The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-19
b,,rbs rent at 50 night, and are In de-
it,clllla Ena rl

I'm Vanity Fair they must pay lOr IT, II
they want TO see ships worth millions on
the water they must be ready % put up
millions on the land That they are
ready to come no matter what the cost,
is quite evident. There were enough peo-
pie at the Hygeia Hotel this morning
applying for rooms to have filed the
structure If everybody else lin the house
had suddenly determined to depart. They
come from everywhere Even the line
of electric railroad, which starts from the
crowded wharf and runs out through
Mlll Creek, Chesapeake City. Jones Cross
Roads. Hampton and finally ends at New
port News, or some other place In the
Gin distance, is II oaded down with excur-
sionsts on every trip, who iii the cars.
cling TO the sides and even Chamber upon
the top, In dangerous proximity TO the
trolley. All of the country people think
it is a grand picnic. They bring their
own lunches and immense bags Of the
fresh and succulent peanut, gathered
from its native soH and sit summing
themselves upon the wharf in happiness
which is as undisguised as it is real
Every excursion steamer from Balti-
mere and neighboring ports has been
gathered into service. The four-decked
Columbia, with a capacity of 1900 people.
leaves Norfolk three times a day. and is
so heavily crowded that she careened
heavily to-day as she sailed around the
fleet. Tugs and yachts lie six and eight
abreast of each other at the wharf and
the passengers of the boat that comes
In last have TO Chamber over the noun
tains and valleys of decks nd gunwales
until they reach the shore. These little
tugs and excursion steamers. by the way.
are giving the men-of-war n great deal
of annoyance. Every little craft and
every big craft. too. that sails In and
around the fleet considers it her bounden
duty to dip her colors to all visitors. 1t
is generally a dirty and smoke-begrimed
flag that is lowered but the foreigners
generally order a sailor to answer the
compliment AS this happens every few
minutes, there must be a good deal of
swearing i'm foreign languages. Sometimes
the foreigners do not take the trouble to
respond, which recalls the fact that yes
terday morning the signal observer at
Cape Henry signalled welcome" 10 the
incoming English squadron. Instantly
the Blake politely replied thank YOU"
but when the Holander and the little
Frenchman came In later in the day. and
were similarly saluted, they passed on
without word
In a thousand and one ways the friend
ship of the American and the English Is
shown. since the arrival of the Blake and
her sister ships. A notable instance hap
pened to-day on the lag-ship Philadel-
phia. Your correspondent happened TO
mention to Admiral Gherardi the fact
that Admiral Hopkins has expressed
desire to see the Texas and the Raleigh,
now building at the Norfolk navy-yard.
"Ah." said the Admiral 81 am glad to
hear it. Orderly" he added, speaking to
his messenger. ''go at once to that tug
wonder. give Commander Potter my COM
pliments. and tell him that would IKE
to see him as soon as possible. The Eng
lish Admiral wants 10 see the yard, ana
I want to have every courtesy SHOWN MIN
for making the visit
The arrival OF the German shlps 10
night added to the constantiy-tncreasfhs
excitement. The big Argentine cruiser lei,
New York yesterday and was expecteu
here to-day. but It is probably lying to-
niaht outside the Capes in company %llh
| the two German ships.
boat race this morning and Il base
ball match this afternoon have also given
everybody something to talk about Inc
first event. following. as 1t did. so closely
after the contest between the Chicago ana
the San Francisco crews, attracted 10
the ships an immense crowd.
Moses. when he crossed the Red sea-
| aid not have a larger company than The
tnT0nR
water to the vessels at anchor In the
| Roads I'm ord er TO witness the ftr'iS'ie
| FOR supremacy between muscular fellows'
| Jealous Of their nthletic proves. the
| sides Of the vessels afforded fomaluc
| platforms. from which the bellies ana
| heir beaux witness ed the contest. Inc
white barge OF the Chicago. previously
smeared with n curious mixture or soap
| oil and beer, was gently lowered INTO the
heaving sea. and presently from tne
philadelphia the Admirafs barge aiso
| sought the water. The Dronzed anu
sinewy tars. cheered by the yells of their
raiIou,.searnen. who had climbed high into
tho rigging until they looked like toy
| sailors outlined against the SKY, made
The long ashen sweeps bend until they
| almost broke The Chicagos, spurred by
desire TO retrieve the defeat OF last
| saturday gained n lead by n m1gnihcent
| sDurt and were never headed. The iast
| balf mile however, was particularly IN
teresting. for the boats were not AT any
time more than five lengths oehind eaci,
| other and the excited seamen yened anu
| donce5 like r1aniacs upon the cross-trees'
| the rope-ladders and the decks. Ihis
time the Chicago's band played trium-
| ,,hantlv the girls screamed with JOY, the
| daen-toned siren OF the ship blew a dear
| or,no blast. and everybody was happy ex-
Il
| cant the men on the Philadelphia, VINO
| are said to have lost about sl'SOo.
The baseball event was really funny
| A Iot of Young officers on the Chicago.
| lust fresh from Annapolis. where they
| have been tossing the ball. challenged any
| other nine officers who might be CHOSEN
| from the feet. The nine was at once
| formed but the officers who were Sc
lected 70 uphold the honor OF the meet
against the Chicago held a council OF
| war and decided that they would not
| nractice for fear OF laming their HANDS.
| Consequently when the opposing SIDES met
on the parade ground OF the fort this
afternoon there was lots Of sport. bu,
very little ball playing. The white sphere
went to port and starooard, steering
| wildly in every direction, but some how
| or other the picked nine could never eaten
| M with II. and so after couple OF hours
lively chasing they retired vanquisneh
from the field. The game gave the girls
a chance TO bring out more new toilets
| addirg a charming freshness 10 the PIC
| turesque fort
II will not be very long IL the present
rush confines, before there VIII be
| vacancy in the postoffice here. Tne
present postmaster accustomed All ms
life 10 the quiet OF peaceful village nas
suddenly found himself swamped win
| more mail then he knows what 70 90
with. Il would rot be so bad IL all the
callers at his little one story cottage
were Americans for with some pauence
and forbearance he might manage 10
answer all the inquiries that are peins
hurled at him through his window. When
Alaf N g