The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-20
DECKS CLEARED FOR ACT TON
Americas Ships Of War Pre-
pare to Meet the Foe.
THE MAINE TO BE AVENGED
1t Is Reported That the Foreign
Yacht Aegusa Has Been Purchased
as 81 Torpedo Bont DestrOyer-Ebe
Auxiliary Board Continues TO EX-
anime Available Craft.

Lieutenant Commander Reeder, Naval
Constructor Tawresey and Chief Engineer
Dixon, of the naval board on auxiliary
cruisers, returned from Boston yesterday
after inspecting yach s for the auxiliary
fleet. While at the Hub they examined the
yachts Mindora. Chetolah. Ituna, Pere-
gull, Viola. Illawarra and a new yacht
which is nearly completed in the Lawley
shipbuiiding yards. The board advises
the Government to purchase all of these
vessels for use as torpedo boats and tor
pedo boat deStroyers.
The Mindora formerly the Norma, was
built in South Brooklyn in 1884 for
Charles II. Merritt. She is $50 feet long.
19 feet wide and draws 10 feet OF water.
The Chetolah was launched from tins
yards of l.. Marquand, of Salisbury
Mass, in 1891. She is a steel boa, los
feet long, II feet beam and feet deep.
This vessel is owned by tn Capt. Charles
Lunt estate.
The TUNA was designed by G.. l.. Wat
son. of Nalkyrie fame. She was built by
A. and J. Ingls, of Glasgow, in 1886. Her
hull is of sseel. and she is $50 feet over
all, 135 feet in ches on the waterline, -
feet inches beam, and draws about l.
feet.
The Peregrine is also a steel yacht.
She was launched at Bath. Ne, in 1896.
Her length over all is 15S feet inches,
and she measures 131 feet on the load
wa,erline. She is % feet beam and draws
IL feet inches. She is owned by Ralph
II. White.
The Curityba.
Galveston, Texas. April I9-There are
negotiations going on for the purchase of
the steamer Curityba Who is seeking to
purchase her cannot be definitely aScer
tanned. The Curityba is now in port re-
ceiving cargo for Antwerp, and has a full
cargo booked and over forty passengers
William Parr & Co. agents of the Curl
tyba, admitted the receipt of a cable from
| the owner asking in case of sale of the
steamer If her cargo and passengers could
be transshipped. They replied it would be
/ impossible to secure a ship here to take
/ her place.
1t is reported that the Government has
made an offer for the Curityba. and that
Lieutenant Commander Wadhams. com
mander of the Seventh district coast pa
/ troll, would be here tomorrow and inspect
! the steamer. II is also intimated that the
/ Ward Line is after the Curityba, as they
are in the market for vessels to replace
those sold to the United States.
The Curityba is about three years old
and was built at Kiel for the Brazil trade.
! She is 300 tons register, fitted with sin
I gle screw. and under favorable conditions
/ capable of reeling off Is knots an hour.
I She has a good steerage and cabin accom-
modations, and can easily on pinch car
ry 500 people. Her owner is Heinrich
Diedericksen, of Kiel
4 Foreign Yacht.
Heretofore the Government has con.
fined its purchases of yachts TO vessels
built or owned in this country. Yester
| day ii was announced that among the
| boats recently purchased abroad is the
magnificent steam yacht Aegusa, one o.
the largest pleasure craft afloat, to b,
used as a torpedo boat destroyer. The
Aegusa was formerly owned by Coun
Ignazlo Florio who is well known a!
the owner of Valkyrie ]. The Aegus;
was built last year by Scott & Co, o
Greenock, is 800 feet long. I,242 tons. an,
has sea speed of seventeen knots. TIL,
Aegusa which cost G60,0O0 or $500 600 Il
said to be on her way 10 this country
where she will be fitted with rapid fir
guns and torpedo tubes. ""-