Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-24

Head about 2 o'clock this afternoon. She
will probably continue her course up the
river to this city today.
1t is now believed that there will be at
least seven, and probably eight warships
in the Potomac river off the 7th street
wharves before the week is out. Besides
the Florida there will be the monitors Ar
kansas and Nevada, the torpedo boat de-
stroyers Worden and Whipple, and pos
sibly another, and the training ship Hart
ford. the old flagship of Admiral Farragut.
The vessels will remain here long enough
for the mindless on board to make a
thorough inspection of the government
works at the Washington navy yard. The
rest of the ships will probably reach here
tomorrow 1t is probable that the whole
number will return down the river about
Saturday to rejoin Admiral Sands Atlantic
training squadron off Solomon's Island, In
the bay.
Visit of the Middies.
The "middies,' something under a hun
dred in number, who arrived yesterday on
the Arkansas. spent the forenoon today at
the navy yard, going over the gun factory
and other works. under the guidance Of
efficient officers of the yard. The visit will
be renewed tomorrow, when they will be
joined by their fellows from the Florida,
There is considerable doubt as to whether
Rear Admiral Sands will come to the city
on this cruise He is at present on his way
to the Chesapeake from New London,
Conn. on board the flagship of the Atlantic
squadron, and may not arrive before the
smaller craft leaves here 1t was said this
morning by officer of the Arkansas that
as that ship was the senior ship of those
vyh ph to ho of ha ttal No
would have come here on board her if he
were coming at all. Capt. Vreeland of the
Arkansas is quite i'll with fever contracted
In the Philippines and recurring at this
time. and is In no condition to entertain the
admiral personally, but 1t is not thought
that this circumstance would have pre-
vented the officer in command of the
squadron from coming on board
The fact that the movements of the
squadron are directed entirely by Rear Ad-
miral Sands. who has not been in communi-
cation with the Navy Department recently
has caused some uncertainty here as to
the exact number of the sea dogs that will
assemble before the capital city 1t has
been known. of course, that the battle
ships would not come up the river very far
on account of their great draught but how
many monitors and how many, if any, Of
the torpedo boat destroyers would come es
far as the city has been matter of con-
lecture. 1t Is now announced that there
will be seven or eight, as stated.
The first class "mddies as published IN
The Star yesterday, were transferred about
ten days ago to he three monitors, Arkan-
sas, Nevada and Florida and they will all
have chance to view the works at Wash
ington; but the exact number of lower
classmen to come up on the Hartford and
the torpedo boat destroyers cannot be
learned here.
A Narrow Escape.
The monitor Arkansas and the tug Unity
had rather narrow escape from collision
on the river yesterday afternoon. The. tug,
| with tow of three sand-laden barges was
on her way up the channel, following the
warship and but a short distance behind
| her. Suddenly the latter vessel swung
broadside across the channel and came to
| anchor directly in the path of the tug, so
| that in order to keep the tug from striking
| the steel sides of the monitor her master
| had to swing her around and make a COM
| plete circle with her bow before he could
get back on his course 70 the city.
The Arkansas is the center of much in
terest today. She is being visited by scores
of persons who wander from stem to stern
and from engine room to top deck in their
curiosity and undisguised admiration. The
sailors and officers are very courteous and
willing to explain the manipulation of any
thing on board.
Couldn't Pass the Shoal.
Owing to the fact that the Potomac
river is not navigable for the large ships
of the navy it was found impossible to
send the Texas and the Massachusetts, up
the river, even as far as Alexandria.
Any ship of the American navy with a
competent pilot, knowing the waters of
| the Potomac, can approach this city as
far as the Kettle Bottom shoal. This shoal