Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-16
THE MOSQUITO FLEET
the VESSELS ARE NEARLY READY
no co TO SEA.
OYER TWO THOUSAND WORKING.
Tremendous Force Employed Mt
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Tor
rro,sportn,ion of TroOps-Thc City
of Norfolk.
of Norfolk.

NORFOLK. VA, April l5.-lSpeclal,)-
The MOSQUITO feet is now about ready Tor
ses Work on the revenue cutters, light
house tenders, and the rceently-purchased
yachts and tugs, which are being convert
GA into punboats at the Norfolk navy
yard has been rushed, and five of these
staupch little craft. with armor belts In
place and their rapid-fire guns all mount
ed. will be ready TO leave the yard early
during the coming week. They are eX-
pocted TO proceed Immediately TO Key
West. where they will be attached TO the
North Atlantic squadron as the second
line Of the defence and the speedier craft
I'm the capacity Of dispatch-boats. The
Oscola has been completed, and she coal
cd to-day and is ready TO start. as are the
torpedo-boat Rodgers and the gunboat
Vicksburg, but orders for them have not
yet been received.
OVER TWO THOUSAND WORKING.
The ueht-house tender Armerla ar
rived a. the yard to-day to be converted
into gunhoat. The entire force Of the
Construction Department. is busy to-day
preparing the mounts and carriages for
the battery of 4-inch guns, which will
constitute the armament Of the auxiliary
cruiser Merrimac.
The navy-yarC force now exceeds 200
men. and NIFTY additional machinists have
been called in to-day.
The ram Katahdin has arrived at the
yard, in order that some slight repairs
may be made to her. The cruiser New
ark. il is stated. cannot be completed
before May 10Th. Naval officers eX-
press some doubt as to the efficacy of the
belt of cement which is being laid around
her hull as an additional protection.
TO TRANSPORT TROOPS.
ARRANGEMENTS for the rapid transporta-
ton of troops, which may be modified
at Fort Monroe and adjacent points, have
been completed by all railway lines run
ming south from here. General-Passen-
ger Agent Anderson, of the Seaboard Air
Line. SAYS that his road is prepared to
transport the National Guards of New
York. Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the
District of Columbia as fast as they can
be landed here or at Weldon. The South
ern railway has also completed extra
ordinary measures for quickly handling
large bodies Of troops. as has the Allan
tic-Coast Line to Florida.
\ VERY BAD DREAM.
Emeline Lane, an old colored woman Of
much Intelligence stated to the authori-
ties this morning that she had been hyp-
Noticed and compelled TO surrender $3.50 of
her savings to a man. whose name she did
not know. but whose power she found ii
impossible to resist. She said that he
used no threats, but that she voluntarily
surrendered her savings to him. After
Htrds she remembered the transaction as
a dream, but the money was gone. She
has been employed for years in the family
1f Mr. James Y. Leigh. one of the most
prominent citizens of Norfolk.
At the quarterly meeting Of the Board
II Trade and Mems Association.
MIR. Z. T.. Dawes offered a resolution. re-
luesting the Secretary Of the Navy to
name one of the new battleships Virginia
and one Of the cruisers Norfolk, in honor
IF this State and city. It was adopted.
and ordered sent to the Secretary and TO
he congressman and senators from this
State
Thomas Lowery having declined the po-
sition of Deputy United States Marshal
In this city the Marshal Mr.. Morgan
Treat. has asked the late Deputy, Mr.
Thomas II. Cross, TO continue in the
place temporarily. Mr.. Gross declined to
onger fiji the duties of the Deputy Mar
3hal unless for full term.