Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-21

SSseial Co-rssDondsnes or ne Rsois,sr.
FORTRESS MONROE, Va, April IS
Those TWO weighty, omniScient prob
lens that have shaken empires and un-
dermined governments, "DO girls 1irt?'
and "Is marriage failure?" might just
now find solution at Old Point Com
fort, that welcome Virginia resort
Brass buttons and epauiettes have the
door, and naval officers are being
Whirled around 10 perfect maeistrom
al feminine attentions.
Just of the shore a few rods, and d.
Fectly In front OF the hotel is presented
an imposing spectacle In some thirty
formidable irouclads from all parts or
The world. The occasion is known as
the "InternatiOnal Naval Rendezvous,
second only % the coming nayal review
ih New York harbor next week. The
sight OF 30 many greyhOundS OF the sea
Is rare even 90 the residents along the
shores OF the historic Hampton Roads.
The fleet OF Nerxes must have swed the
Greeks as does this tremendous array OF
''armed neutrality" the modern world.
The Armada was great in It's day, ana
. 90 were the fleets that gathered az the
siege Of SebastapOi. But the advances
made in naval construction have oeen
almost miraculous In their prodidgous-
ness, and so 70 is that the war vessels
gathered In Hampton Roads to-day could
In day destroy a coast nation as eX-
tensive as the line from Key West 20
New York.
The idea OF this International Rem
devious was conceived and carried out
bv the Board OF Trade OF Norfolk, COM
bined with the Chamber Of Commerce
and CITY Council aud the final tnterven-
ton Of Congress, the first meeting for
the project having been held In July Of
1891. 10 required strong influence and
persistent legislation 20 bring this event
10 pass. and illustrates the value OF
these organizations 20 a community
when properly and systematically man
aged.
Directly in front OF the fashionable
Hygeia Hotel is the mammoth United
States ship Chicago" and behind 70 the
yorktown" the trimmed cruiser that
is under the command OF the gal
lant K. d. Evans laughed the
Chneans % scorn In the harbOr Of
Valparaiso when the Baltimore had de-
parted. Then comes the Charleston,
the veritable bull dog Of q vessel. One
the sights OF the Roads is the dynamite
cruiser, the Vesuvius, long, low and
narrow. She plOws the water like a
fish. The Russian war ships are claim
ing no little attention, as they are all
finely appointed ships, aud the officers
are the handsomest in all the gallant
array.
OF the Eve English ships now an
chored here, the Blake Is the eynosure
OF an eyes, She is the largest, fastest
and most heavily armOred cruiser In eX-
istence. On her forward deck, as well
as aft, she has two immense guns, each
twenty-five tons, aud mounted on such
massive gan carriages that man can
stand on the deck and reach the muzz.e
without bending. These guns can fire
a shot Of 800 pounds 10 a dead straight
line for "a miles, without an inch taken
of. Down 10 her hold there are
ffty huge furnaces and seven i'm
mense boilers, requiring the services OF
$50 6remen. Even n one does not de-
seend into the lower recesses Of the ship
there is much 20 observe that IS OF in
1 terest on her deck. The marine 10 scar
Let coat who patrols the bridge, the
vchaplain with his mortar board hat, the
groups OF young midshipmen and the
gold cords which the staff officers wear
are sll essentially English. There are
fully 200 OF these English officers and
midshipmen and their presence is
enough 70 turn the heads OF sOberer
girls than the butterflies that dit in the
~ 80 nfawrma
Among other vessels here are those Of
Italy, France, spain, Holland and Ger
many. Those now reyelling in this
naval feast regard 70 as the great specta-
Gle OF life time. The excursion steam
ers. naptha launches, row boats and in
Vulnerable craft Of al. kinds plying 10
amOng these giant vessels az tunes al
most cover the surface OF the water.
The waving flags and signals, the de-
tonatlng OF the guns as salutes are re-
ouired, fairly waken the heavens, not
q speak Of quietly removing the hotel
roof, the constant signalling o.
whistles by the Morse sys-
TEN OF telegraphing, the playing Of
the many bands on board, the long fash
lights as night, and the colored electric
communications, lend an inefable
charm % the 0ehOlder. One Ialfiy
scents war 10 the molecular particles To
the atmosphere. The Hygeia Hotel SO
Old Point Comfort has long been noted
as the rendezvous OF spring tourists,
but the naval rendezvous has crowded
a beyond It's limits, and to-day there
are no accommodations TO be bad al Old
Point or Norfolk outside Of private
families. The hotels are OyerdOwing.
Old Point Is a sandy peninsula and a
peculiarly hygienic resort The breezes
prevail from the southeast during the
night, sometimes dying out by 10
O'Clock in the morning, but frequently
lasting until noon; then follows. as a
rule, a calm or perhaps gentle zephyrs,
which usually take place In the after
noon from 20 s o'clock, % a steady
breeze from the southeast. The breeze
comes fresh from the bosom 0f the At
lantic and is eagerly looked FOR by
those who are familiar with the
weather OF the place and by some
is called the Doctor" on account Of
the consolation aud cheer which it
brings with &c. A visit % 0rt Monroe
and a twenty minute ride Hampton
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