The Portland daily press., 1898-04-07
BROOKLYN FIRED HER GUNS.
Her New Eievating Apparatus Worked to
Perfection.

Fort Monroe, April 6.-The Brooklyn,
flagship of the Flying squadron tried her
eight inch guns today in order to test the
new elevating apparatus designed to give
them greater range. The test was not
made solely to demonstrate the ability of
the apparatus but also to see il the turrets
after being so materially changed would
stand the shock to which they were SUBJ
jected The test which was under the
direction of Commodore Sohley and Capt
Cook was Of a most satisfactory nature
and Commodore Schley said that the
Brooklyn was in the best of fighting trim
At one O'Clock this afternoon the order
ssclear ship for action was given and in
thirty five minutes every railing, every
rope, capstan, anchor, small boat and
loose hamper had been removed. The
guns used were the forward eight inch
tion of Lieut.. Commander Mason, with
Lieut.. Rush in command of the turret.
Commodore Schley and Captain Cook
stood on the quarterback to notice the
Vibration of the turret, which afterward
was declared to be at minimum. The
first shot was sent out with a service
charge Of IS pounds of powder, the gun
being elevated at five degrees. The two
hundred pound shell left the muzzle of
the gun at velocity of 1000 feet second.
It struck the::water two andlthree-q
miles from the ship, sending up a vast
column of water.
The second shot was with the full
powder charge, 10 pounds and sent the
proiectile nearly four miles, putting it in
theswater at speed of 1000 it per second.
There was no perceptible 1arring from
the shot.
Commodore Sohley said tonight that he
had not vet received any orders from
Washington. The New Orleans and the
San Francisco had not been assigned him
and the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius was
not ordered to his squadron.
QUESTION OF CUBAN BONDS.
Washington, April Cat the nesting
today OF the Senate COMMITTEES on foreign
relations the question of Cuban bonds
was raised 1t was brought ny by Senator
mated that there was speculation in
Cuban bonds behind his resolution de-
olaring for the recognition of Cuban in
dependence. This he said, was not true
in any respect aud he added that he had
not known when the resolution was
drawn that there were any Cuban bonds
out. He had investigated the question
Since, however, dA0 ucN ACcIAOQ Uil1t Ollly
$3.50, 600 of Cuban bonds had been Sold
This even, the Senator said, In sarcastic
Tone he did not consider sufficient to in
fluence the course of events.
Mr.. Foraker then stated that there was
another point on the bond question to
which he desired to invite the attention
of the committees, and this was the pos
sibility of the United States having to
assume responsibility for the payment of
the interest if not the principal of the
Spanish bonds secured by the Cuban
revenues in case of the Intervention OF
this country in the Cuban war without
first recognizing the independence Of the
Cubans. He said he would not assert
positively that such would be The case
but he believed the proposition strong
enough under international law to make
ground for an International lawsuit. He
stated that there were no less than $780,
900, 1U0 of these Spanish bonds.
WALKER MAY COMMAND.
Washington, April 6.-Rear Admiral
John g. Walker, retired, has had con-
ference with Secretary Long and the fact
revives the rumor that the administration
Is considering the ACCESSIBILITY of placing
him in command of the entire naval
forces in home waters.
CORRESPONDENTS THREATENED
New York, April GA staff correspon-
dent of the Associated Press, writing
from personal communication from
Havana oniSaturday last says:
"The latter part of the week has not
been particularly, pheasant for the eight
American correspondents left here. We
have been, targets for threats of assassi
warnings. We heed the warnings and
disregard the threats with such COM
posure as is given to each of us. AS there
is good deal of walking in the dark"
about the whole thing, we will be glad
when it comes to definite issue, one
way or the other"
discussing the quarantine regulations
of Florida, the correspondent writes:
"The hardships worked to Cuban 4
with children, who fear for their lives
here daily, is inoontestable.
AMMUNITION FOR UNITED STATES
London, April e.,-The British steamer
Marengo, Capt. Bingham of the Wilson
line, which sailed from Newcastle on
March 20, for New York, had on board
Il of the most modern guns, rs tons of
gun carriages, 922 tons of empty shells
and II tons of empty cartridges, all from
the Elswick works
AMERICANS GUARDED.
New York, April 6. "A special cable
message to the Commercial Advertiser
from its Havana correspondent says:
"Extra guards of mounted police have
been placed around the Hotel Ing laterra
and every whero that Americans assem-
BILE. There is no sign of an outbreak"
NEW GUNS BOUGHT.
Paris, April e.-The United States gov
eminent has purchased in France con-
siderable quantity of ammunition and
q number Of quick fire guns.
Lieut.. W. S. Sims, the United States
naval attaohe will shortly relieve Lieut..
J. G. Colville, the United States naval
attaohe in London, while the latter recu-
perates.
NO MORE RECEPTIONS.
Washington, April 6.-The war cloud
had led to discontinuanoe Of the Presi-
Dental public receptions for the time
being. With the continuance of grave
crisis or worse the outlook is that the
public receptions will be indefinitely
postponed.
GEN. GRAHAM AT ATLANTA.