The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-24
FORT MONROE READY
The Big Fertilization VIII Be In Fine
Shape In About a Month.
DISAPPEARING GUNS AND I6 MORTARS
'lonel Frank, Commandnnt of the
Fort Expresses Himself as Con-
of War Hotels Would Have TO Go,
But He Thinks War Improbable.

The war scare seems TO have poked its
reptilean head out in the neighborhood
OF New York Sunday in such a way as
10 create quite stir In the news rooms
OF the Dig metropolitan dailies. 1t seems
1hat special correspondent at Fort
Monroe sent column and half sensa-
tioD to his paper in New York in which II
WIS stated that the Fortress had been
ordered ready for defense by December
Isl: that 1t was the scene of unusual ac-
alVlty, great excitement, and active pre-
paration for Immediate battle, and lead
ing the gu!lele;s reader to suppose that
spain had already gotten n hostile fleet
half way across the Atlantic en- route
TO blow Uncle Sam higher than even
fabled Haman was hanged
A visit to Major j. p. Sanger, of the
inspector Generals staff, and n drill for
his benefit was made to assume mar
tial Significance, and it was even rumor-
ed in certain circles of the metropolis
that the owners of the magnificent ho-
tells. the Hygela and Chamberlin, had
been ordered to be iR readiness 10 de-
stroy their palaces OF entertainment in
accordance with the agreement entered
into with the Government whereby II
is stipulated that the buildings, which
are on Government property, shall be
removed upon notification from the gov
ernment by their owners within thirty
days. If the owners should not do the
work, 1t is provided that the Govern
shall lIeil eApeI!Se.
THEY WE'RE STILL THERE.
Desiring to see once more these mag
nicent structures before they ware ut
terly blown away, and incidentally to
discover just how much or how little
truth there was i'll all these rumors,
Virginian reporter went to Old Point
on the first boat yes. .erday.
He was somewhat relieved when he
found that the two splendid hotels were
stfll solid on their founda tions, and
grew positively cheerful when he per-
ceived that the stars and stripes foated
proudly, albeit to q vivid imagination,
somewhat defian;iy, from their glitter
ing domes to the soft south breeze tha.,
crept across the waters and found this
most favored spot of favored land.
I'VE ARE HERE TO STAY"
Mr.. Frank y. Pike, the genial and
clever manager Of the Hygeia. was at
once sought out, and when found was
q little Startled and considerably amused
by the questions fired at him. He was,
however, very positive In his denals
Certainly not. No notification had been
given him and he never expected any.
Nor had he received the slightest inti-
nation that he would ever be expected
TO destroy the hotel, other than that
formal clause in the original contract.
Mr.. Pike also expressed his belief that
even in the emergency Of n war the hotel
buildings would not have to come down.
giving as reasons that they were not
actually In the way of the modern guns
which were mounted at an elevation
higher than the tops of the hotels; Ghat
the fort had no guns mounted so as t,
bear upon the territory covered by the
hotels; and that all the fighting would
be done in the mouth of the river should
q foreign fleet get within the Capes. and
thee was no danger of n foe getting
past the fort into waters that would be
sheltered by the hotels.
NEITHER HAD MIR SWEET.
Mr.. George w. SWEET, the popular
manager Of the CHAM berlin, had not re-
ceived any notification 30 remove the
structure, which was at once the de-
sire and pride of John T.. Chamberlin's
big heart. His surprise al the unfound-
ed rumor was as great az that of his
contemporary across the way, and he
treated the subject in very much the
same manner.
Both gentlemen said that such rumors.
being without foundation. were likely
to hurt their business, and expressed n
hope that 1t should not gain credence as
there was absolutely nothing in 1t.
COLONEL FRANKS VIEWS.
Colonel Royal T. Frank, Commandant
at Fortress Monroe was seen at his
residence. He has just returned from
Washington. where for several days he
had been In earnest consultation with
tne Vi W tl 10 InOU-
ernizing the fort and pushing the work
on the new fortitlcations. He was
asked if there was any truth in the re-
port that Fortress Monroe had been or
dered ready for defence by Dec l.
81 have received no orders to that ef-
feet replied the Colonel. "The bat
terry of three 10-inch disappearing guns
which are being mounted on the north
ern side of the fort will be ready for use
by Dec l. and have orders to COM
plete the mortar battery by Jan. l."
"What do you think OF the significance
Of this activity?"
"Simply that Congress has long been
appropriating money for coast defence.
and the secretary desires to accomplish
something tangible and definite in that
line Immediately. do not anticipate
any crisis. OF course, things may be
uncertain. and the newspapers are maxi
ing n great deal of talk and attaching
q significance to everything in the way
OF activity in navy and army circles just
at present"
"What is your opinion as to the pres
ent efficiency of Fortress Monroe I'm the
event OF WARP" was asked, and the
Colonel replied readily enough:
THE FORT IN FINE TRIM
"This work is now in excellent trim
10 defend the passage of the Roads
We should have no difficulty whatever
In making a successful defense against
any Gess Spain might send against US.