Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-09
ACTIVITY IN SHIP YARDS
Pushing the Work on Uncle Sans War Yes
sells at Newport News.
Four Thousand Men Employed Yes
rons-The SOlace Goes to Sea.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, May 9.-Four
thousand men worked all day yesterday
Sunday in the ship yards OF this city,
an event before unknown, in pushing the
work on the government vessels which are
being prepared here fer active service.
Last evening the finishing touches were
put on the auxiliary cruiser Yosemite, and
as soon as she receives few additional
supplies she will leave for the post to be
assigned her by Commodore Howell, Of
whose squadron she is to form part. She
has already received her complement of
men-lifty marines and the Michigan Ma
val Reserves-and has orders TO go to sea
as soon possible, and she is expected
to take her dspartuCe either today OF to-
morrow.
The Dixie the sister ship of the Iosem-
lite, which is to be Under the command Of
Capt. Charles II. Davis of Washington, is
also nearly ready for service, an aux
Hilary cruiser, and Is expected To be pre-
pared for sea service by Thursday. The
Dixie viii be manned by the Maryland
Naval Reserves ana the same number OF
marines as the Yosemite. The Dixie viii
have ten Six-inch guns and six rap.d-tire
x-pou:.ders. The Yosemite has ten five
inch guns and SIX rapid-1lre SiX-pOundcrS-
The Minnea polls arrived yesterday, and
as soon she is coaled will, it is expected,
New Orleans and the ST. Paul, the latter
Capt. Sigsbec's magnificent ship and for
merly called the Paris. are hourly expected
for the purpose of being supplied with coal
The Solace, the new hospital ship of the
navy. went to sea yesterday. The Solace
is equipped in u manner unlike any other
vessel in the world and has every comfort
known to modern science for the allevia-
ton of the sufferings of sick or wounded
men. She is being conveyed by the We
suvius and Charleston.
Nicthcroy on the Way.
The Nictheroy, 10 be renamed the Buffalo,
which was recently purchased from the
brazilian government. and being conveyed
here by a Brazilian cruiser. Is expected to
arrive on the 18th instant. She will at once
be equipped as auxiliary cruiser, and
placed in service within a few days there
after.
Just now many Of the men heretofore
employed in the building of the Kearsarge
and Kentucky are working on the auxiliary
cruisers. but as soon as the latter are out
Of the way the entire force OF 1000 men
will be employed on those named and on
the Illinois, which will be launched next
month Work on the Kearsarge and Ken
lucky will be rushed that they can be
turned over TO the government by Novem-
Der /.
Information has been received here that
Batteries A and of the Pennsylvania Ma
,.
Mount Gretna Pa. will be here tom orrow.
They will be stationed above and below the
ship wards This precaution is taken Ly
the Navy Department in order to prevent
the possibility of a Spanish torpedo boat
DESTROYER stealing through Hampton Roads
and inficting damage to the valuable prop
erty in Newport News yards.
The occupation If the Philippines by the
| force to be sent from San Francisco to
! Admiral Devey's assistance is being re-
feeted at the Norfolk navy yard. where
there is unwonted activity In the shipment
| of guns from the ordnance division. These
are mostly of the rapid-tre type and am
munition for them is being hastily prepared
a. the ST. Julian magazine. These arms
and munitions will be shipped at once to
California, where other shipments have
preceded them.
The Mosquito Fleet.
The last vessels of the mosquito fleet are
being armed ard will be ready for COM
/ missioning by tomorrow or the next day.
| This will greatly, reduce the number of
men employed in the navy yard, and the
officers fear that the skilled mechanics
may scatter in search of work. For that
| reason an effort will be made to hold them
| at Norfolk by providing more work.
| The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Com
papy has received the contract for furnish
| ing all the government vessels now at New
port News, well those to arrive there
] for the next year. with all the coal that
may be needed.
| contract by the Atlantic Transportation
| Company to furnish the latter with 1900,
600 tolls of coal each year for theA ensuing
five years.