Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-09
FATALITY AT KEY WEST.
Chief Gunner's Mate johnson,
Ne,yport, Asphyxiated.

| Newport, Asphyxinted.
| KEY WEST, FLA, April S.-Ihe day
! here has been one Of expectancy ana con-
| lecture There have been no advlces from
| Washington indicating sny change in the
| situation. and the little remaining pre-
| paration has gone on with incessant
| vigor.
Apart from the arrival of the Mangrove
| from Habana. and the monitor Amphi-
! trite from Port Royal, the only incident
| of the day was of a tragic character
| Chief Gunner s-Mate Johnston. of the
gunboat Newport, while making an ex-
| animation of the ships bottom, met with
| sudden death from asphyXiation The eX-
act cause is unknown, but 1t is thought
the air-pipe became entangled in some
| WAY. He was down some time. and as he
gave no signals he was drawn up, when
he was found to be dead. The accident
has cast a gloom over the ships COM
pany. The remains will be inferred here
tomorrow morning. The examination
was a routine affair, and not made be-
cause Of any supposed defect.
on board the United States ship De-
troit-This ship steamed out for patrol
duty tonight, with deck-rails swung
down. netting spread to catch splinters,
and everything bare for .eaden hail.
The precautions IN Watching tlle lHSOiii"S
vessels were redOubled.
ARRIVAL OF PURITAN
The Puritan passed the Detroit as she
proceeded to her station az the Habana
entrance to the harbor. The usual courte-
sizes were exchanged. There was not
naval officer but breathed easier when the
monitor joined her smaller sisters, the
Terror and the Amphitrite. A naval
lieutenant on board one OF the larger
ships as he looked through his glasses a
these formidable craft. said TO the CORE
spondent of the Associated Press: ''Those
three floating forts could by themselves
whip the whole Spanish navy"
BLOCKADE OF HABANA.
When knowledge of the plan of block
ade of Habana. reported in these dis
patches last night, spread through the
fleet to-day. no end of discussion ensued.
The general impression is that the men
on the torpedo-boats would stand but
little chance Of ever coming out OF an
engagement alive. This view was tho
roughly confirmed by the torpedo-boat
men themselves, and the matter-of-fact
wav an which they discussed their
chances was a striking illustration of
American pluck and of indifference to
death in their country's cause.
Intense enthusiasm reigns among oft-
core and men alike. The movement upon
uohana Is eagerly looked forward TO-
and is thought to be certain to occur
heginning next week, unless Spain backs
down completely. In spirit ana IN pre-
noration Captain SIMPSONS squadron
is roadv to fight. and on all sides the com
1nIo,nt e heard that the expected opposl-
Zion is of such poor calibre While II
,,,o,, I've truthfully said that there Is very
little sympathy for the Cnpahs thell-
selves among the officers. this long pc
,iod NJ suspense and uncertainty loi-
Ioy,ino the Maine disaster, has wrought
,boro nm TO an unequalled pitch OF ex-
element ooo,r>,r,o
Tho steamer Olivette, from Iampa'
,,ith her passengers, lay TO eight miles
go, sbore this evening. There was con-
atSnrable excitement over the report that
r. VIC aground. The agents here said
tho4 che was at anchor, awaiting hlgh
tiGe ana would soon proceed to Habana
On her regular trip. Up to midnight she
etili law off shore, and had not lanoeu
mail or passengers.
OLIVETTE o. X.
The Oliyette arrived late to-hisht ul,
s,,,,ae.ed She discharged her cargo ana
LIN proceed to Habana. there to await
orders.
Don't fail to read advertisement on