Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-09
OFF TO THE WAR TODAY
LOCAL NAVAL MILITIA SAILS ON
THE PURITAN
To Take Part in Maneuvers in Admiral
Dickens Fleet-Waited
for Tide.

AT noon today the United States monitor
Puritan, with the members of the Naval
Battalion of the District of Columbia,
steamed out of the harbor and proceeded
or her way to join the fleet of Rear Ad-
miral Dickens In Chesapeake bay, to take
her part in the joint army and navy exer-
cises. The departure of the Puritan was
delayed several hours because of the turn
of the tide. 1t was intended that the big
fighting machine should leave at o'clock
this morning, but the tide ran out and the
officers in charge were afraid there would
not be water enough in the shadows Of the
river to permit the big boat to pass. The
Puritan has a deep draft and requires
plenty of water to work her way along.
1t Is believed that the trip to Solomon, Nd,
WheTe ADMIRAL Dickens and his fleet are
now lying. taking on coal, preparatory to
going to sea. will take about twenty four
hours Commander Strattop and the Dis
trict Naval Battalion are not expected UNI
til 1 O'Clock tomorrow afternoon, and they
believe they have plenty of time for the
trip.
Preparations for Departure.
The preparations for the departure of a
boat of the class of the Puritan are many
and exacting. 1t is extremely difficult for
such large vessel to be handled in the
narrow channel of the Potomac The
Puritan has been up the river four times
In the past and each time but the last
she was conveyed, pushed and pulled by
fleet of tugs. The last time she came up
she had no tugs and had no trouble either.
Inc same pilot that brought her up the
last time has charge of her today, and he
promises to get her safely to deep water.
One of the most difficult jobs of the cruise
was accomplished early this morning when
the ship was turned around and headed
down stream. When the Puritan dropped
anchor off the arsenal wall last fail she
was given a position out of the run OF
steamships plying the river. and when the
naval militiamen took charge of her she
was left where she lay. To take her out
1t became necessary to turn her around.
and that was job that was fraught with
all sorts of possibilities. The work was ac-
compliShed very nicely by the miitiamen,
however and the ship was in position to
move at an early hour this morning. The
fall of the tide, however, induced Com
mander Stratton to delay his departure UNI
til he could be sure all the shadows were
covered The start was made about noon.
and 1t Is confidently expected that the
Puritan will join Admiral Dickens by noon
tomorrow.
Gen. Harries and Col Lloyd M. Brett WIS.,
tied the Puritan last night and inspected
the ship. Everything was In readiness for
the departure, and the commanding gen.
eral expressed himself as we'll pleased with
the condition of the ship and men. Gen.
until a late hour last night, going over
every part of the ship. They were espe-
cially pleased with the manner in which
the stores were handled and stored. The
ships company of the Puritan numbers
IA officers and about $50 men.
Beside the Crew.
In addition to the militia crew there are
on board about thirty men of the regular
navy and marine guard of twenty men.
The officers include: Commander, S. w.
Stratton; lieutenant commander r. B.
Rrummett lieutenant and chief engineer,
William II. Lantz; surgeon, S. Clifford
Cox; ensign and aid, Frank w. Sigourney.
First division-Lieutenant John Doyle
Carmody; ensign. William E. Bleo. Second
Observation-Disclosures, Joseph A. Dempf;
ensign, Walter E. Burt. Third division
Lieutenant Arthur H. Chase. Chief boat
swain, James Bowling, U. S. N. Marine
guard-Captain. George l.. TAFT; first lieu
tenant, F. II. Heidenreich; second lieuten-
ant, William B. Sullivan.
At noon today also the members of the
Maryland naval militia embarked on three
started for Solomon, where they will join
Admiral Dickens tomorrow also. The
Navy Department has assigned the Hornet
and Siren to the Marylanders and they
will also have their regular ship, the Syl-
via All of these vessels are modern ships
of the yacht-gunboat type and have pow
erful engines. They will probably be used
by Admiral Dickens as scout ships The
Maryland militia includes about twenty
officers and 200 enlisted men. Capt Edwin
Geer is in command.