The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-02
NEWPORT NEWS
IS REJOICING.
Citizens Jubiant Over the Prospect o.
a Big Ship Contract.
AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK,
Three Thousand Six Hundred Men are
Now Employed at the Hards-Mr'
Kelley Tells Sickening story OF
Army Officials Incompetency

NEWPORT NEWS, VA. Sept. 1-Spe-
cial-There is great rejoicing IN this city
over the prospects that the Newport
News Shipbuildng and Dry Dock Com
pany will certainly get at least TWO or
the three battleships authorized by the
last naval appropriation bin, and the
probability IS that all three Of the ships
will be built here. A dispatch received
from Washington this afternoon states
that the Newport News Shipbuilding and
Dry Dock Company Outbid its competitors
ut every point. This augurs well FOR
Newport News and her great shipyard,
and points 10 a wave Of unprecedented
prosperity In the town.
MUCH WORK on HAND
Already there are three battleships UNI
der course OF construction at this place.
They are the kcarsarge, Kentucky and
Illinois The first two have been launch
ed. and the Illinois will leave the ways
some time next month. Besides this Gov
eminent work the company has con-
tracted with the Morgan line TO build
three coastwise steamers, and the keels
for these vessels will be laid some time
this week. Other large contracts are In
sight. IL Is probable that three ships
will be built for the Cromwell line I'm the
course Of tho next two years. as the
company has assurances from the officials
Of that line that when the steamers are
built the contract will be let 10 the local
yard There are now $500 men employed
at the works.
INCOMPETENT ARMY OFFICIALS.
Mr.. w G. Kelley. of this city who
left here I'm July on the Plant Line steam
or La Grande Duchesse, when that yes
sci went into service as a transport. re-
turned home Wednesday, having left the
steamer az New York. MIR. Kelly was
employed al the works OF the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Com
p8ny as a machinist and when La
Grande Duchesse was ready 90 go into
commission De volunteered his services,
which were accepted. He gives an in
teresiing account OF HIS experience. and
relates many sde-splitting anecdotes Mr..
Kelley does not hesitate 10 censure the
army officials for what he thinks was
gross neglect I'm speaking of his trip.
Mr.. Kelley made the following state
ment:
After being on board a government
transport for hfty-fOur days, [ am pre-
pared to say that tho officials of the
War Department from Secretary Aiger
down 10 the office cat az a failure. and
this statement IS not prompted By the
fact that through the operations of the
War Department / was compelled TO take
a sulphur bath and tickle my palate with
four-year-old hash. but solely through a
desire 10 expose a corps OF government
officials through whose negligence hum
dreds OF our soldiers have been made
physical wrecks. To their shame. be f.
said. that hundreds of the brave men
who to-day are sleeping meath the soil
Of Santiago are but silent testimonials OF
this incompetency.
ICE MUST COOL BEER.
ut was my pleasure during our three
days anchorage at the Port of Ponce
10 observe the gross ineniciency OF the
medical department. As an Illustration.
/ will state that upon our entrance 10
the harbor we had sixty fever cases ON
board. which had developed during our
nye-day run from Charleston, S. G., 10
Santiago and an iuea of tho treatment
may loo gained when 7 tell you that
private from the Second Wisconsin Regi-
ment approached an army surgeon with
tho request for ice for a fever patient Of
his company. In my hearing the private
was told that to get ice was impossible
as the officers had scarcely enough 10
keep the beer cold This beer was Tor
the officers only, and was served In
courses, each course lasting six hours
In Justice 10 the officers. however. I will
say they were allowed but four courses
a day.
UNPALATABLE PROVISIONS
1.-THE chief article OF diet for the sick
was a product Of the Armour Beef Com
pany II IS very clever imitation. and
YOU may obtain some idea Of the taste
by chewing the tail board Of a garbage
wagon This stun was served 10 the
men three times a day, whether they
were sick or well and 7 saw the fever
patients suffer violent nausea after eat
ing IT, / also witnessed a number OF pa
tients lying IN the hot sun FOR hours. and
four Of them died on account Of this neg
ligence. None Of the provisions taken by
the Duchess were uuloaded at Porto
Rico. but We're carried north and thrown
overheard as they had spoiled. These
are a few OF the things I can tell you"