proceed up the coast Of
south America for squadron drill visit
ng all the ports where American inter-
,sts exist, going as far as Para. Upon
he return Of the squadron from the
North he would make a long visit TO Rio
TaneirO, with all the vessels Near kio
s the harbor of Isle de Grande, where
he vessels would have target practice
nd other squadron exercises. This would
.isO give the smaller vessels an OppOr-
unity for torpedo practice.
In further explanation Of the movement
# the two ships of the South Atlantic
quadron. il is said at the Navy Depart
nent that some time ago word came that
hey were in need of coal, but that yell
ow-fever prevailed in Para, where they
we're then, and south of them in Brazil.
they were authorized TO proceed TO some
lealthy port for their coal, and this, it is
tated, is how they came TO go to Barba-
oes.
HURRY WORK AT NORFOLK.
In explanation Of the order given ycs-
erday to the Norfolk navy-yard officials
o have the Terror in condition for ser
ice. Secretary Long said this order had
cen given to replace the Maine. it being
eemed desirable that the armored fleet
hould not fan below a certain number.
here was very little work to be done
n the Terror. and forty-eight hours
hould suffice to finish it. The Terror is
ur most powerful double-turreted moni-
,r. and. although not as effective as
aaboat as a battleship, in the smooth
.aters of the harbor she probably would
. able TO hold he. own against almost
ny craft.
The following telegram was received
Y the Navy Department this afternoon
.om Captain Sigsbee:
"Send to Forsyth for Sigsbee trans
srse sectional drawing of Maine through
,rward lO-inch magazine and shell-room,
,owfne pocket cOal-bunkers." s
This request was Immediately complied !