The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-09
TWO TALES OF THE SEA.
BEATEN AND BROKEN sHIPsfS THE
NEWPORT NEWS DIR DOCk.
Preparations for the Bulldog OF the Three
Gun Boats for the China Seas ana
aFast Pilot Steamer.

NEWPORT NEWS, June s.-rwo
veritable tales of the sea are bound up
in the vessels sent here Tor repairs III
the mammoth dry dock. The oxford. q
btg English tramp steamer struck coral
reef off the coast Of Florida and pounded
on It until her bottom was vel nlsh
knocked out OF her, ana everybody oli
board thought they would be loStI
She was stout and strong, however, and
though her iron plates were rent and
twisted, her steel ribs bent, ana broken,
and her propellar shattered she hVed 70
reach Newport News and after undergo
ing $40, 800 worth OF repairs, is practically
as good as new.
Hundreds Of men were set 70 work on
her and her bottom taken out almost
entirely, the plates Strengthened or re-
newed. and the broken parts replaced.
The oxford was not yet finished when
the Claudeboye, another big English
tramp steamer. was towed into this har-
Dor with her propellar broken. after float
ing about In the Atlantic in a helpless
condition for weeks.
She will have her propellar replaced at
the ship yard and will again do service
as before.
The ship yard here has not only the
largest dry dock in the country and the
only one large enough 10 hold the great
transatlantic liner New York. recently
overhauled here. but IL is centrally To-
Gated on the Atlantic seabOard and has
proven a saviour to more than one big
ship in distress
Although the Newport News ship yard
has had no large contracts since the
building Of the FL sud. FL sid FL Norte
and FL Rio, the fastest freight steamers
afiOat, they have never been Idle and the
great dry dock has been constantly occu-
pied with vessels undergoing repair. and as
fast as one has been finished others have
applied for a berth in its spacious bottom.
Ways were laid some time ago for four
vessels and the preparations and pre-
construction. They are the United States
GunbOats Nos. I, y, and =. These vessels
contracted for by the Navy Department.
some months ago, are intended for ser
vice In China waters. where gunboats of
light draught are needed 10 run up the
rivers and bays for the protection %
American interests. The iron material for
these gunboats has been arriving for
weeks from the Carnegie Works. Pitts
burg, and as the work progresses the
force Of the yards will be increased and
a much larger number OF men will be
employed
The fourth boat now under contract
is a swift steam vessel for the Savannah
Pilot Association, 1870 feet long and %
feet beam The material for this boat
is also coming 10 hand and she Will give
employment 20 additional force.
The ways for all Of these vessels have
been laid on one side Of the yard, on and
near the spot whore the vessels above
referred 70 were built leaving the space
under the new Mammoth crane recently
completed entirely unoccupied.
BY this means they are In a position 10
prosecute the present contracts with hgare
and are prepared 70 take stu larger con-
tracts that are expected when the gem
eraI business depression IS over.
Even at this day an unoccupied house IS
2 rarity In Newport News and vacant
dwelling hard 20 find.
When the ship yard fills up with its
teerning hundreds Of workmen, many
more will be needed.
Look at The BOstons' window DIS
play. $500 Mems Suits.