Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-06
AMONG WAR VESSELS
THE MOVEMENTS OF OUR GR,M
GuyBOATs NEAR NEWPORT NEWS.
NO CHANGE IN THEIR POSITIONS,
The Brooklyn, Minneapolis, and
Columbia Lined Up on Old Point
Prcpnrntfons for Hostilities-Our
Purchase of Auxiliary Cruisers.

NEWPORT NEWS, VA, April 6.-(Spe-
cial)-There has been no change to-day
in the positions Of the vessels Of the fly
ing squadron. The Massachusetts, is still
anchored in the James off the city, and
the Brooklyn, Minneapolis, and Columbia
are lined up in Hampton Roads off Old
Point.
The divers working on the Massachu-
sets bottom, il is understood, finished
their work last evening. and 1t was re-
ported that the big battleship would
weigh anchor his morning and join the
rest of the ships at Old Point. She is UNI
der steam and ready to sail, but at what
hour is not known. Captain Higginson is
awaiting orders from Commodore schley'
who i'm turn will make no move whatever
until he hears from Washington.
The Brooklyn, Minneapolis, and Column
bia are lined up in full view of the hun
dreds Of guests at the hotels. The former
occupies anchorage directly off the corner
of the ramparts of Fort Monroe, and is
the nearest OF the three cruisers TO the
canes The Minneapolis is anchored be-
tween the Brooklyn and Columbia, the
latter being directly off the government
pier.
MINNEAPOLIS HALF PAINTED.
The Minneapolis is only half painted,
her freeboard still retaining the charac-
teristic white color Of the North Atlantic
| Squadron. The woodwork around the
Warehouses; on the Brooklyn and Min
neapolis has not been removed, notwith-
standing reports sent out from this CITY
and Fort Monroe The Columbia did guard
duty for the squadron last night.
The flying squadron is hourly expecting
! orders TO put 10 sea. All the ships nave
| steam up and can weigh anchor at al
most a moments notice The brooklyn
! contrary to expectations, will not go out
on her test trip until definite news Is re-
ceived from Washington
| The Seaboard Airline Float no. J.
which arrived from the Portsmouth
navy-yard at Old Point early yesterday
morning with forty-two buoy-cans for the
| submarine mines, which are to be laid in
! Hampton Roads between Fort Monroe
and Canes Henry and Charles, is still
! moored 10 the government wharf. directly
/ i'm the slip on the Chambcrlin Hotel side
II was thought at Old Point that the
float would be towed this morning To the
canes. by the government tug Nahneta'
| which put up at Hampton for the night
! but now II is impossible 10 learn just
what time il will leave on its important
! mission.
,HE STEAMSHIP NINA.
The Anelo-American Gable Company $
! steamship Nina. which arrived yester-
| dav from Key West, where 1t laid tor
pedo and submarine mine cables for the
! government. is still anchored in the Roads
near the Columbia She Will lay the
mines and attach them 10 the cables.
The impression that the float brought
loaded mines from Portsmouth Is a mis-
taken one. Many newspaper correspond
ents who are stopping at the ola Polht
hotels sent out stories TO that erect as'
night. The loaded mines are secreted WIN
I'm the walls Of Fort Monroe, and are
taken out to sea as soon as heedeu.
UNCLE SANS PURCHASES.
The denial of the report that the gov
arnment had not purchased the magnii-
cent passenger steamers OF the Olu 10
y,irion line was received here with feel
inos NJ Measure. 1t seems probable, how
ever that the Morgan Liners FL Norte,
IN Pic III Sud. and FL Sol will pass into
the hands of Uncle Sam to be used as
auxiliary cruisers. All Of these. with the
! execution of the FL Sol, were built by the
Newport News Shp-Bulding and Dry
Dock Company in 1892 and 1893. They are
the speeuest and most handsomely-htteo
passenger vessels in the traffic between
! New orleans and New York.
If Is learned on authority that the
| Cromwell Line steamship Creole, which
is now en- route TO the local ship-yard' 70
be converted into a hospital ship, Will be
assigned 10 the North Atlantic Squadron
at Key West in the event Of hostilities.
The officers Of the ships now lying at
! old Point look forward to the arrival OF
the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius from the
! Portsmouth navy-yard with more genu-
inc feelings OF JOY than any other shiT
vet to Join the flying squadron, not ever
excluding the battleship Texas. say tor
pedo-boats TO the naval officers, and they
ouicklv think Of the great addition the
destroyer Vesuviu, will be TO their squad
/ ron.