Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-10-10
Thousands Of Visitors Swarmed
to Old Point Sunday.
MADE A MEMORABLE PICTURE
Samp+"n aud Chadwick FIJI Route 10 Sv@ .,
virginia. Form nti.,n OF tho Samaritan
The Races Saturday AMI the
Banquet W1onas ay.

n"ay on ITS mission CT glory and de-
struction has there been such a scene
az Old Point as that witnessed Sunday,
When thousands upon thousands OF Wis
LOTS tnfohged the piers 10 feast their
eyes upon the ma gn.licant ships Cf the
White Squadron. anchored between ma
ftlp-ltapS and ine Peninsula shore
These thousands came from Newnort
News. Hampton. Norfolk, Richmond
and from the rural vicinity CONTIGUOUS
!" old Point. The crowd was compos
cd CT men. women ana children All
the professions We're represented. all
the trades; all grades Of society, from
the bothered swell of the New York
our Hundred, to the coal black econ.
adorned with beaver hat of enormous
attitude and tan low-quarter shoes
without strings in them.
At some time or other During the
perfect day these sight-seers vert o,,t
upon the water for Il nearer view Of
the great monsters they had come TO
sec" The majority Of them took q
cruise in the graceful little launches
which swarmed over the waves back
anu forth between the pier ara the
squadron. each deep laden with its
Huota or merry passengers. The water.
TOO. was 1leckeu With sailing craft: bur
these We're not extensively patronized.
ior the breeze was too i;tzy. The pretty
little steamer Ocean View, Of thu VIII
loughby Silt route. made frequent
trips over veering somewhat from her
regular course 70 give y better view OF
the war ships to the immense tnrongs
Which blackened her decks each trip.
The scene was one OF beauty and in
spiratlon Those who saw il Will re-
member 1.-THE historic fighting ships
I
cleaning in the sunlight; the scores of
launches fitting noisily across the wat
ers with their merry passengers: the
graceful sail boats. Swimming like
weary gullS across the waves: the
eager" crowds upon the shore
The beautiful warships as they Law
peacefully at anchor just off the shore,
urscarred and perfectly groomed. look
ed as though they had never passel
through baptism of fire and shell.
Looking at them. one found it hard to
believe that these Same vessels only a
short time ago sunk a formidable
squadron.
The cruisers New York and Brooklyn
with their wealth of freeboard: the
second class batt!eship Texas. with its
cruiser-like air: the Indiana and Mas
sachusetts. With their remarkable su
perstructure of turl-et and tower max
ing them probably the most wicked
looking battleShips in the navy: the
graceful scorpion. half yacht and half
Warship-these grim vessels. types Of
the modern navy contrasted curiously
with the ancient Jamestown, now
boarded-in quarantine ship, once
vessel Of the line in the old navy.
Rear Admiral W. I. Sampson COM
handing the North Atlantic Squadron.
and Captain Chadwick of the flagship
New York. left the fleet Sunday evening
and Went to Washington by steamer
From the National Capital they pro-
ceeded to Captain Cha!wick's home in
West Virginia. where the people of his
town will present him With a handsome
sword.
The Admiral's flag still remains at
the after-top Of the cruiser New York,
indicating that he is still in command
OF the squadron.
The cruiser New Orleans, which ar
rived in Hampton Roads Saturday
morning with the squadron, sailed sun
day morning for New York, where
she will receive repairs and take on
supplies preparatory to sailing for Ma
Mia to join the fleet Of Rear Admiral
Watson.
The cruiser Brooklyn. which has also
been ordered to Manila, will commence
taking on coal the latter part of the
week and will probably get away SAT-
urday.
The committees in charge Of the ar
engagements for the reception to the Of
icers Of the squadron met at the rooms
Of the Business Mems Asso cation in
Norfolk yesterday. Mr.. Thomas B.
Henley represented the committee from
this city.
l was decided to have the boat races,
open to the enlisted men on the war
ships, next Saturday afternoon between
the hours of ? and 4 o'clock.
Captain Charles .. Sigsbee, Of the
battieship Texas, was named as chair
man Of the regatta committee and he
will make preparations for the event at
once.
1t was decided to have five races and
prize of $50 will go to the crew Of the
winning boat in each race.
Mr.. r. C. Cooke, OF the N. Y, p. &
N. n. r., was appointed treasurer. to
whom all Of the funds collected for the
purpose Of entertaining the officers and
men of the squadron will be turned
over.
It has been decided that the only per-
CONS outside Of the army and navy who
Will be admitted to the banquet Wed
nesday night will be the members of
the committees which went to Wash
inSton in the interest Of the squadron
movement and the representatives OF
the press.
The committeeman from this city
were Messers. Thomas E. Henley, r.
p. Orr E. w. Huffman, T. NJ. Benson
and Colonel J. C. Baker.
" - IN