Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-27
ESSEX At OLD POINT.
School Ship Anchored in
Hampton Roads.
TERROROFF FOR NEW YORK
Double Guard Being Kept Night an Day
Over implements of War at Fort
Monroe. Other Significant
Incidents.

The monitor Terror, which has been
am hote1 at Old Point opposite the Hy-
ga Hotel, yesterday afternoon, at $50
O'Clock, weighed anchor and sailed fer
new YORK. where she will remain untH
further orders
me ViZcaya, which was reported tua
in Hampton RAIDS sailed past tn, Caues
yesterday informing on her way to Ha-
vana.
The double turretted monitor Puritan
winch Is now at Norfolk, is expected 10
take the place of the Terror in Hamp-
ton Roads. She is looked for to arrive
to-day or to-mJrrow.
The Puritan is a member of the first
class or Uncle Sans fighting con.in-
gency having displacement nearly as
great as the Wrecked battleship Maine.
Inc puritan is an iron vessel rugged
Wlth military mast, and is considered TO
ne seiTice1hle fighter. She will prob
ably remain on duty in the Roads unti'
uufther DEVELOPMENTS in the situation
nstWeeh the United States III Spajn
Ice arrival at Old Point yesterday
morning at 1920 O'Clock uC the Essex
was the cause of a great deal Of spa.u-
1a'Ioh at the Government reserva to:
lnere was considerable Specula ton as
TO the purpose of her trip, which was
onfy augmented by, the fact that her
consignment was Gnloaded by the Gov
eminent buoy tender, ana the con:vnis
OF the SIN large cases which wee landed
"A Ia
at the Fort. The Essex anchored off the
dygeIa tiote. awaiting orders.
Ihe Essex is a third p1re wooden yes
Sci. bark rugged, and has only la.ely
returned from cruise in Southern and
Mediterranean waters, havin, left the
States last August She arrived at Port
Royal, 5. c.. about the first uf the pres
ent month, ami has been engaged since
that time in target practice up to the
I'D. when she sailed from that port FOR
opI Point. The commanding officer of
the ESSEX left last evening by thu
Washington boat for the Nations Capt.
tai.
The rumor was atfoat yesterday
among the guests at the hotels at Old
Point that two companies of artillery
had been ordered TO leave the Fort for
Fort Washington. The trut tn of this re-
port is of very doubtful character, as
there are within few miles Of Fort
Washington ell the artillerymen that
could Possibly be required TO man the
guns at that fort. The rpmor at one
time seemed a certainty. as there were
about 100 men With belts and equip
ments assembled on the Government
wharf None of the men, however,
hoaidelii the Washington steamer, ex-
cept enc sergeant, who said he was go
ing to- Washington TO visit his family
1t is supposed that the men We're under
orders to be prepared to take the Wash
ington boat should orders to that eff
feet reach the Fort before her deparI ure
The activity at Fort Monroe seems
Indicate that the Government recognizes
the fact that the post must he thorough
ly PREPARED when the moment for &C.
ton comes. The battleships niow under
construction at the shipyalJ would b.
most desirable objects for Spanish spoil
alton We're it possible forone of the pow
'erinl vessels Of the Spanish navy to
reach This port. 4 ioubIe guard is now
being kept over the fighting machines
It the Fort, both night and day. and
in case of emergencies there will be 10
surprises 10 fear from being unprepare:
Another important fact which tends
to confirm the reports that the govern
n1ent is making active preparations for
war us the fact that a contract has just
been signed with Philadelphia and
Cleveland firms for the shipment of
100000 tons of COAL at once to Fortress
Monroe and other Atlantic coalng sta
tionS.
While it is published that this coal
will go to Old Point, it Will in reality
come here and be loaded ON vessels
when needed from the Chesapeake &
Ohio piers at this place.
This is ano ther evidence that Newport
News and fortress Monroe will be
among the principal points to be we'll
guarded in case of war.
IA Focal jinge was so confident yeSter-
day that a conflict with Spain was in
evitaIble that he wageped s. that war
would soon BE declared.