Evening star., 1898-04-09
ONLYATRAINING SHIP
Italian Vessel, Amerigo "SeesEpuoci,
Anchors OFF Alexandria.
HER VISIT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANCE
Sailed From Home With Olders
to Visit Washington.


The Italian training ship Amerigo YES
pucci arrived at Alexandria this morning
about 10 o'clock and anchored in the stream
off Jones Point. The health officer, DR..
Arthur Snowden, accompanied by DIR. NJ.
W. O'Brien, boarded her at 11:3o o'clock,
and made an inspection. She was given a
clean bill of health. Scores of people went
out in the small boats, hoping to be al
lowed on board. None but representatives
of the press and brother of the Italian
consul at Baltimore were allowed to go on
deck. The latter remained and dined with
the commandante, Gas Gaetano Chierchia.
Tomorrow, and each day until the ship
sails, visitors will be admitted. 1t may be
that they will not be allowed on the ship
before 2 o'clock in the afternoon and they
will have to depart before sundown.
Officers and Men.
There are thirty-seven officers on the
ship, with twenty-four young officers, who
recently graduate from the Military Col
lege, this being their first sea voyage. There
are on board 315 men, including the officers.
The principal officers are: Gas Gaetano,
commadante: Vincenzo Fabbini, second Of
ficer: Antonio Di Stefano, navigating Of
ficer; Raffaelo Cosenzo, first lieutenant:
Giovanni Gassali, second lieutenant, and
Farina, who is the leading officer among
the graduates. was on duty when Star
reporter went aboard. When he learned
the identity Of the reporter there was TO
hesitation about his being admitted, al
though the officer who is officially styled
a guaruimarina was careful to give the in
formation that there had been no time
this morning for putting the vessel in order.
The sailors We're at work cleaning up.
Description of the Ship.
The Amerigo Vespucci is about 240 feet
long. although the officers said they could
not give the measurements in feet. She
is apparently an old boat and has seen
many years of service. None of her guns
are of big caliber, the largest being fifteen
centimeters, but she has a number of small
guns. The ship in the summer time is
used at home as q training ship. In the
winter she is known cruiser. She
sailed from Italy the 18th of December, and
has spent some time at Havana and Key
West, leaving the latter place the 1st of
April.
After a few days stay she will leave
Alexandria for Philadelphia, and may re-
turn to Italy about the last OF May or the
first Of June. She draws y feet of water
and it was with great difficulty that she
succeeded in reaching Alexandria.
When the boat passed the quarantine Off
Ger at the capes a-bay pilot was employed
and u second pilot was taken on near the
mouth of the river. Both pilots remained
aboard until Alexandria was reached, and
they will also pilot her safely out on
her return trip. Because of the shoal wa
ter down the river it was feared by the
and it was only by sending the men to one
end of the the ship that she finally got over
the bar and managed to ascend the river
in safety.
Following Orders.
When the Amerigo Vespucci left Italy It
lrr,f3a nr1a fet%N
this plan was changed only after the cap
tain had been told of the condition of the
river front. He realized that there would
be no trouble experienced in reaching this
city, but he feared he might have some
trouble turning his boat when he got ready
to leave.
The sailors, we'll as the officers. are
much interested in the question of war be-
tween this country and Spain, and most Of
already been declared.
our visit here said one Of the officers,
mas no bearing whatever on the trouble
between the two countries"
1T is reported" he was told "that YOU
have come to take the Spanish minister
home, in the event of war"
The Italian officer appeared to regard the
statement as huge joke and while he was
enjoying a laugh, another officer, who did
not appear to speak or understand English
stopped and asked what the fun was about
Then the English speaking officer turned
to the reporter and said:
He thinks it's very funny, the story
about taking home the Spanish minister"
In Havana and Key West, he said things
We're very lively, especially in Key West
we are very much interested in the
trouble between the two countries" he
said, land We Judge from the newspapers
that the President has been against war,
but the populace are for it. 1t seems now
to me that the populace has changed the
PraSidanf'S ind,