Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-17
BRITISH STEAMSHIP HAMP>'EAp
Government Opposed To shipp'"s
Fuel to Spanish Possessions


FucI to spanish Possessions
NORFOLK. VA. April l6.-(Special)-
The big British steamship Hampstead did
not get away last night with her @VJO
tons OF Pocahontas coal although sht
cleared in regular form through the cuf-
tom-house for st. Vincent's. Cape Verde
Islauds. She is stnl tied up at the Lam
bert Point coaling station. ana Messrs'
William Lamb q Co, agents for cast
ner. Curran s. Bullitt OF Philadelphia
who loaded her. called at the custom
house to-day and attempted to withdraw
their clearance OF the vessel and her
cargo. However, they were Informed
bv the authorities that the matter was
entirely out Of their hands, and that tAe
clearance could not be changed except py
consent Of the captain. At is not known
whether the British consular department
will take cognizauce OF the matter or not.
The vessel is not being held by the GUS
toms authorities.
STRIKE N WELSH MINES.
II is claimed that the presence OF the
Spanish cruisers and torpedo hotilla az
dcance regarding the shipment, but thdt
II is due to the great strike now pre-
vailing i'm the Welsh mines, which usualy
supulv the Cape Verde COaling station
and that the Hampsteads cargo was sent
al the order of the European agents OF
tho Pocahontas Coal Company just as
previous shipments have been made wheh
strikes iuterfered with the Welsh supply
The fact is. however. that the govern
ment will allow no coal To be shipped to
Spanish possessions or to Spanish shlps'
VAST VOLUNTEER RESERVE.
The Grand Army of the Republic OF
this section, H. pushing General Schoheld
plan for a vast volunteer reserve. MI
John w. Stebbins, department com
mander OF Virginia and North Caroiln@
has sent 1000 enrolment blanks 10 the
@ A. r. posts In this jurisdiction TO be
filed up by those who desire TO become
members Of the National volunteer Ike
| serve Of the United States.
Frederick L. Smith. charged with the
-heft OF UPWARD OF 81 500 from the Smith
/ Little Company. this city, Of whlch ne
was vlce-president. has beep acquitted
| by Justice TOmlin in the Police Court
| and discharged from custody lie was ar
rested I'm Philadelphia during the last
| Of March and was brought back To Nor
| folk upon extradition papers on ApIh ISL;
| The Court, in rendering its decision, held
| that the defendant had properly account
| ed for all the money alleged to have been
| stolen. At the end Of the trial Mr.. Little,
| the plaintiff. and Mr.. Smith, shook hands
| in court. -
| RAILWAY CHANGES HANDS.
| The Norfolk and ocean View Railway
| Company. which was recently acquired
| nv the Norfolk street Railway Company,
| passed into the hands OF its new owners
| to-day. The purchase price of $4,000 was
| paid in full. The road was later reOr-
| sanized. J. Lancaster Williams. Of Rich
| mond. being chosen as president
CAPTAIN g. }. Iredell has entered suit
| in the Court Of Law and Chancery
| against tho Norfolk. Willoughby Spit and
| old Point Road Company. lie claims
| 5000 damages for injuries resulting from
| his falling into Hampton Roads while he
was in the act of boarding the deien-
| dent's steamer Crescent at the Old Point
| wharf
The Norfolk county authorities are hot
on the trail Of Prze-Fighter Pete Monh
| one OF the pugiists has been arrested
| but his opponent escaped. number ol
! SPECTATORS have been summoned befor,
the grand Jury recently.
NO REST FOR SUNDAY.
There will be little rest for the 200 EN-
| ployees Of the Norfolk navy-yard tO
| morrow. for the work Of converting int
| gunboats craft built for more peaceful
| purposes still goes forward with rush
The handsome and exceptionally speedy
yacht Penelope, which the gOyernmen
has just purchased. arrived az the yar'
| to-day from New York. and the Board %
| Survey boarded her Immediately. Thei
! examination was 10 determine Hha
changes are necessary 10 convert tn
Penelope into an effective torpedO-boat
destroyer. u type Of warship for whicI
all the fast yachts purchased by the gov
eminent are especially adapted. The ex
revenue cutters. Hamilton and Window
were taken from the dry-dOck to-day ant
the work OF mounting their guns wa
| proceeded with. Tomorrow the blk anXil
iary cruiser Merrlmac will be docked
the mounts for her battery Of 4-inch rapid
firing guns all being IN place Tn
large force now in the yGrd has prove
inadequate for the work In view, and 10
day Commodore FarQuhar made requisi
tion for big increase IN all department.
The ocean tug gunboat Tecumseh let
this morning for Key West, towing IN
barge Jackson. laden with a heavy carg
Of coal for the North Atlantic squadron.