Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-24
THE WILMINGTON'S VOYAGE.
Twelve Months on the Rivers
of South Africa.
fH st,1 Brave rave Little G"nboat viii Sail TO.
'a y on her Extended Trip. rar-
% pose OF the Efg.1ition,

One of the most Interesting cruises
ever undertaken by an Amercun war
ship begins with the departure nf the
crack gunboat Wilmington frum ftamb-
ton Roads. The Navy Depart
men' sceGted this trim ship to be
The first to carry the Stars and Stripes
to the interior of South America, where
no American warship has ever steamed
before
The Wilmington liz product Of the
NEWPORT News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company and is a Sister ship to
the gunboat Helena, which IS NOW eli
route to the Philippines by way Of the
Suez canal: The last named vessel is
slowly but surely making her way
across the continent and naval officers
everywhere are watching her voyage
with interest. AT every port she stops
on the way, her arrival is at once tele-
graphed to thiR country and every few
days the neWspa pers chronicle her latest
landing place. Tho cruise is the longest
ever Undertaken by a ship of her size
and speed
Now the He!enas sister ship will soon
steam southwark on another novel vOy-
age. The glnboat Nashville, which was
also built hero at the same ti.lc the
other two wert under construction, is
still in American waters, but It is very
probable that tho next few weeks will
see her ploading on Il long voyage to
waters that can be entered only by YES
sells OF their draft
These three gunhCats arc the largest
anf! best warships Of their class a1oa,
and 1t lis to the credit or the Newport
News Shipbuiding ana Dry Dock Com
panS thtt they have been selected, on
account Of their stnunch construction,
to make remarkably long sea trips that
would test the majority Of war craft
and navigate waters where the Stars
and Stripes are seen only a the pole
above the United Stairs consulates
These three splendid ships stand alone
in their class and their excellent work
on the blockade during the late wlr
demonstrated their values
The Wilmington is under or
dcrs to explore waters and visit set
Elements which have never before seen
the coIors from a unitu States naval
vessel. The object Of the voyage is to
open UP, if possible, closer commercial
relations between several South Ameri-
%.
The gunboat will be gone about IL year.
She will first visit the important por.s
Of the West Indies, after which she is
to proceed directly south to the Orino-
60 river and go up as far as practicable
The river will admit ships of the Will
minEton class several hundred miles.
and it is proposed to so just as far as
the safety Of the vessel will permit.
The natives along the shores will be
invited to engage in trade with this
country and to look after the diplomatic
end. United states Minister LOOMS will
accompany the vessel by order Of the
State Department
This voyage completed, the Whining
ton will enter far into the interior of
South America, proceeding hundreds of
miles up the great Amazon. She will
go so far, indeed that she will possibly
be nearer the Pacific coast than the At
lantic when she finally turns back.
Visits will be made TO the seaport
cities of Brazil and Uruguay, and then
the Rio de la Plata will be entered as
far as it is practicable to go. At all
ports en- route the flag will be shown
and an opportunity given the natives to
inspect a modern American gunboat.
The United States ministers to the
countries visited will bestaken on board
and so with the vesseIsAvhile she is
within their official jurisdiction