The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-31
OFFFORHAMPTONROA
ADMIRAL GHERARDPs FLEETsAILS
FOR THE KEYDEZVOUs.
His Flagship, tho Philadelphia, tho Baiti-
more, the Yorktown, vcsuvius ana mo
Cushing Compose the Fleet.

NEW YORK, March 3O.-At daybreaK
this morning the work Of preparing the
nve vessels which were to sail Ior '"'
naval rendezvous at Hampton hoau'
from the Brooklyn navyyard was De-
gun. The entire force Of the war-shlps
were put TO work putting hnishlhs
touches on the vessels to make them
perfectly snip-shape. The vessels wnich
sailed were the Philadelphia, Admlral
Gherardi's flagship; the Baltimore. York
town. Vesuvius and the little torpedo BOAT
Cushing which is to serve as dispatch
vessel In the naval review
Promptly at I o'clock the signal Get
under wav" was hoisted on the flagship.
The other vessels hoisted answer signals
At this time all was in readiness for each
of the vessels to start. large crowd
stood about the wharves OF the navy-yard'
composed Of the wives, children and rela-
tives of the officers and crews Of the de-
parting ships. who had come down TO
see them off. There were very large
number OF spectators who wanted 10
take a farewell look at the beautitul
ships which have graced the naVy-yard
for the past few weeks. The navy-yard
stern OF the flagship Philadelphia when
was lying at the long dock at the foot
of Main street. The last lines were cast
off and the stern Of the big ship was
swung out into the channel. At this
moment. a trine after o'clock. the little
torpedO-bOat Cushing came down the
channel from the Whitney. under her own
steam, and at a rapid gait. The specta-
tors on the WharVeS cheered the llitle
vessel as she passed. The Gushing looked
very business-like in her new coat Of
sate-green paint. The blue pennant OF
Admiral GherardI was hoisted 70 the
top of the mizzenmast of the Philadel-
phia as she swung out into the channel
As soon as she was clear Of the dock
the tug cast off it's line and the big ship
drifted over toward Wallabert bay.
Her officers allowed the tide to swing
her around with her head pointed toward
the bridge before starting her. She
steamed down the river at 1:lO o'clock.
4 large crowd of spectators. who stood
on the Brooklyn bridge, cheered her as
she passed under. She steamed down the
harbor past Governors Island. where she
lay 10 wait for the other ships Of the
fleet The Cushing. which had preceded
her. ran up under her stern and also
hove to. The next shin 20 leave the
yard was the gun-boat Yorktown, which
was living ar CObbs dock. She came
down the channel under her own steam
She was handled very gracefully by her
officers. and followed the Philadelphia
down the river at 7.lj o'clock. The 3alti-
more got under way next She was lying
at the coal dock. The tug Narkeeta
made a line fast 10 her stern. and she
started down the river at '.38 O'CLOCK
The only mishap Of the morning oc-
Cured to the dynamite cruiser Nesuylus
which was living at Cohb's dock just
ahead OF the cable Of the little ld-fash-
toned ferry which runs across the navy
ward basin. She attempted 20 get our
without assistance. and cast off the lines
which fastened her TO the dock az '.-0
o'clock She Is so long and narrow, now
ever. that she is not very easily handled.
She drifted down. cut the cable Of the
little ferry. which became foul i'm her
propeller. This caused delay Of nearly
three-quarters Of an hour. She was
finally started down the river with the
assistance Of the tug Nakeeta al $40
O'Clock.
The work Of getting the vessels out OF
the ward was carried out with unusual
spoed. and the evolutions were executed
with the precision Of clock-work. Tie
vessels rendezvoused below Governor
Island. The flagship, as she steamed
down the river. had hoisted the signal
for close order. At o'clock the SHIPS
were on their way southwark.
Admiral GherardiI was suffering from
n heavy cold from which he had not
recovered this morning. lie did not APP
near on deck this morning. but left the
ARRANGEMENTS for the start to his subor-
dinates.