The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-29
On STRICT WAR FOOTING.
Prepared for an Attack
at Any Moment.
MEN SLEEPING AT GUNS

der Pacific Blockade az Night Mines
All Placed-The Patrol Fleet on
Northern Coa~t-The Hospital Boat
Soiace.
On board flagship Brooklyn. OF For
tress Monroe. April 2s-This port. che
entrance 10 Washington. the capital
Of the nation. Norfolk and Portsmouth.
where half a score Of vessels OF war
are under repair for assistance in the
conflict: Newport News. the great coal
ing place Of the coast and where the
batreships Kentucky and kea-sage
are being constructed: --nnapolis. the
naval academy Of The nation: Rich
mond. a great city Of the south. ana
Fortress Monroe. the key 10 the land
situation, has been declared in a state
OF pacific blockade from sunset 10 sun
rise, and no vessels Will be allowed to
enter Hampton Roads between the
hours that mark that period.
The enforcement Of this pacific block
ade established for precautionary pur-
poses, is put o in the hands of naval
officers at present here with the flying
squadron. but is carried out 10Y the
army officials located at fortress Mon
roe. Under the direction of Captain
Casey, Of the United States army en-
Sineer corps, mines lave been laid be
tween CapeS Henry n Charles and
above them both in the Chesapeake
and the James outlet of Hampton
Road and the ardous work Of yester-
day completed them. Il is, therefore.
dangerous for vessels to come IN a
night for fear the mines will be acct
dent be exploded.
A patrol force of vessels either owned
or chartered by the army department
was, therefore, sent out tonight and all
ships are warned and or1ered to lay to
until day. AT that time the picket
fleet VIII act as escort TO vessels that
have been held throughout the night
and will escort them through the lines
of torpedoes and mines with which the
harbOr is now lined.
The Washington, Norfolk and Rich
mOnd steamers were allowed TO leave
tonight as usual, but beginning tomOr-
TOW night will have to leave before
sunset in time to be clear OF the harbOr.
The squadron is or 1.-THE most warlike
kind of footing tonight A picket fleet
of steam cutters is out for the entire
night fully armed, the officers Of the
deck ana the marine SeTNf1eS are arm
ed and some of the gunsquads sleep at
the guns. engines are coupled, full
steam is up and anchors have been
lighted so that there Will 'be no delay in
starting.
Up to nightfall the Montgomery had
come down from Norfolk to escort
the Panther to Key West with its 500
marines. The Montgomery, with its
rapid fire guns; the Morrill, and the
Glow rrGt1, tlai,~ fast mo ~ nriaS and
the Panther with its complement of
eight rapid fire guns, it is believed, will
form too formidable a fleet for any
enemy near this coast.
The news of the whereabouts of the
Columbia was received with surprise
today and wonder expressed at the
eason for sending her to the New Eng
land coast. If, however, the San Fran
CISCO, and the New Orleans join this
fleet, it will be strengthened for its an
ticipated meeting with the Cape de
Verde fleet of Spain.
The Rodgers, torpedo boat, came in
today after being forty-eight hours at
sea, and ran up to Norfolk for slight
repairs. She found that one Of her
plates had sprung because OF the
wrench she gave herself in running on
a sand bar last week. The repairs Will
take but a short time and she will be
tSdoJ " JUN AN iiONN
All the ships of the squadron cOaled
today in full for what they have burn
ed while in waiting here.
THE HOSPITAL BOAT.
The Solace, an innovation in naval
construction, is completed and may
leave for Key West with the Panther
convoy. Her hull is painted white with
a green band around it. She is a ship
of 3, 800 tons and has a speed Of seven
teen knots, so she can easily follow the
fleets OF America. Carrying the flag
of the Geneva Red Cross, 1t is not be-
lieved that she will even be threatened
by the enemy. Every comfort and con-
venience for wounded officers and men
will be found on this floating hospital
and never before have there been such
provided for battles on the water.
There are hunks for the wounded.
plenty of operating tables, large steam
launches to circulate in and out Of the
fleet and take away the wounded. The
launches will undoubtedly save many
officers and sailors from death by
drowning. The wounded will be care
fully taken by cables and tackles for
ward. and as soon as they are on deck
Of the Solace, carried to the operating
room or taken to the hunks. There
are operating rooms for use of officers
and sailors, bath rooms, convalescinG
rooms, a laundry. disinfecting ma
chimes, quarters for officers and crew
of tho hin and there will no on hoard