The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-06
DRY TORTUGAS DESCRIBED
AN Interesting Spot. But at Present
a Source of Weakness.

AN Interesting Spot. But at Present
Source OF Weakness.
! Washington, March 5.--In view of the
requested re-transfer Of Dry Tortugas to
the war department. it is pointed out that
| in Its present defenseless condition the
island is a positive source of danger. as
! it could be occupied by an enemy as a
base of naval and military operations.
| The most essential feature of its defense
| would be the moving Of guns, and with
| these the harbor would give one Of the
| best protected roadsteads in southern
waters. The main defenses are on Tortu-
| gas (meaning turtle Island, and occupy
| practically the entire island, although a
| small narrow coral reef sweeps around It,
| affording additional shelter. The fort is
| known as Fort Jefferson. It is a three
story brick structure, with classmates, the
walls being four feet three inches thick.
| The garrison quarters are located in these
| classmates, the old plan being to place the
artillery in the upper stories and the in
fantry below. The old defenses consisted
| OF thirty-two and forty-two FOUNDER guns
and one or two PARROTS of 200 and 300
pounds. These four feet three inch walls
and old-style guns would be OF little serv-
ice in modern warfare and such as re-
| main are probably out of practical service
by the quarantine uses to which Fort jeff
erson has been put in recent years.
II is thought, however, that the old
brick fort would serve temporary uses
as garrison, and that the surroundings
would afford a good location for heavy
guns to protect the roadstead.
The fortification board, headed by Cen
eral Miles, some time ago reported that
the Tortugas Islands were necessary as
part of our system Of coast defense.
The naval scheme Of defense of the coast,
as laid down in the plans by the naval
war college last summer also contem-
plated the Tortugas Islands as a base of
operations, while the board appointed by
Secretary Long TO select sites for dry
docks last autumn Also devoted consider
able space in its report TO showing the
importance-of the islands-fron1 a strategic-
point Of view. The anchorage is probably
better than off Key West, fact made
evident by the preference for Tortugas
harbor shown by Admiral Slcard during
the southern rendezvous of the North At
lantic squadron, now in progress.
Washington. March 5.-The proposed
transfer of Dry Tortugas, which is now
regarded as the most important quaran-
tine station off our southern coast, to the
war department would necessitate the i'm
mediate selection Of another location for
a station off the coast of Florida The
quarantine season against ports infected
with yellow fever and other infectious
diseases begins April /. so that if the
war department decides to resume con-
troll over Dry Tortugas and Fort Jeffer-
son, which 1T located there no time will
be lost by the Marine hospital officials in
fitting out another station. Already some
correspondence has been had with officials
Of the service on the Florida coast, and
several of the Florida keys have been
suggested as suitable places to which the
station might be transferred. Among
they are Fleming Key, which Surgeon
Murray at one time considered superior
to Dry Tortugas as a location for
quarantine station; Mullet Key, where
the state of Florida now maintains sta
ton, and Bahia Honda, which is east Of
Key West.
Owing to the admira bic location of Dry
Tortugas, which is directly in track of
all vessels bound to the United States
from the West Indies. the north coast of
South America and Central America. and
the perfect character OF the quarantine
station. it will be given up with great re-
gret by the marine hospital service. If the
war department insists upon taking pos
session.
The annual reports show that In 1875
fifty-one vessels were disinfected at the
sation. and in 1895 sixty-one vessels. The
figures for last year, when the number
was much greater. are not yet available
Yellow fever patients are not treated at
Tortugas station, but at Bird Key. six
miles away Those who were injured in
the Maine explosion who were IN the
hospital at Havana, where yellow fever
always exists. were detained at this sta
ton before being taken TO Key West. The
same advantages claimed for Dry Tortu-
gas as a point for quarantine station are
claimed for 1t as strageic point for
base Of feet operations against Cuba
II was used during the civil war as base
Of operations against the Confederate
states. A report made by Surgeon Muir
ray two years ago contains some valua-
bic information regarding the location,
the harbor and the condition Of old Fort
Jefferson. The group OF keys. or islets.
of which Gordon Key. upon which the
station is located is the centre, covered
an area OF eleven square miles. Gordon
Key consists Of ten acres. on IL are the
old fort Tortugas harbor light. having a
range Of Is miles and the quarantine sta
ton The anchorage 10 the northwest of
Gordon Key has a disable area OF one by
one and a half miles, with from seven to
eleven fathoms OF water and excellent
holding ground.
Into this anchorage are three channels
and Surgeon Murray says that with lit
tie care any vessel in the world now built
or 20 be constructed can so 10 Il without
q pilot
New York. March 5.-A consignment Of
Calling guns was sent 10 Pensscola. Fla.
today fro mthe Brooklyn navy yard. The
guns and their mounts were put Up IN
crates and were sent by the tug Traffic
10 the Mallory lire steamship pier. They
are intended for the naval militia OF Flor
ida. At the ordnance department il was
said that the guns were ordered many
months ago and that their shipment has
no special significance. A consignment
of cutlasses and other warlIke supplies
went with the eating guns.