Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-10
CITIES BY THE SEA.
THE MYSTERY OF THE AMPIiI-
TRITE CLEARED UP.
THE ESCAPE WAS PROYIDEKTIAL.
Revenue Cutter Goes to the Rescue
of Stranded SchOOncr-SchOOI
Closed on Account of SMALLPOX
Teacher Has IL.

NORFOLK, VA, March 9.-(Special)-
The United States monitor Amphritrite
was expected TO leave here this afternoon
for the naval station at Port Royal, S. c..
but owing TO work about her boilers not
having been completed In time, she was
unable to get away. Captain Barclay, her
commander hopes TO be able TO start
south tomorrow. After the arrival OF
the Amphritrite in Hampton Roads from
Boston on Wednesday, March LIST, it was
rumored that she was TO so out of COM
mission at the navy-yard. The report
proved 10 be unfounded, but there has
since been much conjecture as to why the
monitor was remaining here when she
could have coaled and gotten away in two
days at the most. What is said to have
been the real cause OF the Amphitrites
stay here of more than a week and the
consequent delay in reaching Port Royal,
where It is announced she is TO be sta
toned permanently, has just leaked out.
Some Of the crew-from one Of which the
following information was received
count it provldentlal that the formidable
man-of-war Is not at the bottom OF the
sea and that they are still alive. The
Amphitrite left Boston on Friday, Feb
ruary the 2ith but had not proceeded
very far before it was discovered that
parts Of certain machinery which was
overhauled at the Boston navy-yard had
| been improperly put together Inc heces-
/ sary readjustment Of this was MADE anu
! the monitor proceeded down the coast
| until off Sandy Hook, where she put IL
! out of rough weather. 1t was while an
/ chored there that what might have proved
q disastrous explosion was Narrowly
( avoided by machinists accidentally as
I covering that the pipes leading from Inc
evaporators where salt water Is condenser
through the bilge 10 the boilers were
| leaking. Had the discovery been MADE
thirty minutes later there might have
| been great destruction and loss OF human
| life. The bilge was found flooded, and
from all appearances the water intended
for the boilers had been wasting Tor pos
siblv forty-eight hours through the fange
Joints in the pipes which Boston work
men. ii is said. failed 10 properly rlVet.
| Since the Amphritrte has been mere SIX
or seven boiler-makers from the navy
| ward. as well as the three on the monitor
have been constantly at work on her.
Two machnists from the navy-yard have
also been making repairs upon her In
| their line of work
The revenue-cutter Window, Captain
| Gooding. from Baltimore, Monday, arrived
here this afternoon and anchored OIL the
| Portsmouth Flats, after q cruise Oh sew
eral davs around the bay. She goes out
again tomorrow morning Tor a cruise OH
the outside. Captain GOoding reports
heavy storm on the bay Tuesday. Ihe
schooner Ida Thayer of Crisfeld, Md
from Taneier Sound to Baltimore, with
oysters. which had dragged her ahchoIs
during the prevalence of nigh vino,
was found by the Window pounding on q
ledge in the PatuXent river win seven
fathoms Of water under one END ana ilNe
feet under the other Besides being In
very perilous position the crew were
having a most unpleasant experience by
being tossed about on the schooner. Inc
WINDOW had no trouble in floating the
schooner. rro,.
81 Mary's Male Academy, on Holt
street has been closed for thirty ddys
on account of the development OF smah-
nox among the Brothers VINO teach theIe'
Two Brothers from the Academy are NV
az the pest-hOuse. one Is SAID 10 nav
gone 10 nurse the other. The boys OF the
ecbooI were all vaccinated by Dr. New
biu president Of the Board Of Health.
THE citizens of Raleigh. n. C., Will take
suitable action upon the arrival OF the
cruiser Raleigh, Of Deweys squaui on;
y,ben she reaches the Norfolk navy-yard
few days hence. The committee mas
asked the Secretary of the Navy 10 APP
prove the programme for the reception u,
of the Raleigh delegation VINO aes -, ~
nav their respects 10 the gallant oihceIs
and crew of the cruiser and receive the
S,in 70 be presented 10 this city. The
Committee com as soon as dates can be fixed.
u uJIi''i make arrangements for bringing
large delegation from Raleigh to NorfoiN
| -. .,,nnt the crnlser.