Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-11
AT NEWPORT NEWS.
THE WILMINGTON. THE HELENA
AND THE NASHVILLE.
Two First Named Ready for the
OmcinI Test-An Interesting Fact
The wrecked wyanokc-The Hos
pitaI Assured.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA, March To-
(special) THE gunboats Wilmington
and Helena are practically completed
and viii sail on Friday, the 18Th
instant. for New London, Conn, arriV-
ing there three days later. Their Official
trial trips will be made simultaneously
on Long Island Sound on the 22d instant,
when the vessels are expected to acquit
themselves so as to reflect credit on their
builders. Both ships have been tested
thoroughly in every respect, and no ue-
fects whatever were discovered, but on
the other hand they developed much
more speed than the contract with the
government specifies. The machinery
operates like clock-works, and the YES
sels behave well at sea. Judging Dy
these experiments, it may be safely sald
that the first naval productions OF the
Newport News Ship-Building and Dry
Dock Company will prove TO be sue
cesses. The Helena is the faster OF the
two ships. she having developed a speed
of fifteen knots an hour. or TWO more
knots than the contract speed. while the
excess in the Wilmngton's speed was
one knot and a half. The builders OF
these craft expect TO receive H5WO or
$4,000 I'm premiums for excess speed. Ihe
test will require a four-nours' run over
the course in Long Island Sound under
forced draft.
The Nashville will be ready for her
Official test in about three weeks, and IL
is thought she will do as well as her
sister ships.
AN INTERESTING INCIDENT.
There is an interesting incident con-
nected with the building OF these gun
boats. which aptly serves TO Illustrate
the character of the founder OF the
ship-building industry here. Mr.. c. +.
Huntington. 1t was during the panic
OF 1898, when general business depres-
sion was felt throughout the country,
that these vessels were contracted for.
The ship-yard had practically closed
down because there was no Work, ana
hundreds of men were out OF employ
ment with families suffering for the
necessities of life. Mr.. Huntington IN
structed the superintendent OF the IN
dustry to bid for the construction OF
the three gunboats-Wilmington helehd,
and Nashville-which Congress provided
should be added to the navy Make
your estimate" said Mr.. Huntington to
the superintendent land then make the
bid 10000 less than the actual cost OF
construction" When asked why ne
did it, the magnate replied: i ala that
much for humanitys sake. Those men
had TO have employment, and l could
afford TO lose $4,000" The contract was
awarded TO Mr.. Huntington's company,
the bid being 100000 under the lowest
of the others offered. 1t was mag
unanimous act. and in few weeks
plovment. and many hearts made glad.
II is now thought that the company
will not lose anything on the vessels
and the premiums they are expected 10
earn will about cover the deficit, but
Mr. Huntington did not know this Wheh
he contracted to do the work.
THE WRECKED WYANOKE.
captain II. Youngs the submarine diver
who will superintend the work OF raising
the Old Dominion steamship Wyanoke,
wont down and examined the Inflated
ship this afternoon, and found her to De
IN good condition The work will begin
AT once. but II will not be completed De
fore some time the latter part OF heN'
summer. The wrecking steamer, Whlch
has been ice-bound, is expected to arrive
next week. .s
n looks as If the hospital is an assured
+act as those who have the matter IN
hand are earnestly engaged in furthering
the movement. The action of the Busl-
ness-Mer's Association will be submitted
10 a mass-meeting Thursday night, March
18th. for ratification. The various cor
porations doing business here have sisni-
fed a willingness TO aid the movement
financially.
a number of cases were disposed of in
the Circuit Court to-day, but they were
tlnimportant.