The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-11
SCARE OVER FAKE SHIPS.
Fort Excited by Report of Spanish
Fleet on Cape Henry.


Newport News Va. June Il, 2 a. ma
dispatch has just been received from Fort
Monroe which says: "Intense excitement
was caused at Fort Monroe last night
shortly after O'Clock by a dispatch re-
celved from the signal station at Cape
Henry stating that Spanish warships were
lurking in that vicinity.
"A short while later a message was re-
ceived from Washington instructing the
oommandant of the fort TO be on the alert.
reports as to the number of ships seen
conflict.
"A lieutenant, who was seen after mid
night, said he had been informed that
Spanish battleship, two cruisers, and
torpedo boat had been caught under the
search light at Cape Henry, steaming from
a northerly direction.
"As soon as II was reported that the en-
emys ships had been sighted there was
great activity at the fort. The big search
light began to sweep the bay and signals
were flashed to the cruiser Minneapolis,
auxiliary cruiser Dixie and dynamite cruis-
er Buffalo, which are anchored off Old
Point.
Quarters were sounded. and the crews
hastily prepared the ships for action.
"The gunners took positions at their
posts, where they were ordered to remain
during the night.
"The ships searchlghts were kept play
ing on the waters every few minutes.
I'm The fort, ammunition was hurried
to the big guns, and the troops ordered
to their posts. Some of the officers we're
with their families at the hotels and bug
lers were dispatched for them.
"The men scurried out of the hotels
half dressed and hastened TO the fort.
In the camp of the Maryland troops
orders were given for the men to sleep
in their clothes with their guns close by"
dispatch that came from Washington
stating that one of the vessels seen was
probably a German freighter had a ten
dency to allay the excitement among the
guests at the hotels, but the officers did
not relax their vigilance.
BY some it is thought that the men-of-
war said to have been seen are ships COM
posing the reserve feet alleged to be at
Cadz.
Fort Monroe Is prepared. with the as
sistance of the warships, to resist any at
tack by the Spanish fleet.
The arrival of the Minneapolis at Old
Point on Thursday is.now believed to have
been I'm anticipation by the navy depart
ment of a possible attack on this point by
the Spaniards.
Washington, June II. 3 a. m.-The fol-
lowing special from Old Point Comfort dl-
rect has been received BY the Associated
Press from private sources:
Fort Monroe, Va, June 10-This evening
a report received here from Cape Henry
that a Spanish battleship two cruisers
and torpedo boat were seen lurking out
side the capes, caused considerable activ-
ity at the forts, and tonight the troops
are sleeping by their guns and the search
lights of the cruiser Minneapolis, an aux
niary cruiser and one at the fort, are
sweeping the waters in search of the en-
emy.
All of the officers from the hotels were
called TO their posts tonight. Considera-
BILE excitement ensued among the civilians
and some uneasiness was apparent among
the guests of the hotels.
At 2:90 a. m. there were no new develop
ments.
Atlanta. Ga, June 1l--A special to the
Constitution from Norfolk says: "It
transpires that a bugler at Fort Monroe
caused the alarm at Old Point tonight
He it was, it is stated, who informed Com
mandant Hasbrouck that the Spanish feet
had been sighted and upon this informa-
tlon the orders were given which caused
the excitement.
"The alarming report was contradicted
from the naval reserve signal station near
Cape Henry"