Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-17
The Cincinnati Now Being Over
hauled in the Dry Dock.
ERSCHAFINGI ENFORCEDDELAY
The Cruiser Newark Almost Com
pleted and Ready for Sea.
AUXILIARY CRUISER DIXIE
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star

in dry dock at the navy yard here, receiv-
ing repairs that have long been needed
When the Cincinnati was placed in dock
there was marine growth on her bottom
some two feet in length, which greatly in
terfered with her speed. The rapidity of
this growth in southern waters is remark
able, and it is the general belief here that
the ships of Admiral SIMPSONS squadron
and those of the flying squadron under
Commodore Schley have become very foul
during their stay in Cuban waters and will
con be in the same condition the ships
of Admiral Cervera appeared to be when
they were last seen at Curacao.
1t has been many months since any of
the ships were in dry dock and conse-
quently there is little doubt that marine
growth is in plenty on all of them. The
captains of the different ships keep them
clean comparatively by sending divers
n ethod of cleaning the bottom is not at
all satisfactory, however, and unless the
ships of the Cuban squadrons are soon
locked and thoroughly cleaned their speed
will drop considerably and their fighting
qualities be diminished. When Commodore
Schley's fleet left the anchorage opposite
Fort Monroe in Hampton Roads several
of the ships were foul with marine growth
as has already been stated. Since their
stay in Cuban waters it is known that this
growth has considerably increased and
there has beea little possible chance fer
the ship commanders to send down divers
Tor scraping purposes.
The Lack of Dry Docks.
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet has been longer
in Cuba than the one under schley. and his
ships have consequently been longer de-
rrived of docking facilities. and it is be-
lieved that his squadron's speed has been
greatly reduced by this condition of af-
a rl-hil
guarded in their remarks concerning any
department of the service. declare that this
condition of affairs has been foreseen all
along. and that the failure of the govern
nent authorities to provide mora Try docks
for naval purposes along the coast is
nothing short of the most damaging negli-
gence. Both dry docks at the Norfolk navy
yard hav, been in constant use since the
preparation for hoStilitieS began, several
onths ago One of the larger ships Is
usually accommodated in the stone dock
the smaller of the two. while the large tim
Der dock, one of the best on the coast has
been almost continuously occupied by two
OF the smaller craft composing the mos
quito fleet and auxiliary ships of all types
The private dry dock at Newport News has
also done yeoman service for the United
States in this predicament, providing the
only adequate docking facilities on the At
lantic coast for such large ships as the
cruisers St Paul, st. Louis, Harvard and
Yale.
OVernRullnS the cincinnati.
The Cincinnati. will remain in dock for
some Tina, and will not be ready for serv-
Ice unless emergency requires, for several
weeks yet. She has but recently returned
from nine months service in the lately dis
solved South Atlantic squadron, ard be-
fore that time had seen many months
service in the Mediterranean. During all
this time she had not received any repairs
to speak of. Now. however. the gray fight
er Is to be entirely overhauled. Her decks
are now one mass of rigging and tackle.
and big derrick has bean placed on board
to facilitate in the removal and placing on
board of small pieces OF machinery, etc.
Workmen are busy on the outside and in
side. She will come out of dock some time
during the present week, but will then re-
main at the yard for some time, until the
interior work is completed.
The officers and men on the cruiser have
had a taste of battle taking Il prominent
part in the bombardment of MatanZas, and
are anxious to return to the fray. Their
enforced detention here is somewhat
Chatting as they fear all the Spanish ships
Ray be conquered and all the forts may be
demolished before they are able to return
to Cuba. Since her arrival here the Gin
cir1ati has received complement of naval
reserves from the different states, including
enc officer. Assistant Engineer Messenger
of New York. The volunteers in the crew
have rapidly become accustomed to their
routine work, and are now doubly anxious
for the sea and the thick of the fight. The
volunteers, in their salt ,ugs and their
faces tanned by the sun * the typical
sailors already, and are prepared for all
sorts of work Father Chadwick, formerly
chaplain of the battle ship Maine, is now
attached to the Cincinnati and is a ready
favorite with all the officers. He now has
the rank Of lieutenant in the navy.
The Newark Nearly Completed.
The cruiser Newark is almost completed,
and her cOmplameUt 0f rne and officers iS
rapidly being augmented and she will be
fully manned before the end of the week.
The Newark has been oyerhauled and re-
newed from the poop-deck to engine, room
and double bottom since she came to the
yard, and when she steams down to Cuba
in few days will be one of the fttest
ships in the entire navy. 1t is possible that
she may await the Cincinnati. but this IS
doubtful, as ships are needed both at San
tiago and in the blockading fleet. The
Newark has received ter coat of lead paint.
The dull gray color has been spread over
every visible object-guns, tunnels and
fighting tops included-the only relief being
in the gilded shield on the bow and the
letters forming her Eame on the STERN
which are likewise emblazoned in gold. The
Newark was once square-rigged ship. but
she now has two military masts. and her
efficiency has been greatly enhanced
There are golfers and small boats galore
at the navy yard and the workmens ham,
mefs make continuous din throughout
the yard. Some Sunday work still goes
in the machine and wood working shops.
but since the first rush of work has been
completed Sunday isneiven over to a day of
rest in greas part. The 'tolliers are mostly
dirty-lookins tramp steamers. now empty.
and lying nigh in the water. The ships
here are all good ones. however, and when
the navy workmen are through with them
they will be in frsftclass shape. Each
collier Is to be mo1nfed with several six
GNU, of In q a ms ha
made by small loats.G Idt
Auxiliary Cruiser Dixie.
The auxiliary cruiser, Dixie. formerly
Morgan liner, ow manned by Maryland
neval reserves, and Wfach was supposed to
have sailed for the SOUTH. several days ago.
only left the Virginia capes yesterday af-
tcrroon. She left hsr, anchorage at Old
Point several days ago. and since that time
has been cruising ontslds the eapes. with
out her presence bengi reported. About
noon yesterday SIZE met an unknown Amer
lean freigater, Supposed to be collier that
had sailed from northern port, and the
two ships proceeded southwark in CON-
pany. The American collier Alexander left
lat n