The times., 1898-05-13
A REAL HARBoR PATROL.
Several Steamers Fired on I'm New
York BHy.

York Bay.
New York. May 12-Rear Admiral Err
bens mosquito patrol fleet, which is to
guard the naval fields in the harbors and
from an inner line of naval defense, is
in a fair way to become reality at last
Admiral Erben is in Boston arranging
for the transfer to the Government of
the boats City of Boston and the Rus
sell. and Commander Field, who has
charge of his office in his absence, re-
ceived word yesterday that the converted
tugs Tecumseh, Sioux and Algonquin and
| the revenue cutter Morrill, had been or
dered detached from the North Atlantic
| squadron, and were to be assigned to
| the mosquito fleet. They will come north
| at once.
| The Tecumseh was formerly the Ed
| ward Luckenbach; the Sioux, the 2. II.
| Wise and the Algonquin. the FL Toro- All
| are stanch, seagOing tugs, about ninety
| feet long, and capable of mounting g.
| pounder rapid-fre guns. They were among
! the first boats acquired for the Navy by
! the board on auxiliary cruisers The
| three tugs will probably be assigned TO
| duty in New York harbor, and the Nor
| riIl in Chesapeake Bay.
| Commander Field also received WORD
J yesterday that the mosquito feet would
! shortly be augmented by the yachts Rest
| less. Viking AiIeen and ThespiO. which
| are now being converted into gunboats
at the Brooklyn navy yard They viii
| be ready for service in a few days, and
probably will also be assigned 10 duty
| in New York harbor.
| The next difficulty which presents itself
| is to find men for the vessels. As the
auxiliary coast defense system is "a
| present constituted, Admiral Erben has
| neither authority TO enlist men nor money
| to pay them when enlisted. Both he and
his officers are waiting for the passage OF
| House resolution No. 257, which appro-
| pirates 81 600 900 for the formation of an
| auxiliary naval force.
The first of the regular patrol fleet, the
converted yacht Freehance, went into
commission at the navy yard yesterday
| afternoon. Lieut.. J. c. Hanos is in com
mand of her, but no men have been pro-
vided yet
In the meantime Gov. Black has come
10 the rescue Of the Government again
The five days for which he loaned eight
tugs. manned by the State Naval Militia.
to patrol the mine fields Of New York
harbor expired last night, and the loan
has been renewed for five days more. II
will not be renewed again. but by the
| time it expires Admiral Erben expects 70
have his fleet in commission
The State fleet was augmented yester-
day by the yacht Llewellyn, whose own
er. Lewis Carr. has lent her TO the patrol
| for as long a time as she may be needed.
| Lieut. Commander Forshew. of the Naval
Militia, made her mis- flagship yesterday.
The Llewellyn is $50 feet long and can
steam seventeen knots an hour A. l.
AIollenhauer, who was formerly paymas-
ter in the Second Battalion of the Naval
| Militia also lent his fast yacht Presto
1 AZ 9~at t~,s.
between the signal stations in the Great
South Bay, which are manned by mem
bers of the Naval Militia. She is an ex-
tremely fast boat
| Commander StaytOn who has charge oi
the harbor patrol. reported one instance
of the enthusiasm of the amateur tars
under his command He sent down ter
men yesterday morning to relieve some oi
those who had been cruising for five days
off Sandy Hook. They, however. refused
to be relieved and the relief party came
back strongly expressing disappointment
Commander Stayton also reported tha
the tug Edward G. Burgess. towing tw,
mud scows, had been fired on yesterday
morning in the Narrows by the Fred b
Dalzell, for running over the mine fields
: Two shots were fired from a Lee-MetforC
rifle by Ensign Tuzo, who commanded III,
: Dalzell. before the captain of the Burgess
| stopped. He then pleaded that he hat
been carried out of his course by his tow
| tie had torn loose white buoy and foul
= | ed another before he was stopped.
: While this was going on the tug ROber
: c. Smith ran through the mine fields an
5 | escaped The captain of the Angler.
| hsring boat. has been reported to the pi
| lot commissioners. by the patrol. for re
peated violations of the harbor regula
: tions.
/. 1t was also reported yesterday that a
E l9 O'Clock on Tuesday night. the Start
r line boat Erastus Corning, had been fire
, | on near Willets Point. by a patrol boa
, Two shots from a rife brought her to
: standstiIl. The Corning was detained ur
s til dawn and yesterday afternoon an off
E cial ofphe line called at Admiral Erben
office and registered a vigorous protes
because he declared the Continental,
= the New Haven line. had been allowed I
pass out two hours later. The CoutineI
. tai, it is explained, evaded the patrol.