The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-15
MORPHEUS DISTURBED.
TIE SHARP, SHRJLL VOTES OF THE
GREYHOUNDs PREVAIL.
All tho Admirals Come Ashore In Citizens
Clothes, and Arc Lionized by tho
Beauty-foreign Ships.

| There were no beauty maps tnlS alter
noon for the girls in the long hotel which
| oyerlooks Hampton Roads. For three
hours, just during the time when a
siesta is most enjoyed, the air was filled
with a chorus of noisy whistles. They
footed long and they footed short. Some
were sharp and shril, like the piccolo
| Of an orchestra, and some were as deep
and reverberant as a bass horn. 1T is
not a pretty noise" said Admiral Gherar-
di. when somebody asked him what 1t all
| meant but il is a part OF our work.
| In the technical language of the popu-
| lar Admiral. the fleet was signaling by
| whistles. "You see," explained the Ad-
| miral, IF we have fog while on our
way to New York, and the chances are
four in five that we WILL we will want
to talk to each other and as we will not
be able TO see the flags we must rely
on our whistles. We will be able ITO hear
| when we cannot see Without an accu-
| rate knowledge of each others where
abouts a collision might occur, and
| then"
| The Admiral did not finish the SEN
tence. The very thought Of the White
squadron founderng belplessly into each
| other out upon the ocean brought Sc
rious look into his smiling face.
All the admirals came ashore this
afternoon, not in the glory of gold
lace and shining buttons, like the en-
signs and lieutenants, but In plain citi-
| zens' clothes. They spent the afternoon
ashore, and of course were lionized by
| the ladies.
Admiral Benham's squadron, which
| came in from the ocean last night and
l. A.. kotr 1o1 N n
roads this morning, the handsome New
ark. gay with signal flags and pennants,
| leading the procession. and followed by
| the Baltimore, Bennington San Fran
| cisco and the Atlanta, like flock or
giant gulls sailing slowly across the
broad stretch of water. Unfortunately
the line which should have been straight
as an arrow and with the ships equi-
distant from each other was sadly out
OF gear, as a landsman would express IT,
The Baltimore was out or line ana OUT
of position; the Bennington had fallen
into a place almost abreast OF the San
Francisco. and the Atlanta was strag-
Cling far behind to the rear. The code
| of signals. with it's ten thousand phrases,
does not provide for any naughty words,
otherwise some would have been dis
PLAYED from the signal hallards OF Ad-
miral Benham's flag ship. The irregular
formation did not mar 10 any great
extent the pretty picture which the ships
presented as they sailed up In the bright
sunlight but IL made the commanding
officers feel considerably annoyed. For
three DAYS they had been out at sea
practicing evoutons, and at no time had
the manoeuyres been so unsuccessful as
when. with the eyes Of Fortress Monroe
and all the rest of the world upon them,
auf pDh
The drill Of the squadron while absent
was devoted mainly to practicing anchor
age in the review formation. For the
time being the ocean 10 the southeast or
Cane Henry was the Hudson river. The
feet swung into position and dropped
anchor once. twice. and thrice. each so
MANY wards from the other. The distance
was measured with mathematical correct
ness by sextant. and so great was the
anxiety for exactitude. that once when
the Baltimore anchored forty yards out
~ nosItIon. she was politely but firmly
directed to take up her anchor and try
Il over again. After all this carefulness
II was really annoying to have such
contretemps as occurred this morning
The arrival Of the foreign additions 10
the feet is being awaited with feveclsh
eaeerness. Admiral Gherardi said TINS
afternoon that the British fleet or hVe
ships would be here next Monday morn
ing. and that he had received letters from
the State Department informing him that
the Italian and French vessels would
arrive some time between the 18th and
the 18th. which" as the Admiral remark
cd "is rather indefinite. As for the Rus
sian vice-admfraf," added Admiral Cher
ardi. laughingly, "he is somewhere be
tween heaven and earth We have been
expecting his ship hourly, but now we
will know he is coming when we see
him"
No orders have been issued to-day from
the Admirafs snug office on board the
Philadelphia and the day. with the ex-
ception Of the shrieking whistles and a
couple OF salutes. has been quiet.
Admiral Walker visited Admiral Cher
ardi on the Philadelphia to report his
return from sea drill and of course when
he stepped on board the cruiser thirteen
guns had TO be fired in his honor. The
boistrous welcome was repeat I'd when
Admiral Benham made a similar .'eport,
and later in the day the dynamite cruiser
also proved its capabilty 10 adj a quota
OF noise, entirely disproportion1te 20 It's
size. by indulging in some practice with
its dynamite guns
Fully aware Of the fact that when the
foreign ships arrive there will be more
official duty than social pleasure. the
officers Of the United States fleets are
show ering social attentions upon their
friends. Admiral Gherardi gave a dinner
last night upon the Philadelphia, at which
Miss Molle Elliot Seawell. Of Washing
ton, whose dramatized novel. Maid
Marian" is now being played by Rosina
Nokes. was present. There were several
social functions this afternoon, and to-
morrow night a gei man is to be given at
the hotel.
The early return yesterday Of Adm-
raj Walkers squadron from sea was ex-
plained to-day. On board the Charles
ton young naval cadet named Sheehan
Is lying a. the point Of death from a COM
plication following an attack of the grip.
His condition changed for the worse
yesterday. and to-day IL was deemed
necessary TO remove him TO the Naval
Hospital. opposite Norfolk After con-
siderable delay the commandant OF the
nayy-yard was communicated with. and
then II was learned that the navy-yard
tug was in the dry dock. In the mean
time the condition Of the cadet was be-
coming more and more precarious so the
good-hesrted Admiral Walker came per-
sonally ashore to beg. hire or impress
some steamer 10 convey the patient to
the hospital, finally securing light
house tender. The fact that the shadow
OF death was lowering over the fleet was |
not generally known except TO the Of |
fcers.
Disguised under the coat Of fresh |
white paint. the Dolphin Joined the fleet |
this afternoon. and TO the usual accom- |
paniment OF heavy guns. The new ar
rival saiuted the. Admirais flag with |
thirteen guns, and the AdmiraI's shin 1