Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-31
STATEMENT FROM PATTsoN.
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
A Day of Excursions at the Federal
Capital.

| Capital.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. May 30.-(Spe-
cial.)-This being a national holiday,
neither house Of Congress was in session,
the departments were all closed, busi-
ness was generally suspended, and the
weather being clear and balmy everybody
seemed to be enjoying himself or herself
as the case might be. All the residents
| of the city who could get away "ex-
| curted" out Of town, but their places were
| supplied by throngs from all the neigh
| boring States. including Virginia, Mary
| land, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsyl-
! vana, and Ohio. II may properly be said
to have been the opening OF the excur-
! sion season. The military from Camp
Alger, over near Falls Church, in Vir-
ginia, were largely in evidence. 1t was
the first day leaves of absence had
been extensively granted since the present
force of some 1000 troops was modified
there, and hundreds of men of all branches
or the service and of every grade,
from brigadier-g general to the private SOL
der, roamed the streets and took in the
beauties Of the Capitol.
NIRGINIAS CONTRIBUTION.
Virginias contribution to the crowd was
creditabe Ii consisted of an excursion
train of ten coaches, starting from Rich
mond, under the management Of j. NJ.
Thompson, and bringing 800 people. This
excursion is understood to have been
given for the benefit Of the Richmond
Male orphan Asylum, OF which Mrs. }.
r. Gill is the manager. There was also
in CfFx NIb fah
rived yesterday, from Danville, Lynch
burg, and points on the line Of the South
eIn railway. The Richmond party will
remain here sightseeing until Z o'clock
tomorrow evening, when they Will leave |
for their respective homes.
PERSONAL NOTES.
Mrs. j. X. Gill, Mrs. ]. f. Talbot, Miss |
V. Talbot, j. NJ, Mrs, and Miss Thomp- |
son, James +. Schultz, and ". II. Archer |
are among the Richmond excurslonists |
registered at the Metropolitan.
Mr.. ii. A. Redford, adjuster OF passen-
ger rates of the Associated Railways.
and Mr.. o. p. Redford, of the Richmond
Locomotive and Machine-Work are in
the city, visiting their uncle, William X.
Teller.
Mr.. N. w. Bowe, Richmond; ]. c. Bar
nard Warrenton, Va; A. N. Pierce, John
L. y. Mdys |
DanVille, Va.-MetropOlitan.
Captains Fitzhugh Lee and Algernon
Sartoris, Of General Lees personal staff,
left for Richmond this afternoon and
will start for Jacksonville tomorrow. to
which city the headquarters of General
Lee have been transferred.
DR.. and Mrs. j. l.. NJ. Curry, of Wash
ington, are among the notable visitors
now at Atlantic City. DR.. Curry as ex-
Minister of Spain. is an especially inte-
resting person at present, and is much in
demand at Haddon Hall, where promi-
nent men from all portions OF the coun-
try are now assembled.
George NJ. West and wife, Richmond;
Miss Routh Lebanon, Va.-Metropolitan
THE THING TO DO.
'When the news first came" said
naval authority, that Cervera had gone
nto Santiago harbor, / remarked that he
lad gone into a trap, and made the sug-
.estion that IL several old hulks, loaded
With stone, could be sunk in the narrow
,assage he could be held there. ] have
ince heard proposition made by an /
ron-ore mine owner on the same line ,
s mine, he agreeing 10 furnish the ore
rom a nearby point. This Is unques-
ionably the thing TO do, whether Cervera
! or is not inside the harbor of Santiago |
( in he should be kept in. II out. he !
hould be kept out. The same PROPOSE I
lon is true as TO Cienfuegos. Such rat $
oles should be stopped up to hold the '
ermin in, or shut them out. and so af- /
ord a fair chance TO catch them when
-ying TO get In
''The most rigid blockade will afford
pportunty for swift torpedo-boats TO
teal out during thick weather or at
i.hf LaapfpU fa1r ShiDq continually on | 4
ne defensive, a condition which is al Z
avs dangerous. More than this, the
rst heavy gale of wind. or the cyclone
ow almost due in that latitude, will p
i've the battleships. monitors. and tor p
edo-boats TO seek an offing. II not
,rt and leave the trap-door open for
-st-class cruisers 20 come and go. Should
le destination Of the Cadiz feet be other