The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-10
WILL BE INVITED TO SAVANNAH
MAYOR MYERS TO ASK FOR 4 VISIT
FROM THE RALEIGH.

The Crack Cruiser May Come Here
after the Charleston Reunion.
VIII lie Given Warm Welcome
on Her Second VisIt-Was Here
During the May Festival in 1879.
savannahians Anxious TO Enter
tain the Heroes of MANILA Bay.
Mayor Myers will ask Secretary Long to-
day. in behalf of the people of Savannah,
10 have the cruiser Raleigh visit the city
as soon as she completes her stay at
Charleston. where her officers are attend
ing the Confederate Veterans reunion.
There seems TO be every reason for believ-
ms that Savannah VIII be honored with
visit from the cruiser that figured so val
iantly in the engagement at Manila, and
which IS just now receiving her well earn
ed congratulations from the people.
Four years ago the Raleigh and the At
lanta came as near the city as the blight,
where they anchored, and were visited by
the city officials and citizens. If the Navy
Department decides TO allow the cruiser to
visit Savannah, 1t is not expected the city
Iaurels the gallant captain and crew have
won entite Them to the enthusiastic re-
ception they are sure TO be rendered. The
clubs would doubtless unite in the enter
tainment of her captain and officers
while in Savannah and that they Will be
shown the courtesy their brave conduct
in the recent war justifies.
The Raleigh can come to the city with
ease She draws eighteen feet of water,
which will give her an open channel with
plenty of depth TO spare. Since the gov
eminent transports have been visiting the
city, and are now about TO close the work
they have been doing for months, visit
from the Raleigh would be fitting mark
of the beginning of the close of this part
of the war service.
The Raleigh is a twin-screw steel
cruiser with heavy protection decks,
great speed, and heavy batteries of rapid
fire guns. She was built for the govern
ment at Norfolk. She has a poop and
forecastle deck, with an open gun deck
between. and bridges along the tops of the
hammock berthings which connect the
poop and the forecastle. She is 800 feet
long, beam AZ feet, draws IS feet of water,
and has a displacement of 3,1S3 tons. Her
indicated horsepower is 10000 pounds,
and her speed 10 knots.
The main battery of the cruiser consists
of one six-inch gun, mounted on the fore
castle, and ten four-inch rapid-fre breach
loading rifles Two of these are mounted
under the poop in Sponsors, two under the
forecastle in sponsors, and the other four
are mounted two on either side of the yes
sci. The secondary battery consists Of
two six-pounders, two three Founders one
one-pounder. and 81 milhmeter revolvers.
There are also a number of torpedo tubes
with openings about four feet above the
water.
Judging from our pleasant relations
with the departments at Washington,
said Mayor Myers last night. Il feel con-
tident we will have a visit from the Raj
eigh, il such thing is possible / shall
feel no hesitancy in sending an urgent re-
quest to Secretary Long. for the reason I
know the cruiser will not have the slight
est trouble in passing safely in and out
OF the harbor That our people will an.
preclate courtesy of this kind. and will
show their appreciation by the same warm
spirit that has existed between this oitv
ana the government since the recent hos
uhties arose, is already assured. Our vol
unteer troops who have left the service
and the troops now here to be mustered
out VIII be delighted to see the boat thar
has covered itself with glory in the re-
cent brilliant engagements in which II bos
figured" - mas
other city officials are quite as enthus-
iast'c as Mayor Myers in anticipating tbs
action OF the navy department win talca
In regard TO Savannah's request. They
JOIN in the petition that is to go to Wash
ington with the Endorsement of the peo-
pie generally.