Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-05-17
DANGER, BEWARE" 7"
Is the Warning Given at the
Mouth of the Kennebec.
Government Men Planting Channel
With Mines and Torpedoes.
And Passage Of Vessels in and Out Is
Much Restricted

Bath, Me-, May 16.-The Times,
tonight, published the following
regarding the defenccs at the mouth
of the Kennebec:
The orders from the war department
in relation to the mines and torpedoes
at the mouth Of the Kennebec which
were issued, last week, by Major r. l..
Hoxie. corps of engineers, have already
caused considerable trouble among thu
captains of vessels and steamers plying
on the river which are obliged to pass
the grounds where the work is being
put in.
Major Hoxie arrived, Saturday, with
two tugs and two scows and a large
crew of men to lay the mines and tor-
pedoes and they are rushing the work
Yesterday they worked from daylight
to dark and for a time the river was
closed to navigation completely.
Manager Capt. Chas. Blair of the
knickerbocker Towage Co. went down,
yesterday with the tug Adelia, Capt
Colby They were hauled to- lust
before reaching the fort by the tug
Stella, Capt. Hawthorn, which has been
engaged by the government as a patrol
boat, and instructed how to pass out
OF the river through the mines. The
only passage open was narrow chan
mel around CIark's Point.
The Adelia went out and picked up q
tow consisting Of three schooners, the
Mary Il. Olys, w. Fl. Oler and aha
Maine. They were all light coming to
the kennebec for ice. After the tow
had been made up the Adelia was
headed for the mouth of the river.
The big tow boat Sylvester l.. Ward
Of Boston, which is on duty as outside
patrol boat. came alongside with the
order not to attempt 10 come in the
RIVER until dark as mines had been
placed since the tug went out But
after some dichcring she was finally
allowed 10 come In bringing one vessel
at time under short hawsar.
The place where the mines and tor
peloes are being located il between the
fort and Clark's point. AT the present
time there arc numerous buoys and
barrels which mark the territory where
the explosives are being put down. 1t
IS not known how many explosives will
be located at the point. This morning
word was received that the river would
he closed for tcday. nothing to be al
lowed 10 come in or go out.
1t is known what opportunities win be
left open for the passage of vessels.
hut from the present outlook there is
no question but the plans now being
carried on would cause delay and much
Inconvenience to the Kennebec river
trafc. Tugs must pass over the length
Of the short channel in the immediate
vicinity Of the fort either by drifting
with the tide or working against it as
neither screw or paddle wheels can be
turned within the limit
The orders from the patrol boats arc
promptly ubeyed as nobody is dcsir-
able of finding out what the two guns
in the fort are loaded with, or Of taking
any chances Of running up against
any Of the explosives. 1t is said that
the mines ana torpcloes arc only three
feet below the surface at low water
which will bring them only u feet un-
der water al high tide.
Some Of the tow boat captains arc
rather nervous when in the vicinity Of
the mines. 1t is understood that the
whole system of explosives will be run
by a battery from the shore When
the work is completed it is not expected
that there will he much trouble to
naVigators.
Capt. Oliver of the Salacia said this
morning that his boat would run as
usual but probably would run in Back
river most of the time.