Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-08

suE JOINS THE FLYING SQUADRON
At NEWPORT NEWS.
VERY FORMIDABLE FLEET,
The "IIOdoo" Vessel Has a business
Like Air-The Creole ns u Hospital
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Promptly Pays
20 Heavy Fine.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. April 7.-(spe-
..il-The arrival Of the second-class
...tleship Texas mt old Point at O'clock
.'- morning completed the complement
NO. narships which forms the nucleus Of
.a flying squadron, and presents the
strongest fleet of modern fighting craft
.u-idering it's numbers. ever gathered
-.getler under one commander.
THE Texas. contrary to the usual GUS
.m failed to- salute the flag Of Commo-
..re Schley flying at the masthead of
tle flagship Brooklyn. The only second
class batteship in the United States navy
is stripped for action. and viii prove a
formidable little craft I'm spite Of the fact
Chat she IS looked upon 10y sailors and
others as a "hoodoo." The Texas. like
the other ships Of the United States
-luadrons in American waters. is painted
the prevailing lead-color
The big battleship Massachusetts is still
anchored of this city in the James river.
and It is not now known just when she
VIII weigh anchor and join the squadron
40 old Point. Dame Eumor has it that
tre Massachusetts, will not go out with
t.e flying squadron i'm the event Of war,
I.t viii remain in this vicinity for the
rejection of Newport News. Richmond.
Norfolk. Portsmouth, and Fort Monroe.
I.e ship is regarded as the safest war
vessel in the navy, and will form "a pow
..tul cooperative agent with Fort Non
... in the even, of hostilitiee.
Tr, positions OF the Brooklyn, Mime
Ha.Is. and Columbia have not been
changed.
THE HOSPITAL SHIP
r.. queen OF the Cromwell Line of
samships. the Creole. arrived at the
..u-garI This morning at S o'clock TO be
converted into "a hospital ship for the
...n Atlantic Squadron. now al Key
West Captain H.. y. eager brought the
Creole down and had under him the same
crews which has worked the snip ON hti
trims between New orleans and New
..E 20 is estimated that il VIII take
about tw1 weeks 90 transform the hand-
..u. product of the Newport News
smu.nme and Dry-Dock Company
r The design after which she was
...t t1 ON. more suitable Tor medical
ro-.s The government has already
wed the ship-yard 5000 as "a preliml-
... itaro of expense. 10 is estimated
..- tho vorl, VIII cost iu the nelShDor-
nod Of $4,000.
To- is barely possible that tne SIIps vi
r MORGAN Line which are TO be convert
. mo auxiliarv cruisers for Uncle Sam
r b.. rcmOdeled at the local sAlp-NaIu
Instead OF the Brooklyn and Norfolk
r.vr-yarGs 10 is urged as reason Tor
ft.. that the naVy-yards are busy now
with vessels which have already arrived
81. repairs and Ovcrhauling and thaJ the
work ORE the Morgan liners can be accom-
rI-a.I with much more dispatch ana sat
''.uon at the ship-yard here where Ho
hurry orders are being Observed
FORMATION or A BATTERY.
Preparations are now under way ioi
't. formation OF battery OF hght arui-
r. dor. as "a part of the regular Stat,
-.n.. strength. and for the purpose o.
".r1.ue some defence 10 Newport NeWS
ir case of war The Huntington Riiie5 j.
row the only military organization H
..a elty s company Of naval reserves
s being organized al Hampton
AIcck Dunn. one Of the most notorious
t.Iu1n-koepers FIN this city was before
fte Police Court this morning on 'h'
charge of selling whiskey "ltpouC
% .Hse BE was found guilty ana nlie,
so and costs amounting to $3.50, Du III
WAS arrested last Monday ana Ddlle" ioi
f.s appearance I'm court to-day. one Oh
the most remarkable facts about lhl'
case is the prOmptness with when Duui
Paid his nue in gold and silver lui'
minutes after being assessed Usually
saloon-keepers who are conNcted d, ul'
Pap o. Justice manage TO ina some I""I'
hole through which immediate payne"
20. Zines can be- avoided
JOHN WILLIAMS ARRESTED.
officer G.. b. Cranord this morning ar
rested John Williams alias Norfolk: ~
Pockets for the Richmond authoIilles
Williams is wanted ia Richmond LOT
felony committed some time ago. re
raIded as one Of the most dcspeI"I'
c1ored crooks lu the State.
Reports from across the James $50
Pa, the farmers and truckers suueie.
considerably from the freeze OF yeslero"'
morning.
Tho baseball season on the Peninsula
V.i be- opened tomorrow Afternoon !"
R.vcryew Park with game De."ps
mpton and Yale 4 large crowd WI
doubtless Wltncss the contest. Ne"pO1r
News and Baltimore Athletic Cup WI
open the season in Newport News "eu