The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-24

among the ferry boats and the dredges.
she Is there for a purpose and the COM
modore said yesterday that the trip
would have been incomplete without the
sail up the historic Elizabeth and u
ichance for the writer's on board to see
the ground where SO much of the his
&ory OF America has been made.
VISITORS WELCOME.
{.tNorna's launches run every half hour
from the naval landing at the foot of
Commercial Place and visitors, who
may be interested In the trip, are cor
daily welcomed on board. Norma will
lie here at her anchorage for three or
four days. or long enough for those on
board to visit the places of interest in
the neighborhood. The visiting hours
are from 10 a. m. to s p. m.
When she leaves Norfolk Norma will
go to Charleston and Wilmington, and
from there to Key West, after which she
Will leave the coast of America and go
to Havana.
TAKEN FOR A FILIBUSTER.
There is n very interesting little story
OF how the ship was taken for n fillbus-
tering vessel up in New York harbor the
other day. 1t became known that a
white schooner was taking on stores off
Bay Ridge in New York harbor, and
the police boats and even the Govern
ment men-of-war turned their attention
upon Norma all one night. They found
nothing very dangerous, but they were
unable to discover just what was going
on. The next morning Norma sailed
away. but a close watch was kept on
her all through the day. Now, If she
leaves Key West for Havana, we shall
doubtless hear of some exciting eXpe-
riences of the Adventures who are look
Ing solely for excitement and out-of-
the-way things.
TWO DAYS ON a MUD BANK
The ship had bit of excitement up
the Bay the other day. She was on her
way TO Easton. where those on board
were To be the guests of the Chesapeake
BAY Yacht Club. The club had sent
plot down to the mouth of the Chop
TANK to take Norma up the river, He
mad never before attempted to handle
yacht that draws fourteen feet of
water. and missed his calculations. So
lie ran her aground just above Oxford
where she had tn lie for two days until
friendly tramp steamer came along
ana pulled her off the bar. Then when
she came out of the Choptank the same
pilot found & small bar out I'm the river
OF Sharp's Island light and succeeded
in making Norma perch herself up on
top of 1t. There she lay in the storm
| of Friday night in an exceedingly dan
gcrous position. from which she was
| finally released when the tide came in
by careful manipulation OF an anchor
anu naWScr. NO particular damage was
tonc To the yacht. but the experience of
pounding on sand bar all OF one
| stormy night out in the middle of a dan
Gerous river will not soon be forgotten
| by those on board
| y BEAUTIFUL CRAFT.
| The Norma is lis feet in length. %
| feet inches beam, drawing about IL
| feet G inches of water. and of about 100
| tons displacement. She is beautifully
| finished in polished mahogany and brass
and cost about $4,000 complete Her
crew consists Of sixteen men.
| HER ARMAMENT.
| Commodore Weaver does not intend
| taking any chances with those wild
races whose waters Norma will explore
| There will be an eight foot net To repcI
| boarders. two rapid-iire Hotchkiss guns
ltweniy-four Springhcldh rifles. with
| hnyonciS, twcnty-four revOlVers A.
| calihrc ctulaSSeS ana other wcaDons
which might be used against savage
tribes should ii become necessary.
THE PARTY.
| The yacht is commanded By Comma
dore Weaver. who is accompanied by his
wife; Mr.. Harry X. Taber. late manag-
ing editor of the Buffalo Times, who will
write the story OF the cruise and the
| remainder of the party will be: Dr
and Mrs. n. y. World. of Northeast
| Md; Mr.. y. II. Danfreth. of ST. Louis
ana Mrs. G. G. Collins. OF North Caro-