The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-28
She Steamed in from the Roads Amid
Music and Cheers.
BATTERED AND WEATHER BEATEN
But She Is Structurally Sound and
There is Much Service in the Old
Veteran yet-She Was Formal
Iy Accepted for the Coy
crnment by Capt.
Seymour.


former Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes
arrived at the Norfolk navy yard az 2
O'Clock this afternoon. sho was released
from quarantine at 10 O'Clock this MORN
ing after a thorough examination by Dr.
+. S Hope. port quarantine officer, and.
surrounded by great fleet OF tugs and
steamers, started for Norfolk. The tug
T. J. Merritt towed her, and ahead ef her
was tho tug Katie, the flagship Of Cap
tain John Twohy. commodore Of the
feet. Aboard the Katie was a band,
which played the star Spangled Ban-
ner to accomplishments or rousing cheers
as tho fleet got under weigh. The Times
reporter boarded the Mercedes after sne
passed quarantine.
FIRST DEMONSTRATION.
The first great demonstration made on
the passage up the harb0r was when the
United lighthouse tender Holly was met.
She saluted. and the tugs set up a deaI-
ening scream. At tho coal piers &C Lam
bert's Point several British steamers lay
coaling. These blew their whistles as
the fleet approached and the tugs whls-
tied again for several moments. Steam
was also blown furiously.
Al the passing Of the Southern railway
terminals al Pinners Point similar
scene was enacted.
When tho procession passed the monitor
Amphitrtc. which lay in the inner har-
Dor. the jackies. who lined her deck
cheered. and from the fleet no.sy stream
OF steam went up.
SURPASSED EXPECTATION.
No one aboard the cruiser was how
ever. prepared for the tremendous ova-
ton the cruiser received upon her arrival
m Nofolk Thousands OF people stood
on the piers. the roofs of The houses were
covered with people and from these
shout went up when the cruiser arrived
which might have been heard FOR miles.
The pageant was unparalleled in this re-
ei0n and the enthusiasm of the people
revelation.
THE MAN WHO DID 1T.
CAPTAIN John W. Chttenden. who is en-
titled the Mcrri.ts say 10 the credit of
raising the cruiser. was aboard her, and
with Captain Henry Seymour Norfolk
manager OF the Merritts. proceeded upon
the arrival OF the ship at the yard, TO
formally request Admiral Norman H.
Farquhar TO receive her She lies moored
at the pier I'm tho yard. and il Is believed
VIII be accepted shortly by the govern
ment
STILL GOOD.
4 close examination OF her to-day re-
Vealed the fact that she is In much bet
ter coud tion and IS much. larger and
better ship than she is generally believed
to be-. I'm "a number Of not vital points
she was pierced by siX-pound shells from
tho battleships Massachusetts, and Texas
Thee puncturod the tunnels iu several
places 4 ten-iuch shell completely de-
m0'ishei her dynamo. and TWO six-inch
shells pierced her port side well forward,
crossed tho gun deck. cut her wooden
mairmast almost ln Two and passed out
through the stafbOlrd Side She is un-
armored. her plates being of iron OF two
thicknesses each sevon-eighths NJ I'm inch
ihick. Iolted tOge her. The Spanish coat
of-arms on her bow is of wood. II is
badly tarn.she1 and tom. She is pretty
rusty and barnacles cover her interior
almost everywhere. but structuraliy she
ir. as Captain Chittenden made apparent.
all right,
\ BIC FEAT.
Tho raising OF her was the greatest feat
wreckers ever performed and the modest
man who did the work was rosy to-day
when congratulated. lie was Joyous as a
boy over the reception h's countrymen
accorded him when ie brought the trophy
ship in. Tho excitement eliminated when
tho ship passed irt0 the nay yard. while
Vulnerable whistles screamed M inter-
walls. tho band played the star-spangled
Banner and thousands OF people cheered
repeatedly. Business was suspended I'm
the city during the morning and until az
ter The ship reached tine yard.
UNPARALLELED.
The occasion to-day was unprecedented
in tie history OF this country. and the
ovation The ship received was without
parallel in his harb9r. The pa geant was
made possible by the iibera.ity Of the tug
owners who lent their vessels for the
occasion.
Many more steam craft Joined the pro-
cession after il passed Lambcrt's Point.
The cruisers own helm was used by
Captain IS. r. Stanworlh. Of the Virginia
Pilots Association. who brought her up
to-day She was stcered by the wheel OF
the Merrlmac which was riggcd uron
her az Santiago.
Captain Charles Nelson. assistant agent
of the Merritts. was aboard. as were
also Drs r. :. Hope and carl Ramus,
Of the Marine Hospital Service. DR.. J.
Jet Mccormick. and the representative
of the press The Merritts were hosts
and the newspaper men were treated
with marked courtesy. Luncheon Ia
Santiago harbOr. with various American
annexes. was served them.
Admiral Farquahar formally accepted
he cruiser. giving Captain Seymour a
receipt therefor. Certain guns and mate
rial viii only be accepted after being
nventored
Tilshman's barrel factory at West Nor
ok. together with ioeOo0 truck barrels,
,urned this afternoon. Loss about So
o.
The Hostetter and West Norfolk Lum-
,er Company's mills were only saved by !
he use OF the fire pumps Of the latter /
rhe Hostetter mill was slightly dam |