New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-28

NO ONE ALLOWED ON THE GOVERNMENT
RESERVATION AFTER 8 p. NJ.

STORMY DAY IN HAMPTON ROADS-THE SoLA'b
WILL SAIL UNDER RED CROSS FLAG WITH
OUT CoNvoY-HURRYING WORK ON THE
KEARsARGE AND THE KENTUCKY.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSEl
Newport News, Va. April 21.-With the wind
blowing a gale OF fifty miles an hour. the sea
rough and chopoy and the rain falling in tor
rents Hampton Roads has presented picture
Of desolation all day The bay is surgnS,
tumbling mass Of waves. making ii dangerous
to life and craft to venture from ship or shore.
and the cutters from the warships have made
only four trips all DAY.
The Texas sent cutter ashore at ALL and
has been literally cut off from communication
with the land. The flagship Brooklyn dragged
her anchors this morning for distance OF hve
hundred yards and carried almost upon the
Massachusetts which anchored near the Rip
Raps.
The position Of tho battle-ship was made so
dangerous by the proximity Of the Brooklyn that
Captain Hgcinson ordered steam up and
brought his ship in shore close by the
Texas The Brooklyn dropped down to her for
mer anchorage this evening.
All Of the regular steamers had difficulty in
making landings this evening. and hawsers were
Parted as If they were merely thin ropes. Ship
ping here suffered considerable damage. Sew
eral steamers whch started out from Hampton
Roads to-day were compelled to put back.
The waves are washing over the breakwater
and scores Of dories and small boats are high
upon shore The night patrol is being enforced
tonight by the tugs which have been pressed
into service but the cutters from the warships
arr not on picket duty. The revenue cutters
Hamilton Morrill, and Window according TO
repor. from Cape Henry are still on duty az
the Capes. on the lookout for hostile ships
THE PANTHER AND CONVOY IN a GALE.
The troopshlp Panther and her convoy, the
Montgomery and the Vicksburg. experienced
rough weather outside OF the capes yesterday
and hove to for while Il IS reported here to-
night that the ships have put back for shelter
No fears are entertained for the safety Of the
Montgomery and the Vicksburg. but naval Off
GERS and scafari1g men regard the sending or the
transport which is an old vessel. to sea. with
eight hundred marines on board. great risk
The electric-cars were stopped at o'clock to-
night. and no persons were allowed TO enter the
Government reservation. comprising the whole
Of Old Point. after that hour This is In ac-
cordance with order issued to-day by the
War Department. II is intended to Keep lo-
terers from the reservation in the late night
hours.
A guard OF ten marines was placed on the
Government wharf this morning and was re-
lieved by another SQUAD tonight. a guard mas
also been stationed at the bridge leading 10 the
reservation. All suspicious persons Will here
after be excluded from the Government property
II is reported at Old Point that this order is
the first Of several which will result In the
forced evacuation OF the Chamberlin and Hy-
CELIA hotels. but Captain Casey commanding the
corps Of engineers denies the truth OF the state
ment. and will use his influence TO leave the no.
tells and their business unmOlested as long as
possible. 1t is also reported that the new order
Will keep all hotel guests indoors after Q o'clock.
II this Is the real purpose no one in authority
seems 10 know II.
WORK OF LAYING MINES STOPPED
The work OF laying submarine mines in Hamp-
ton Roads was brought to a standstill to-day by
the condition Of the water The working boats
started out 10 resume work hut the engineers
could accomplish nothing and returned.
The hospital-ship Solace was not ready to pro-
coed 10 sea this morning. and. even had she
taken on her supply ~ food and medicine. she
would have been held mp by the storm. When
she does sail It will he without convoy. the
flag OF the Red Cross being her only protection
against the fire OF Spanish warshp. COM
mander Dunlop assumed formal command or
the Solace this morning. but. contrary 10 the
usual custom. did not raise his pennant to the
forepeak The Stars and Stripes and the Red
Cross nag will be the only bunting carried
A Government attache at the shipyard made
a statement to-day which. II verified by events.
will mean wonders for the Navy. IF the war
between the | nited states ana spain Continues
he said "for more than five mOnths-a year. say
the hattle-ships Kearsarge and Kentucky and
possibly the Illinois will take part in the en-
gagements between the two naVies.
When the Dixie and the Yosemite are sent
away from The shpyard the entire force Of four
thousand men will he engaged in rushing the
battle-ships 10 completion. and barring unfore
seen drawbacks. five months will see the kear-
sarge and the Kentucky in commission.
"Of course II the Government wants the ships
a; that time they will have to take them without
the fancy trimmings. The will be finished 10
fight and they will be able 10 do that. They
will be the most formidable ships in the navy,
and will never be duplicated. the Illinois the
Alabama the Wisconsin and the proposed bat
tie ships will be built after the plans Of the
Iowa and the Massachusetts,
The Dixie and the Yosemite are rapidly near
ing completion and already in fighting trim.
with their guns in place and their war paint on.
They will not leave the yard before Monday. If
then.