The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-14
TIE BATTLEsMlp INDIANA.
She Rides Peacefully NJ Port Royal
Awaiting u H1Igh Tide.


Beaufort. S. c., March l3-rhcrc is
about to be added another link In the
rapid substantial progfess OF the Naval
development OF the United States Some
time ago. when there was talk of put
ting the lIttleship Indiana I'm dry dock
ii was said that the nearest avalla BILE
dock WAS at Halifax. the capabilities
of the dock at Port Royal had not been
tested.
There are plenty OF docks in the
country, but the one al Port Royal seems
TO be the only one complete with Il suf-
ilcicnt width of gate TO admit such first
class battleships as the Indiana. The
docking has been anXiouSly awaited II nd
has been looked forward to with great
interest by the people of the South At
lantic coast. The railroads worked up
large excursions and there was quite an
invasion of visitors to see the dock ing
and the noted vessel. They came by
the hundreds from South Carolina and
Georgia and Ny noon there were about
20U0 visitors on the ground. Those who
went directly to Port Royal saw the
Indiana lying out In the stream like n
floating brown stone fort. The docks
were soon crowded with visitors and
the announcement that the bnttlcship
would he open TO visitors at o'clock
was well received The Indiana had
quite IA rough time down from Hampton
Roads. cncountering gale and heavy
southwest winds. The matches leaked
Il bit from tho firing of the heavy guns
fore and aft. for the Board of Inspection
Captain Evans is delighted with the
trip thus far. Pilot Lee was brought
down on the Indiana and brought the
immense vessel over Just as If she Were
a tug. The Indiana is drawing 2l3 and
had she been drawing 90 she could have
come in as well. When she came up to
h14I c.1 n tnI,
were against the tide and cut It some
what short, or the entry to the dock
would have been made this morning
If nothing unfavorab BILE occurs and the
westerly winds are not too high. the
docking viii certainly occur in the
morning on the high tide, at . o'clock
The authorities OF the naval station,
the dock people. ana all are ready ana
anxious for the docking Of the Indiana,
and giving her bottom the first clean
Ing 1t has received since II left the
Cramp shipyards. The naval event has
been given something Of n social turn.
I ne visitors from Georgia and South
carolina were accompanied by their Gov
oTnors and staff officers. Quite early in
the morning the light house tender West
eria had aboard bound for the dry dock
me invited guests. among whom were
Governor Evans, of South Carolina.
Governor Atkinson. of Georsin; Con
IitsSh"H f.lioIl VINO has n fathcrly
interest III the event. having hccn tho
first TO propose tho dock. Accomna nyjnr
,ioNerno: Evans Mere .idjutant General
waits, Military Secretary Stokes H. =
a., and Coioneia McCrcady, McSv.crnv
evans, Neal Martin, Teakwood Al.
reil. Manid!n, ana Behr. Acco,nn. nyinp
toNcrnor Atkinson We're Adjulant Gene
fii Nell ASSISTANT AdJutanl BrowIi, Col
onei* Harrison. Elliott, Wilkes t,oil
way MrsSick West; Inspector General
oDea: Comptroller General Wright
Clark Howell. editor of the Cons,i,u,ion,
-; ~. CahanisE, manager OF the Journal
w. [. Sanders, ". II. Inman ana OH.
ef representative business men, Cba,.
iea'9h Srht "A large delegation also, head
=! 'ht w? council. Augusta. S.-
N'hhah ana other ncighboriug ri, ,i.s
were represented Most Of the d,,y w.,s
spent sightseeing by The visitors I-n-
OH me arrival Of tn" guests at tho ~
val station. they Wcra. received by t,,,r-
inandaht rockwell. Chief Engine, , Ma
cay ana the attaches of the station
Alter being shown about the station
governors Atkinson and Evans. and
party were received with salutes y hoard
me Indiana. When a party. surh :,s
tillS meets. Speeches are n uo,,,r,I =.
puclce. After a dinner. iher. v,c :,
can FOR Speeches and short talks were
mace by Governor Atkinson. Governor
r,nahS' congressman Elliott Colonel
wilson, Adjutant General Watts adm
taht General Ken and Major I,nCl;-
wood There was some mcrri,u.nt nvcr
me croSS-fre of references TO Senato,jul
bees. that az" thought To he in thr hon.
nets of the two Governors The Cavern
meht coast survey boat Blake is nn>,. !,
Porl Royal bay. 10 see whether there
nave been any changes I'm the cnurs. ar
the channels since the last surv.y If
the indiana goes in the dock on tim, II,
the morning the expectation IL thn ,u.n
i;irse pumps will have the basin ep,ptv
by noon. with TWO main pumps have
capacity of $1,000 gallons minute
which means the clearing of the basir
In an hour and forty minutes. Nnvnj
constructors. representatives OF shin
yards. Government representatives. the
press and many otherwise in:rrcstrd
are here In full force to see tho doch,
ing tomorrow. Tonight the vis;tors
were rendered reception and the town
people called on the Governors and CON.
gressman Elliott for speeches Tha
weather has been fine, with The excnn-
ton of the west wind. Most Of tho vi.;-
tors left for their homes this afternoon
Governor Atkinson and rarty left for
Atlanta at II o'clock tonight.