Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-05
A GREAT OCCASION.
Opening Last Night Of Hotel Chamber
lin at Old Point.
MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
A Brilliant scene-The Decorations
and the Music-A Description OF inc
Puiiding--Its Magnificent App"'"
nent.-Registered from Richmond

FORT MONROE, VA. April A-tope-
ciai,--probablv the largest and most Drill
liant concourse OF guests '-''' e'ei 90
sembled al the openins OF an america"
Hotel WAS present tonight on 'he oeca-
a., ~ the formal opening Of Hotel Cham-
berlin nv the Hampton Roads Hotel Com
,a,v II "a estimated that during the
eo,,rso or the evening upwards Of LOCO
,,.rsons enjoyed the hospitality OF the
eo,,nsnv and viewed the magnificent in
terror OF one Of the most thoroughly APP
rolnted hotels in the country. Washing
,on New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore.
90 other cities, and the old Dominion,
especiaily. were largely represented in
the assemb!age. Conspicuously noticeable
owing 10 their uniforms, were many OF
tho ranking officers Of both the army
and navy. 1t is said that the genial
washington hotel proprietor, after whom
this magnificent hotel Is named, enjoys
the distinction Of having more acqualnt-
ances among American notables than any
other one person. ana right wen was lniS
evidenced tonight.
SOME OF THE GUESTS.
Heading the list OF distinguished gen
tlemen present were Secretary-of-the-
Nevv Herbert, the only representative OF
the Chief Executives Cabinet; General
Miles. and Colonel MichIer, CHEZ Of his
stan: Admiral Bunce, and Senators vest
Brlce. Mcmillan, and Butler. large
number OF the gentlemen guests were
accompanied by their wives ana oaueh-
ters. and the latter, together with the
attending Virginia ladies from near by
in their costly and gorgeous costumes,
lent additional brilliance TO scene OF
rare elegance and beauty.
THE MUSIC
Tho famous Marine Band, OF Washing
ton. was In attendance. and furnished Ihe
music while the hundreds or deVotees OF
the terpsichorean art tripped the lisht ian
tastIc in the spacious and gorgeously de-
coratod ballroom. This VIII easily take
rank among the bathrooms OF any OF the
otber frst-cIass hotels of the country,
and tonight IL was made especially al
tractive with the aid OF appropriate and
lastly arranged decorations. conspicuous
among these being the American nag,
which. In fact constituted the principal
ornament throughout the house
The following ladies and gentlemen from
Richmond are registered at the Chamber
In. Charles u. Williams, Charles w. WIZ
lams William II. Campbell, John X. VIII
ilsms Miss williams, James u. Potts and
wife. W. II. Allison. Warner Moore, John
y. Culpeper. Miss Irene Tinsley, Garland
Tlnsley. and Mr.. Junius A. Morris.
Description of the Building.
The hotel stands directly on Hampton
Roads. from which its grounds are pro-
tected by a brcakwater, and directly OPP
posite the Hygeia The work Of con-
struction on the building was commenced
Eome five years ago. but, owing to
financial and legal difficulties, its COM
Melton was unavoidably delayed. The
building is Of brick, the general style
style Of architecture being Colonial. II
fronts $50 feet on Hampton Roads, and
has depth Of 200 feet. The house has
an aggregate OF 6}S rooms. $50 Of which
are chambers. so that 1000 guests can
b. comfortably housed. 1t is six stories
I'm height, exclusive OF the basement. 1t
has ample porches, extending along the
sea, from which DELIGHTFUL marine view
may be obtained. These are 10 be en-
cased I'm glass during the winter season.
There are four large doors. which form
the main entrance from the street. from
which a flight Of granite steps ascend.
Carriages reach the doorway by sweep
ing granolithic driveway. which forms a
half-circle The vestibule is tiled. with
the name, "Chambcrlln," set In coloTs
Passing this. the visitor enters the main
office. which Is an immense affair, ele-
ganty carpeted. and richly furnished
Here are located the cashiers and recep-
ion-clerks Office; telegraph and ex-
ress-ofIices; news. cigar. and flower
lands, and all the appointments Of q
.rst-class modern hotel.
A BROKERS' OFFICE.
For the benefit of the Wall-street con-
ungent a room has been set apart for
brokers' Office, with a direct wire TO
New York This vast space is illuminat-
cd by hundreds OF incandescent bulbs,
which are arranged with much taste.
Adjoining the general Office in the front
Of The building is a ladies' ieceptlon-room,
whiceis connected with a parlor fronting
on the water. which is furnished In red.
Another paror OF the same size, and
fronting on the water. Is trimmed in blue.
Between these two parlors and connecting
them is the main drawtng-room, which
IS JOG feet long by 40 feet wide. The room
will be IN pink with furniture 10 harmo-
nize. Running parallel with the draw
ingroom is sun parlor 10 feet wide.
which has been rendered very attractive
by the use OF Towering plants and ever
greens.
THE DINING-ROOM
The dning-room, which is reached from
the Office by a magnificent corridor 40
feet long by l6 feet wide. richly carpeted,
Is one OF the special features Of the house.
With one exception the carpet which
covers Il Is the largest In the United
States. The room Is l02 feet long by los
wide, and fronts on the water. The cell
ing Is is feet in height. Of corrugated iron,
and finished In azure-blue and gold, and
Will be ~ by 22o incandescent bulbs.
The ballroom. which adjolns the dining
room. is Of the same size, and has the
same general finish and decorations. The
floor is OF solid white oak
OF the sleeping apartments l36 are on
the second floor l2i on the third floor. 122
on the fourth floor. and SO on the sixth.
and Is on the first. There are sixteen suites
on the second floor. eighteen on the
third and l22 each on the fourth and
nfth-which are all furnished i'm exquisite
taste. Two suits on the second floor
have been set apart, one for the President.
ana The other FOR the Governor Of Viz
kuia, Whenever they feel inclined to
honor the hotel by their presence. They
are both luXuriously furnished. and are
SAacuy alike In all particulars The
fres.l'nts suite Is az the southeast and
ue uo'tfnors az the southwest corner.
IN inc basement Is located an ice ma
chiie. which VIII be used to furnish
Voio storage for the house Here are also
'he bakery. store-rooms, &C
Uh the htst door. IN the rear OF the
oal-ioom IS the bar and billiard-room.
.he latter furnished with eight tables
.a1y,oli''hs ~ is billiard room with three
tables. where the dear creatures can
hiaose themselves when so inclined.
VERY IMPORTANT.