The evening times., 1898-04-16
THE WARsH|Ps OF AMERICA
The Venerable Monitor Nahant
SieamS Brayely TO sea.
NEW YORK HASTENS HOME
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt An
peupces That the Government Has
Bought the Old Dominion Line
steamship YorI>town-LeaIs Df~-
covered i'm the Somers.

Assistant Secretary Roosevelt announc-
ed this morning that the Navy Depart
ment has decided to purchase the steam
er Yorktown. of the Old Dominion line.
The New Orleans at New York.
New York. April 16.-The cruiser New
Orleans came up to the navy yard this
morning. She will be fitted for sea ser
vice with all possible speed.
Our Steamers Hurried Home.
Southampton, April 16.-The American
line steamer St. Louis sailed for New York
today on her regular trip. TIE steamer
New York of the same line will sail for
New York at o'clock this afternoon in
response to an urgent telegram.
Leaks i'm the somcrs.
Falmouth. England, April l6.-The Unit
ed States cruiser Topeka, formerly the
Diogenes, and the United States torpedo
boat Somers, purchased for the United
States in Germany. which left Portland on
"Wednesday last for the United States. af-
ter putting I'm there through stress of
weather, have sought shelter here.
Ii is said that the crew Of the Somers
have again refused TO continue the voyage
in her, owing TO her unsea worthiness
They say that when she is at full speed
her fore compartment is full of water
The officials of the United States embassy
deny that any fresh trouble has arisen.
Upon examination il was found that
two new leaks had developed in the SOM
ers from defects in her machinery. She
is now being docked for repairs.
The Nnhant.
philadelphia. April 16.-Flying a brand
new American flag al her stern stan and
a tiny streamer at the truck Of her sig
nal mast, the old United States monitor
Nshant. ofiicered and manned by pick
ed crew of eighty of the New York Naval
Militia left the League Island navy yard
at lis p. m. today in tow of the ocean
tug Pioneer. She has been ordered 10
New York to assist in the protection OF
that port.
AS She swung away from the pier with
the ebb tide the whistles Of the monitors
Catskill Montauk and Lehigh began TO
blow Their salutes were answered by the
Nahant and when in obedience TO her
helm. she was Strengthened out on her
course down the river, she dipped Old
Glory to the navy yard, bidding that
place farewell, perhaps for all time.
Volumes of black smoke poured from
the Nahant's little smokestack when the
bone and sinew Of New Yorks reserve
firemen got TO work and in twenty min
utes the Nahant was hun down. bound
for the Delaware Capes at an eight-knot
gait.
Just before he Nahant's moorings were
cast off Lieut.. {. S Richman. who has
been assigned by the Navy Department
TO command her, said:
''The old ship is in very good SHAPE
and don't anticipate any trouble WIKI
her. The monitors are like bottles cork
ed up. and as long as the cork stays in
they'll float. Until the men have their
station billets l can't tell how they VII.
work at sea, but / guess they are an
right"
Lieut. Richman served on the monitor
Nantucket during the civil war. and
knows just how TO handle that odd type
OF a fighting machine.
Besides Commander William Butler
Duncan. the executive officer. the other
commissioned officers on board are:
Lieut. Manning X. Eyrie navigator:
Lieut. Alfred Brooks Frye chief engia-
eer; Lieuts. James MacFarlane and G. b.
Townsend Ensigns W. j. Henderson and
S. W. Grifiiths; J. B. MCGOWAN. medical
officer, and Paymaster w. j. Chandler
The discipline Of The officers and the
obedience Of the men is excellent Pass
ing down the Delaware, and after the
monitor beaches the ocean, Commodore
Duncan intends to keep in communication
with The tug by day with wig-wag flags
and by might with the hashlight To this 4
end he detailed Clayton S Fitch the act .
ing chief quartermaster. and Signalmen /
A. l.. Wilson and Sduires to remain on,
the tug throughout the trip
The captains orders are to keen a -aur 4
hawser and sharp lookout on the mon /
itor and tow her all the way TO Tomp- /
kinsville. Staten Island.
He expects 10 reach New York from
XIV for fs,
hours
The Norris
Providence. r. l.. April l6.-Tsbe newest
Herreshoh flyer, the Morris. Familiarity
known as torpedo boat No. IA. had two
trial spins in Narragansett Bay yesterday
and in each clearly demonstrated her
ability to easily exceed the Government,
contract requirement Of twenty-five and
ope-half knots an hour
1p the morning her warming-up trial
lasted only half an hour, and a speed of
egnteen knots was developed wfthol,
dInculty. In the afternoon she did bet
ter She made the run to Newport and
baok IN one hour and forty minutes.
Ihis morning the boat had a two
hour test. and developed speed of an
even twenty-four knots, maneuverinr
with the greatest ease
The official trial trip is TO take nlaca
Monday forenoon, IL the weather per
mits. Then she viii be SEM to Kew
West.
War Tugs Sail for Norfolk.
New York, April 16.-The United States
tugs inca. formerly the Walter A. Luck
ehback, and the Wsmpatuck left th>
Brooklyn navy yard early this morning.
They passed Sandy Book at G O'Clock.
bound for Norfolk Va. They were decxed
out in their leBd-colored war paint.