Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-24
THE FLEET TO REMAIN,
Our WaTships Not to Be With
drawn from Hampton Roads,
NO COMPLAINTS WERE MADE,
All the Steamship Companies Deny
Having Entered Any Protest.
THE ORDERS WE'RE NOT ISSUED.
MISUNDERSTANDING Allen Denies the
Report, and Says Sixty or Seventy
Vessels VIII BE i'm the Ronds--
Prompt Action I'm Norfolk

.
Roads and kept there for some time.
Indeed, a large number of gunboats,
auxiliary cruisers, torpedo-boats, and
tugs have already arrived in that splen-
did harbor and others are coming in daily
and will continue TO do so.
From the information now at hand it
Is not believed that the Navy Department
has any serious idea Of changing its origi-
nal plan of having a great rendezvous
in the Roads. and if such steps were con-
templated pressure that could hardly be
| resisted would be brought 10 bear to pre-
vent them being carried out.
The report sent out from Washington
| Monday night TO the effect that the
Department had issued orders that only
the auxiliary cruisers and tugs be allow
| ed to remain at Fort Monroe, and that
the warshps be sent to New York and
Boston, and the torpedo-boats TO New
port, r. l., aroused great indignation
| here as well as at Old Point Newport
| News, and Hampton. The matter was
| discussed with great interest especially
| in transportation circles, and no class OF
| people were more indignant than the
steamship companies, upon whose alleged
! complaints that the presence in the har-
| Dor of a large fleet would seriously inter
| fere with navigation ii was stated that
| the unjust orders were issued.
NO COMPLAINTS WERE MADE.
While the press dispatch was quite
| positive In it's statement that the orders
| had been issued, the public was not dis
| posed TO accept II as settled matter
,a1 ~a,t11 M
be followed And all classes were in
favor of prompt, earnest. and effective
| protests being made This view was
| taken alike by railroad and steamboat
! people. and by the heads of influential
business bodies.
Action was taken last night by the lead
ing organizations of Norfolk and New
port News and the same will be done
here If it shall be deemed necessary. Mr..
/. H. Morris, acting president Of the
| Chamber of Commerce, said last night
that it would be a great outrage TO with
draw the fleet from Hampton Roads, and
one to which the people Of the State
should not submit. There Is no better
place In the world" he declared. FOR
the assembling of our ships and we must
insistupon our rights and see that they are
respected. am glad to find the Dispatch
ready to take hold of the matter"
With a view to ascertaining whether
or not the steamship companies had really
made complaints, the Dispatch yesterday
sent kilograms Of inquiry 10 the presi-
dent, general manager, or agent Of each
Of the important lines whose ships pass
through Hampton Roads, and the an
swers are most positive and satisfactory.
THE ANSWERS RECEIVED.
Copies of this telegram were sent TO
w. l.. Guillaudeu, vice-president Of the
Old Dominion Company, New York; r.
II Wright. Norfolk agent of the Mer-
chants and Miners; r. Il. Cook. general
messenger agent of the n. Y. p. and N;
Reuben Foster of the Baltimore. Chesa-
peake and Richmond Steamship Com
panv: Agent Callahan. of the Norfolk
and Washington, and John r. Sherwood,
of the Bay Line. Positive denials were
received from all except the two last
named 1t will be seen from our spe-
cial that Mr.. Callahan participated in
the indignation meeting in Norfolk. while
Mr.. Sherwood could not be reached.
The replies are here given, and speak
for themselves:
New York, August %. 1898.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Replying 20 your wire 10 Mr. Guillau-
deu who Is absent we have made no
complaint against having rendezvous for
navy in Hampton Roads. On the contrary,
we would be glad 10 see that the base
of supplies for the fleet On July 18th we
made the following request OF the Secre-
tarv of the Navy: "If not incompatible
with the public service, we respectfully
petition that you will, so far as pract-
cable have the ships under control of
Navy Department anchor a quarter a
mile to the westward or the eastward of
the Old Point wharf, that merchant yes
sels can pass in and out Win poTfP Teas9naDie %
Old Dominion Steamship Company.
Norfolk. Va. August %, 1898.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
This company has made no complaint
whatever and | am indignant at the in
Justice done the transportation lines out
of Norfolk Have wired Secretary of the
Navy for names OF lines protesting.
r. II. WRIGHT.
Agent Merchants and Miners Steamship
Company.
I.enox Mass, August %, 1898
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
| have no knowledge of complaint on the
part of our company referred 10 in your
telegram this date
WV REUBEN FOSTER.
b. g. & r. 5. 5. Co.
Norfolk Va. August %, 1895
DO not know anything of this company
having made complaint that large fleet
in Hampton Roads would interfere with
navigation. b. II. COOKE.
y. Y, =. a y. r. X. Co.
A REFLECTION AND INQUIRY.
Neither President NJ. F.. ingalls,. Vice
President Decatur Axtell, nor General
Manager Stevens, Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio. was in the city yesterday, but
telegram was received from Mr.. ingalls,,
who is at the Hot Springs. II ran thus:
Hot Springs. Va. August %, 1855
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Our secretary, Mr.. Wexford. wires that |
Won advise him that orders are reported |
Ia have been issued by the United States |
Navy Department which will prevent the |
assemblage of a large fleet in Hampton |
Roads: that warships and torpedo boats |
are 10 be sent elsewhere, the only ships |
IN come to Fort Monroe being auxiliary |
cruisers and tugs and that these orders !
were issued on account OF complaints OF |
steamboat companies that large feet |
al Hampton Roads would interfere seri- |
ousIy with navigation. If your informa-
ton is correct, every effort possible should |