Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-23
BIG PAY ROLL TODAY
Employees at the Shipyard
Will Receive $4,000.
SHIPS STILLIN THE ROADS
soiRce Goes to Norfolk Monday. More
Guns for the Cruisers. Deals for the
Appomattox and Michigan
Il Fall Through.

Guns for the Cruisers. Deals for the
Appomattox and Michigan
Fan Through.
& The Chesapeake & Ohio steamer An-
pomatox and the British freighter Mich
isan were not purchased by the gov
5ernment, as was reported.
It is a fact, however, that both yes
sells We're inspected by naval officers to
ascertain their fitness for naval SER
Vice. but the deals fell through yea
terday.
The Appomattox arrived in port ear
ay Monday morning from London with
q general cargo. She discha rged iler
freight and was about 10 take on u
cargo Of flour and grain, when orders
came from the\New York office mot to
load the steamer. This gaxs rise to
the ruHlor th{at the shipdhad been pur-
chased by Me gusefnment. At the
local office it WIS given out that the
reason for stopping the men from put
to contempla ted change i'm the APP
pomattox's route it being proposed to
divert her to the Liverpool line tempo
Tarfy. Later it was developed that the
report that the government was ne
gotiaung for the purchase of the ship
was not unfounded. Uncle Sam wanted
the Appomattcx. She us a fast freight
lboat, but it seems the terms were not
agreed upon.
ga rEiyed aaaerr-<syg9 ufes-
day tor "a cargo Of grain. Uncle Sam
had this vessel inspected. but the deaf
alllso seems to have fallen through.
The ships are now taking on cargoes.
They have lost several days While the
negotiations We're in progress and will
be loaded with all possible haste to
maake up the lost time.
This has BEEN busy week at the
shipyard. Work on the auxiliary cruis-
xaV-t IN 10 n,o1 ~ =,
pitch ship Solace la. ben rushed as
much aus practice bic. and as a result
the Solace is ready 10 sail and the
work on the ei-u-ss.:5 is about COM
pleted.
The yard clos4d >..4wn for the first
time in the las, ;Wo weeks last night
at 1880 O'Clock. This was done in or
derto do some repair work TO the ma
chinery and boilers before the day force
comes on this morning. During the
rush about 600 men have been taken
on, making the total number employed
reach at least 5000. The pay roll VIII
be the largest today in the history OF
the yard, amounting to about $4,000
for the weeks work.
Six car loads Of rapid fire rifles were
received at the shipyard yesterday for
the auxiliary cruisers. They will be
mounted on the vessels Immediately.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Fort Monroe last night says:
..Yisitors were not allowed on board
the ships during the day, applicants
being told that the squadron was on
war footing and regulations forbade
receptions. The Minneapolis had sub
calibre practice the greater part of the
afternoon and all the ships used their
search-lights and did signalling by
lantern tonight
The war bulletins Of the Associated
Press were read with much interest,
but many doubts were expressed at the
notification that the Key West squad
ron had moved. 1t was generally adj
mitted that the battleship Oregon was
in danger Of attack, but few expressed
any doubt as to her ability to- take
the evening to the effect that the
squadron would be left here to care
for the coast defence is received with
great deal of incredulity. The fact
that two golfers and hospital ship
have been rushed to the squadron and
that one Of the Golfers was hurriedly
filled yesterday seems to indicate that
no such lack of activity is Intended
and that hurried call to move is ex-
pected The opinion of many officers
seems to be that this fleet will move
the instant it becomes aware that the
Cape de Verde Islands fleet of the
Spanish is in motion.
: # the fleet stays here for any per-
iod Of time 1t would not be surprising
If the Columbia and Minneapolis were
sent out on prize seeking expeditions.
The same order about officers being
on board the ships at 10 o'clock and
the forbidding of all night shore leave
are still the rules for tonight. and this,
too, would indicate move at any
moment
WILL ORGANIZE A BATTERY.
There is movement on foot looking
to the organization OF a battery. So
far the inauguratons of the move have
been very successful, and it is expected
that in a few days enough men will
have been secured to man at least six
guns. Those who enlist do so with THE
understanding that they will go any,
where. ,"irli lissEH
CREW FOR THE DIXIE.
The Dixie's crew, which was recruit
ed In Baltimore, will be sent to Nor
folk very soon. When there they will
be put on board the United States re-
ceivlng ship Charleston for prelimi-
nary training.
from the Navy Department regarding
the time Of departure.
WAS BUILT EIERE.
The gunlboat Nashville, which struck
the first blow in the Spa merican
war yesterday when she ran down q
Spanish merchantmen near Key West
and carried her prize into the harbor
is the product OF the local shipyard
On her trial trip last April the Nash
willie made a speed of over seventeen
knots, and she is the fastest warsflip
in her class. az
NAVAL RESERVES.
The organization Of a division Of
naval reserves in Newnort News Is
well under way and sixteen names
have already been secured to the petit
ton to Governor Tyler. by the commit
tee in charge.
The recruiting committee comprises
Messrs. W. H. Cartwright, q. T. Jones
and George Clinedinst.
The men who have volunteered to
serve In the division of naval reserves.
to date, are as follows:
e. w. Moran Granville Smithson
w. n. Cartwright. w. d. Ptman.
a. T.. Jones. A. G. Powell.
J. II. Moran. George Clinedinst
. J. Frank Evan. B. G. Glenn.