Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-29
WARSHlpS IN STORM.
FLYING SQUADRON BEARS BRJNT
OF WEDNESDAYS GALE.
He DANGER OF COLLISION.
1t IL CIcvcriy Avoided by Good
scamanship-ItOstOn md ProNi-
dcncc and Old Dominion steamers
saIi-Schooncr in Peril.

OK BOARD THE FLAGSHIP BROOK
LYN. OFF FORT MONROE, April Is
For thirty-slx hours the flying squadron
Was unable 10 communicate with snore.
The storm struck the coast Tuesday
night and came up Hampton Roads like
a fury. II whlstled at the rate Of ninety
miles an hour drought the great super
structure Of the flagship Brooklyn and
whipped up the sea so that the white
foam broke I'm huge masses oyer the deck
of the Massachusetts and the Texas.
The heavy draft OF the big war-vessels
made it impossible for them to get into
smooth water. and they had 10 stand
the brunt of the storm.
Toward morning the storm increased
in violence and as the tide turned the
lookout on the forward bridge of the
Brooklyn announced that the ship was
dragging it's anchor. The officer OF the
deck simultaneously reported that the
Brooklyn was getting In dangerous proN-
unity 10 the bdttieship Massachusetts,.
Captain Cook and Executive officer
Mason went to the bridge Immediately,
ana ordered the second anchor down
At this time the wind was blowing so
hcrcely that the men could hardly keep
their feet on deck. The second anchor
ran out abOu. twenty fathOms of chain
and struck. and the big ship stopped,
and for short time breasted the wind
and tide. but in "a few minutes she be-
gan 10 back slowly, and IL was evident
that there was no hold for the anchors.
fa al -lIf alf boil
pare TO get under way. Faster and faster
sne went back, her big broadsidc swing
ing toward the dangerous ram on the
prov of the Massachusetts. The latter
was signailcd 10 pay out her cable ana
drop away and she did so.
EXPECTED COLLISION.
In the mean time on the Brooklyn. the
men in charge Of the forward c0mp8rt-
ments went to their stations, closing the
watertight compartments, and preparing,
without any outward evidence of excite
ment, for the expected collision. The
Massachusetts, cleared away her big
bOOms, and also prepared for the COLI
SIGN. not daring TO ship the anchor, for
fear of running herself on the sand-bar
in close proximity or drifting into the
Texas Faster and faster went the
Brooklyn toward the battleship. and the
unilinchingiy ready 20 perform the special
tasks assigned I'm case Of collision.
There was no confusion. on the
bridge, with cool heads. sharp eyes, and
active brains were Captain Cook and his
executive officer while on tho af.er-
bridge. not interfering with the manage
ment of the officers Of the ship. stood
Commodore Schley and his flag lieuten-
ant Sears, watching with interest but
with as little excitement as they would
a practice cruise. the big ships coming
together. A conflict of orders would have
meant great danger and disaster, but
there was none.
An order from the captain and one Of
the biz anchors comes rafting up, and
the ship drifts on a little faster toward
it's evident fate Then. I'm obedience 10
tine helm the stern, now almost scraping
the Massachusetts, bow, swings out, and
the ship is partly controlled by the am
chors, swinging i'm as IN TO take the blow.
CLEVER SEANANSHIP.
They are within a few yards of the
huge battlcship, and an are awaiting the
crash. Captain Cook looks over the port
side of the bridge. and then says sharp
lv. Full speed asten." There Is clang
OF bells. a shiyer as the big engines turn,
and then the cruiser slides rapidly clear
OF the Massachusetts. with barely a hand
10 spare. "Clevcrly done" says CommO-
dora Schiey, as he goes down 10 break
fast
The clever seamanshp, perfect disci-
pline. and cooi-headed judgment had
averted "a disaster. "This ship obeys her
engines perfectly" said Captain Cook
modestly. after ne had anchored further
out.
Toward the afternoon the storm clear
ed off. the heavy sea quickly subsidized
and communication with the shore was
resumed.
COASTWISE STEAMERS SAIL.
The steamers Of the Boston and Provl-
dence Line and Of the old Dominion
Company. which were detained, left as
usual tonight.
Anxiety is felt as 10 a large schooner
three-masted disabled by loss Of main
topmast. part OF foremost and rails. and
anchored near ChicamcOmic0 Life
Saving station. which is ninety miles
south of Virginia Beach and twenty miles
north OF Cape Hatteras. The schooner,
whose name Us not known, was anchored
two miles north OF the station and WAS
thought TO be in danger il the wind con-
tinued strong from the northeast. tnls
last intelligence coming early yesterday
morning.
The telegraph and telephone wires from
Virginia Beach 90 the southwark are all
down as only Cape Henry and the Beach
were heard from last night. A section
of the Virginia Naval Reserves, acting
as a signal corps. is stationed at Cape
Henry and is having taste Of rough
weather.
HINT I'm a .nN-NIiiI