New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-12
CAPTAIN RODGERS'S ASSIGNMENT.
ON HIS DETAIL III 'o"'
MAND THE PURITAN.

Tho announcement was made by Captain Fren-
.-ck Rodgers United States Navy, to his reho"-
r,embers OF the Naval Auxiliary Boaru' III wv
Army Building yesterday, OF his Assignment. 10 INC
command Of the monitor PURITAN
cordial congra ations he packed up MS pop.
and left the Office go to command hsp'''is S'p'
n detail he has desired since the war proAe ou',
lie formerly commanded the MASSACHUSETTS, "''
has boen IN the Navy for thrty-seven years enter
ing II from the Annapolis Academy at the outoreaN
II the Civil War. lie served on the Niheo' "ra''u
Gulf and Seminole. In the war. ana ait'r""'u
WAS connected with several vessels lie mas
also been lighthouse district Inspector super
visor of the Harbor Of New-York. and the heao
OF the Board Of Inspection and Survey Wheh
tho Naval Auxiliary Cruiser Board was formed ten
weeks ago. ne was put in charge OF the WORK.
After two months work he was relieved anu re-
turned to Washington. but last MONDAY ne fetu'"e"
to this city to resume his old place. and put tne
work of the Board I'm shape for securing auui
tional vessels for coast defence
Captain Rodgers yesterday morning received
dispatch ordering him to succeed captain furheH
f. Harrington In command or the puritan, ho"
blockading Havana Harbor. lie started Tor WISH
ington al once and will go on 10 Key west ana
reach his vessel as possible 1t Is ex-
pected that the Puritan Will go with the fleet OF
transports and their convoy TO the southern coast
OF Cuba early this week. Captain Rodgers Is
third on the list OF captains OF the Navy
The vessels now being equipped for harbor patrol
include the former ferryboats Governor Russell
and East Boston. the converted yachts Comanche
and Inca and the converted tux Kate Jones. at
Boston; the converted yachts Enquirer. Huntress
and Stranger. at Brooklyn; the ceboat Phla-
dephia and the converted zach No. c95 at Phila-
dephia. the converted tugs j. d. Jones and Bristol.
Mt Norfolk: the converted tugs Powhatan, Choctaw
and Iortense. at Pensacola.
on these vessels VIII be placed the enlisted men,
bprs Of he designated
by Admiral Erben. The chief objection made by
the men 10 taking the work OF harbor patrol on
these vessels is that 1t Is as much Ike par
;icipating In the actual war as they had hoped
would be their lot They were .nxous 10 get
similar service TO that allotted 10 the men the
Yankee. Prairie and Yosemite. which are in South
waters and which the the Dixie will
get when she is ordered from Hampton Roads. As
the prospect OF any attack by Spanish warships
upon the Atlantic Coast IL becoming daily DINNER
the harbor patrol duty will have nothing
to do save seeing that submarine mines are not
disturbed
There has been little trouble with the mines in
this harbor since orders given 10 fire into
vessels which persisted In violating the rules after
due notice by signal Only derellct mine was
reported last week and that frightened bathers nj
Bath Beach. Major Adams. when asked II all tho
stray mines had been recovered. smiled and said.
reported from the premature explosion OF any OF
the submarine harbor deiences. because they are
passing through them viii contact cause explosion
Az least dozen mines have been torn from their
anchorages down the Bay. and have drfted out to
sea, most OF them coming ashore on the New
Jersey coast, where summer residents have had
great fear OF serious damage from them, and have
threatened TO hold the Government responsible II
any harm came from the floating engines OF
destruction
The work OF the Auxiliary Board will be con-
tinued under the direction Of Lieutenant Com
mander J. ID. J. Kelley. who will. however. be SUBJ
ordinate 10 Admiral Erhen In the matter. A favor
ut New London on Friday and 1t Is expected that
they will be bought.
Admiral Erben has directed Lieutenan Com
mander Cornwell and Assistant Surgeon Arnold TO
go forward with the examination OF the Florida
Naval Militia at Tampa and Jacksonville.
directed TO examine the Western New-York Naval
Militia at Rochester, and the Ohio men at Co
lumbus.
A member 81 the Auxiliary Board said yesterday:
The Government wants at least ten more small
yachts and most OF them Will be- sent to Cuban
OF tho vessels OF this class which have been re-
Gently inspected will doubtless be recommended
Among the vessels being fitted up which are
likely TO 40 South IN II few days are the Elfrida
the Enquirer and tho stranger As they had been
designed Tor harbor patrol II will be necessary to
get other vessels take their places
UNLESS some emergency not now foreseen arises
4 l. likely that the work OF the Auxiliary Board
can be completed in ten days. But no one say
When tho work began Captain Rodgers
said II could be completed In few days. That
was many weeks ago. and we have been busy
cvcry day. We must have looked up five hundred |
vessels and have personally inspected the greater
number OF them. Out of these about one-hfth |
have been taken. There enough left 10 supply |
any demand"