The evening times., 1899-02-06
SHIP LAUNCHINGS AT
NEWPORT NEWS YARD
THREE MORGAN LINE BOATS
Work on the Dry Dock Going For
ward Rapidly-TwO Cromwell
Vessels to BE Christened.

ward RapidIy-TwO Cromwell
Vessels to Be Christened.
Newport News, Va, Feb. 6.-There will
be three launchings at the shipyards here
within the next three months, as three OF
the new Morgan line steamships being built
here will be ready to go overheard IN that
time. The shipyard here is probably one
of the busiest industries in the country. In
addition to these three liners that are near
ly ready for launching, there are two
steamships building for the Cromwell line
and will soon be ready for christening
The keel for a large tug for the Morgan
line has been laid, and the blocks upon
which the keels of the battleship Missouri
and the monitor Arkansas are to be laid
are being placed in position. Work on the
immense new dry dock is being pushed
forward as rapidly as possible, and the big
basin will, no doubt, be ready for occu-
pancy by the end of the year. The trestle
for new travelling crane has been COM
pleted, and the crane will arrive here in a
few weeks.
The announcement of the selection of
DR.. Samuel w. Hobson to be quarantine
officer for the port of Newport News, the
governor having decided upon the appoint
ment yesterday, ends one of the most in
teresting fights that have taken place In
this section for many years. The position
is one of the most lucrative in connection
with the city, paying from $4,000 to $4,000
a year in salary and fees, and many OF the
most prominent physicians in the city
brought all the influence they possessed TO
bear in favor of themselves. DR.. Jones.
the present incumbent, made strong fight
| for reappointment, but the fight seems 10
have been between DR.. Hobson and DR.. w
| F. Cooper. Dr. Hobson had the endorse
| ment OF the Democratic organization. The
appointment will be made March l. DR.
| Jones' the retiring officer, has held the po-
| sition of quarantine officer for the port for
| thirteen years, and has made an efficient
| officer
Charles Carter, colored, a baker, twenty
| one years old. is dead with a bullet in his
| heart, the victim of a revolver in the
hands. of Allie Andrews, a white boy. who
didn't know it was loaded Andrews
and Carter worked in the same bakery,
the establishment of R. E. Hall e Son,
| Hampton Andrews found the pistol, a
rusty, old-fashioned weapon which had not
been used in years, lying on a shelf in the
| bakeroom. He challenged the negro baker,
| who was in the act of preparing bread for
| the ovens, to mortal combat, with mock
gravity The latter laid hold of another
| revolver that was at hand. but unloaded,
| and they snapped the weapons at each
other after going through antics in bur-
| lesque of duel. The negro fell, dying
| almost instantly from the effects of the
wound. A coroners jury exonerated An
! drews. He has not been placed under ar
rest. The dead man and his slayer were
| on terms of the utmost cordiality. and a
police magistrates examination will doubt
| less close the incident. Andrews parents
| live in Petersburg.
The city council has decided to take ur
! the construction of the sewerage system
| where il was left by NJ. Honan & Son. The
| contractors, who found it necessary to
throw up the contract on account of vari-
| Gus complications of a legal nature. The
back salaries due the workmen were paid
| Saturday, and the work will now progress
| under the supervision of Mr.. Alexander
| Potter. consulting engineer. who drew "
the plans of the system. The city will, OF
| course recover from the trust company
| which guaranteed Honan's bond,