Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-19
A SPLENDID CRUISER.
GETTING THE NEW YORK READY
FoR THE KEEL FESTIVITIES.
VIII Make Grand showing-Other
Nations VIII Have n More Extern
sivc Display, hut In Individual
Merit We VIII Hold Our own.
written for the pIspatch.l

For two weeks past there have been
busy times in the Brooklyn nsvy-yard.
for most important piece OF work has
been going on. The great armored cruiser
New York has been fitted out for the
voyage across the Atlantic to Hamburg,
where the pride OF the American navy
Is to take part in the festivities attending
the opening Of the Kiel canal
The work OF getting a huge ship Ike
the New York into festival shape is no
small affair. and IL Is particularly mo-
| mentous now, as navy-men generally
rely upon the New York to uphold the
new standard Of the White Squadron in
the eyes OF the foreign Powers. which
Will be gathered at Kiel in great force.
All or the great nations OF the world
! viii be largely represented by warships
at kiel, some of them sending IS many
as twenty, while Germany WI have a
heet or more than sixty war craft on
view to impress the other natons with
her maritime power. England will also
have great feet, as IT never misses an
opportunity OF this kind to display its
naval strength.
officers OF our navy have been some
what disgruntled because a large feet
OF warships was not ordered TO Kiei.
| They claimed that our showing will be
the laughing-stock OF the European Pow
ers, but now every one has settled down
10 make up in quality what is lacked In
quantity. Besides the New York, the
| cruiser Columbia, Captain Sumner. will
90 to Southampton and join the San Fran
cisco and Marblehead, and then the feet
will go TO Kiel under command OF Admi-
| raj Kirkland.
Even counting the new warships now
in course Of construction. the United
States only ranks sixth among the naval
powers Of the world, but as a cruiser the
New York Is without peer. She Is sure
TO attract the attention Of the naval ex-
perts who will be on hand at Kiel, ana
| be subjected to all manner OF severe
criticism. For this reason Fighting Bob
Evans, commander OF the New York, and
his 800 officers and men are determined to
make the best showing possible.
When the orders were given by the
| Secretary OF the Navy on the lst Of the
| month for the New York TO proceed TO
| the navy-yard and prepare for the voyage
It was estimated that she would be IN
| time TO sail tomorrow.
This would land her and the Columbia
| at Southampton on June LIST, ana give
| the men a couple Of weeks TO put on the
| finishing touches, as the festivities 90
| not begin at Hamburg until June 18TH.
CARRIES AN AMERICAN CREW
One Of the many curious things about
| the New York is the fact that - per cent
Of her crew are Americans. and. as one OIL
| the officers put it, the other 10 per cent
want to be- They all take an acute IN
| terest in the showing Of the ship. ana
have infused the ponderous monster from
| stem to stern with the fire and enthusiasm
| Of keen patriotism.
While the worst OF getting her In readl-
ness was in progress visit TO the shli
| did not impress the visitor with any ur-
gent need Of getting her into shape
| Everything seemed TO be IN the mos'
mathematical kind of order. The brass
work stared one out Of countenance Win
its glaring brightness, the huge guns
| looked sleek and ready for instant ac,
| lion. the thousand and one electrical
! contriyances had the polish Of Firth
avenue mansion, the decks were spotless
and even the huge machinery of the -four
leviathan engines, capable Of sending hel
$50 tons of steel through the water al
I 2l -knot-an-hour gait, was as dalhtliS
| cared for as the gems Of great Je"eiIS
| establishment
PLENTY OF WORK FOR ALL
But for fortnight work, and plenty o