Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-09
ON THE PENINSULA.
THE TRIAL TRIP OF THE MysTE-
RIous HOWARD CAssARD.
Developed n Speed of Only Eight
Miles an Hour-Thc Newport News
strike situation-The Supposed
wyanoIse Victims.
wyanoIse Victims.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA, May S--tspe-
c!al) --The Howard Cassard, the pecu-
Narly-shaped vessel over which the
whole country has been stirred up re-
Gently, left the shipyard at 100 o'clock
yesterday afternoon for speed iria'
and a test Of engines and machinery ana
returned shortly before o'clock, after
having developed the remarkably SLOW
rate OF eight miles an hour. IL Is not
very probable from this showing that any
of the feet Spanish cruisers VIII be gwen
an opportunity TO enter into chase aI'er
the Cuban arms and ammunition on
board of the Cassard The vessel starteu
out for old Point, where the owners eN-
pected 20 make several speed triais' put
mover reached that destination. a num-
Der OF shipyard officials and a customs III
spector went on the trip at the invitation
of the owners. The vessel was handled
by the chief engineer OF the steamship
sopthery and "A shipyard crew. II is
not generally believed that the Cassaru
will ever develop the predicted speed oil
thirty miles an hour with the present ar
rangemont Of engines and motive fac'h-
ties. In speaking with your correspond
emf last night. one OF the experienced
mechanics at the shipyard. who is now
A. IN the strike, said that he had
reason 20 believe that the owners Of the
Cassard never intended that their crait
should make a record on the trial trlps'
and that yesterdays speed was cut do"h
purposely TO deceive the government poo
ple. who are continually keeping watch
on the vessels movements. The Cassaru
IS considerably over 200 feet In length,
and only l6 feet wide. II Is understood
that as soon as all Of the alterations
are completed and the vessel is READY
for service the name viii be changer
20 Mercury"
STRIKE SITUATION.
There IS no change to-day in the situa-
zion AT the shipyard. A small number
OF workmcn returned 10 work this morn
ing. as has been the case each day since
the employees threw up their Keys AS
far as can be learned at present, there
are upwards of 500 men. principally Ia
borcrs. at work in the yard. Mr.. Il. D.
Mulcahy. chairman OF the grievance
Committee of the employees, lhiorineu
your correspondent last night that at
least 600 Of the most experienced OF the
company's employees have left the city
for northern points, where they ALREADY
have or expect 20 secure employment at
tbeir trades in other yards Other men
left this morning. The idle workmen con-
time qulet and orderly, and thelr eNeh-
plary conduct is the source or much
favorable comment. 1t Is understood that
the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company will experience no trou-
bic In regard TO completing the large
amount OF work now on hand WITHIN con-
tract time, as provision is made in all oil
the contracts for emergencies such as the
one that now exists. Your correspondent
learned last night that the owners OF
the vessels, which are now in. course OF
construction at yard, have telegraphed
that they will make allowance for the de-
lay caused by the strike.
SUPPOSED wYANOKE VICTIMS
II has been impossible TO learn any
thing to-day in connection with the find
ing Of the three dead bodies near the
opposite bank OF the river yesterday
afternoon. The men who found them are
said 10 have dragged them ashore on the
other side. consequently II Is not known
here whether the bodies are those OF
males or females. The body caught up
by the crew of the Chesapeake and ONO
float No. 2. on Wednesday night, was
given a Christian burial yesterday. al
the expense Of the Old Dominion Steam
ship Company. Nothing has yet been
heard of the body of the colored woman
clad in a red waist and dark skirt which
was found by two shipyard men We'd
ncsday afternoon, and which was lost
through the breaking OF the fishing line
with which they were trying to drag IL
ashore. The Old Dominion officials have
been exerting every effort to-day to ma
the men who are reported to have found
the three bodies yesterday. They can
not ascertain at which point the bodies
were put ashore Captain Jenney told your
correspondent this afternoon that If he
knew exactly where the bodies were now
he would put across in boat with sew
eral men and see that they were given
proper burial While II is not positively
known that the bodies that have already
been found In this locality are those oil
messengers on the Wyanoke. the Old Do
minion officials are anxious TO give them
proper burial.