Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-17
THE KEY WEST FLEET.
Men Eager for Action-TorDedo-
Uont. vs. TorpedO-Boat Destroyers

POT TAMPA. FLA, April 1G.-At Key
West the situation remains practically
unchanged 20 far as the position Of the
ships and the disposition Of the officers
and men are concerned. The eagerness
for action grows more patent each hour;
so much 50 that each shot aimed at an
Old huil or dancing target Is freighted
with A wish that II had "A Spanish dest-
nation. Even tho coal-passers "a sturdy
lot. with muscles like armor-plate), dis
cuss the chances OF action, and with wild
whoops give vent TO their desire for ven
geance on the murderers OF the poor
fellows down below I'm the Maine. Vet.
the wisdom Of careful provision and pro-
vision is recognized By M thoughtiu.
commanders who will have posts Of equal
danger and greater responsibility
II is at night that the scene IS most
vyarlil,e for while there is no booming OF
guns there is a constant interchange Oh
signals over zen miles o. more Of ocean.
and now and again "a searchlight SHOWS
"a torpedo-bOat. ugly as a devil-flsh ana
far more dangerous than any creature
HUGO could imagine. stealing quietly along
from shin 10 ship. on IT'S way 10 the open
sea and patrol. reaching, mayhap' 10
within sight of the big guns az the VI
dado Habuna.
with darkness. and while We are t'Io
l,..r,.tbir,, E. i'm readiness. and has been
for a week the thousand and one duue3
Iart over or partially sighted cal loI
constant activity
ABOUT TORPEDO-BOATS.
The Associated Press correspondent
,,... ,slLinp with Lieutenant kes'er re-
entity K..ter D. chief engineer OF th+
,orr.'lo fleet. and protlbly ~ well posted
Increment as any man in the service
lie has had thirty months torpedo-ood,
5,,tv and the world cannot show an eludI
record IT., the query. Isn't lt pity W.
haven't more tOrpedo-boat destIo5'IS'
the bronzed. keen-eyed young oi''N
piled "Oa. yes. 1 suppose $50. hul al'S'
an thrv may not De- 50 dangerous III
al ,,.,. MS many ore inclined % suppose.
&.,,, ,., tb4,. have never been Thoroughly
t,icd 40 de4trovers. As for me given
5.-troy.r after torpedo-b'at, ana !
would rather be ON Che smaller crai"
"Isu't that "a queer choke. H '.''
vb, would make it Ih" d' ''I't''
ming thirty knots. gets after me torpeuo-
boat. running twenty -hNr. ~" ~
..... .itp.r under fun hcadwaN; / tell you.
the destroyer carries l'iI''. W.
,,.,tar ahead. SO does the smaller craft
IAN, the destro, ers big gun is forward
while the torp,dO-bodt has her7-oIl,H
little one. 10 be- sure AFT, WheIe I'''
is mo- wall of water and where the mo
lion IS much less perceptible. The man
am tbe destroyer might he up TO ms hroN
I'm water when ne fired. II he hit tho Il'-
no fellow. It would be all day. sure
eno,sh. bs the little fellow has digger
t,rcet a chance for steadier aim ana
IL bs emit see che hull of the porsuer
ne can see the big bone he carries In nus
IN If one of the l-pound shots from
ra torpedo-boat biz fair. IT would MAKE
, hole clear into the boiler-room OF the
d.stroy,r and would probably 10 d"
heap of damage
TAMPA EXCITED.
At port Tampa. there is no little eX-
citrn.rt over the prospective ARRIVAL Oh
.e,..r regiments OF troops. The dock Ia
mites here are certainly "dmiraDie. ~,
.hip-canal IS nearly mile .ons' is -
feel wide at the bottom, and mas MN
n,,,n, d4uth of q feet At present the
'rI,. bo3ts available for the transport'-
liam of troops are the Florida OilFe.,e.
ard Nt,scotte-aIl of the Plant Line. hui
,ba mort is readily accessible. both from
1rantfc mort. and from the Gulf.