The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-05
STRIPPING FOR
THE COMING FRAY
The Flying Squadron Oenuded of All
Peace Feathers,
ENCUMBRANCES SENT ASHORE,
Working Twelve Hundred Men at the
Navy Yard on Sunday-The Newark
VIII BE Ready for Sailing In
side often Days.

NORFOLK, VA, April 4.-Special.-
Hundreds Of people from Norfolk, Wash
ington and other places went over 10 Old
Point yesterday to see the Flying Squad
ron in Hampton Roads. The Minneapolis
alone was at Old Point. h was still
Of the White Squadron although marks
upon her yellow ochre tunnels indicated
that she woul soon be no longer the one
white swan in the flock.
At Newport News the flagship Brook
Ign. the cruiser Columbia n the battle
ship Massachusetts lay anchored In the
stream. No visitors were allowed on
board. but some who sailed by in boats
saw that strange Sunday work was being
done on the decks.
ALL PLAIN AS DAY.
Even the greenest land iubber could
plainly see that the ships were being
cleared for action. Close observers no.
ticed that every spar which could be
spared had been sent home That the
ships had apparently been stripped or
their sails and every piece OF wood which
could be. had been removed and all was
being sent ashore and stored at the ship
yard hard by.
The ships. the boats, the guns, the
polished hardwood pilot houses. the
brasses-eyerything about them had been
painted drab and this was about finished
before night fall. SO closely did the yes
sells harmonize with sea and sky that they
were at dusk almost invisible. while near
them the black three masters OF the coal
fleet doomed UP distinctly against the no.
rizon.
MOST SIGNIFICANT.
Last and most significant OF all was the
sending ashore OF the ships silver plate
and the officers chests In this stripping
10 the waist Of the grim and gray light
ers now evidently preparing for the ap-
parently inevitable conflict. .
II was stated that the fleet would san
to-day but as all orders received are kept
secret. this was mere conjecture altnough
the hurried work going on onboaTd the
ships gave color TO 1t.
No movement has as yet been made al
| though the squadron may sail at any
moment.
The navy yard tug Wahneta made seve-
raj trips down the Roads yesterday. she
is reported 70 have carried stores 10 the
squadron.
SUNDAY WORK.
About 100 men worked at the navy
| yard which by the way is located In
Portsmouth, but Is ofnclally cdleu thi
! Norfolk navy yard to avoid its being con-
| fused with the yard at Portsmouth n. II.
In Difference TO public sentiment this sun
day work is conducted as quietly as pos
sible and because OF the great distance
from the gates TO the shops no sound dis
turbs the citizens and few knew yester-
day that within the guarded gates mors
than a thousand workers We're busily
employed.
Night shifts work every night in the
yard and this has been true for some
time.
THE NEWARK.
The rush work Is being done on the
| cruiser Newark which II is hoped VIII be
| finished within ten days now although a
| week ago II was estimated that II wouio
| REQUIRE sixty days to complete the srea'
| changes In the cruiser.
The cruiser Montgomery which came
/ here from Havana hsrhor 70 be dockso
was placed In the big Simpson dock early
| yesterday morning and the work OF clean
Ing her very foul bottom begun.
The revenue cutter Hudson arrived yes
| terday. She Is the sixth cutter 70 ar