The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-24
orr FOR new YORK.
The Naval Fleet Takes It's De-
parture from Hampton Roads.
TARs FEAR INoLEMENT WEATHER
Tons Of Provisions Placed on the Ships
to Feed the Sailors of tho Nations.
Many Civilians on Board tho Vessels
and Much Discomfort Predicted.

Tons Of Provisions Placed on the Ships
to Feed the Sailors Of the Nations.
Many Civilians Board the Vessels
and Much Discomfort Predicted.
FORTRESS MONROE, Va, April "a. -
Twenty seven ships of war sailed from
here at 0 o'clock this morning for New
York. At that hour the tide running out
to sea had swung the massive hulls and
the sharp prows were pointed toward the
ocean. This was matter of no small i'm
portance, as an attempt to turn all the
ships around would have been a most dan
gerous experiment.
Everybody here is naturally hoping that
the weather In New York will be fair, but
the seasoned old salts who know all about
the weather shake their heads obviously.
The wind yesterday was northeast, and is
bleak and cold. 1t whistled most omin-
iously through the rigging Of the Chicago
and stifed the signal flags on the Phila-
delphia into semblance Of frozen bunt-
ing. The sea ran heavy and great waves
breaking against the sides of the vessels
threatened with destruction the little
launches in which the venturesome ex-
cursionists put off from shore.
The forbidding weather was unfortunate
for the crowds, who with the earliest
morning boats began to swell the already
too numerous colony here. The steamers
from Washington, Norfolk and Baltimore
were loaded down with passengers; the in
coming trains bore their quota of sight
seers, and every craft in Norfolk harbor
seemed to have been utilized to carry
people who wanted to get final look at
the men-of-war.
In more ways than one was the fact that
tnrl 1,, a NJ 10
vous emphasized. One of the most inter
esting Incidents was the provisioning of
the cruisers. Tons and tons of beef were
brought from Baltimore. Huge crates Of
canned goods and mammoth sacks Of
vegetables stood side by side with food
enough to stack a store. Ono pile of
bread contained by actual count 3,S16
loavcs, and there were several other noun
tains OF baked dough nearly as large.
The scene on the wharf was like o
country fair 1t was q harvest time for
the fakirs. Little brass souvenirs, worth
a fow pennies, have sold like hot cakes at
fifteen cents and a quarter apiece, and one
man even drove O lively business in selling
at ten cents each tho large photographic
pictures OF the feet at anchor in the roads
which last week did duty as advertise
ments.
luNltutlUtlS Dttu DceU eNtptlucu TO num-
Der of senators and representatives, but as
many did not appear the commanders ex-
tended invitations to their friends. Nearly
every ship will have number of civilians
and correspondents. 1t was supposed
some weeks ago that no one would sail
with the floet except four representatives
of the press association, but this limit al
though suggested by Secretary Herbert,
has been totally dlsreRarded. The voyage
is likely to be made with considerable dis
comfort. The correspondents were told
that they will have to content themselves
with mattresses under the ward room
table, although the friends of the COM
manding officers who have been invited
to go will not suffer any inconvenience
II the weather continues rough there Is
sure to be a great deal of seasickness
among the landsmen on board, but this
does not seem to deter anyone from max
ing the trip.
Yesterdays visitors were all anxious to
see the Columbus caravels, but In this
they were disappointed. as the Spanish ves-
sells got under way as soon as possible af-
ter sunrise and steered off with their queer
looking crafts for New York. 1t was neces-
sary for them to do this in order to reach
the destination at the same time that the
large war ships of the fleet will be there,
but it caused great disappointment to the
crowds TINT gathered here for Sunday to
SEQ them.
Late yesterday afternoon the Brazilian
fleet arrived. 1t comprises the Aquida aban
an armored turret ship similar to the
Maine, the protected cruiser Republca, re.
Gently completed in England, and the gun
boat Tiradentes, another English product.
They were the last Of the foreign ships to
come to the Roads, as the others that have
not arrived will no doubt steam directly
for New York.