The San Francisco call., 1904-09-16
Cruiser Boston in
Quest of Japan
ese Fleet.

The United States cruiser Boston
left port early yesterday morning in
command of Commander John Hub
bard, with orders to patrol up and
down the coast to locate, if possible,
the Japanese warships that have been
reported or are supposed TO be in this
vicinity. Admiral Goodrich. in view of
the many rumors of the presence of
foreign warships. deemed this action
necessary in the interest of the mer-
chant marine. The rumors that have
come from all sources and channels re-
garding the appearance of Japanese
warships off the heads had caused
much CONSERVATION in marine insur-
6nce circles. Marine insurance rates
threatened to advance as high as per
cent on outgoing ships and their car
goes. All day long the Boston kept in
close communication with the shore by
means OF her wireless telegraphy sys-
tenn. She kept Admiral Goodrich
thoroughly advised as to her move
ments. Up to a late hour last night
she had not discovered the alleged
fleet of Japanese warships that was
supposed TO have been in close pursuit
of the Russian cruiser Lena. Admiral
Goodrich, in speaking of the Bostons
mission, said:
uCCLlCQ II DCSA, III tlASa lutClCcb w
this Government and also Of the mer-
chant marine, to. send out the Boston.
There had been so many conflicting ru-
mors that / felt that it was advisable
for her to cruise up and down the
coast. She has Kept me closely in
formed all day of her whereabouts and
her movements by means of her system
of wireless telegraphy. The workings
OF the machine have been absolutely
perfect, and this practical test of the
system has been of incalculable value.
The Boston will return to port to-mor-
row.
Everything on board the Russian
transport Lena was going on as quietly
as possible yesterday. The orders from
Washington to the effect that she was
to be dismantled seemed to have very
little effect upon either the officers or
the crew. Whatever they thought upon
the subject they kept to themselves.
Their countenances were as stolid as
on the day they arrived here. They
moved about the decks in that same
easy going fashion that has marked
their movements since the Lena has
been in port. The only outward signs
of life on the Lena was the scraping
of her hull, which had become green
and messy and bore dirty brown ap-
pearance. This is now being trans
formed by the crew into a brilliant
black. Boats on all sides were en-
gagged in this occupation.
Late yesterday afternoon a report
reached this city, in a cablegram from
a prominent merchant in Honolulu,
that one of the interisland boats that
had been plying between that place
and Kaui had seen a number of Japan
ese warships lowering in the vicinity.
Whether they were lying off the harbor
of Honolulu and watching for one of
the merchant marine steamships which
they believed would call at Honolulu
on her way to the Orient or were lying
in watch for the Lena was not made
apparent in the dispatch.
Admiral Goodrich, in speaking Of the
improbable story of the court-martial
of Captain Berlinsky, expressed great
surprise that any credence had been
given such a report. No one in the naval
contingent here, he said, could possibly
have intimated a belief that the Rus
sian commander was in danger of be-
ing called to account to his Govern
ment for his actions. Captain Berlin
sky is here with the authorization of
his own Government.
All day long yesterday the same
careful guard that has been In at
tendance upon the Russian warship
since her arrival in this port is still
at her command. The Paul Jones, which
is lying Immediately south of her, and
the launch from the Marblehead are
both keeping q close scrutiny on every
boat that approaches her. The Ben
nington, whose anchors were fouled.
has succeeded in getting them cleared
and yesterday she was able to move
up nearer to the Russian vessel.
MAY HAVE THE NOyIK's CREW.