The Washington bee., 1906-12-29
pride OF THE NAVY
NORFOLK HAS GLORIOUS PLACE
IN NATIONS HISTORY.
Vessels From There Lowered CoIors
of Engfand's Fleets-scene of
Fierce Sea Battle During
War of Rebellion.

Washington.-One of the most Inn
portant supplementary attractions that
visitors to the jamestown Tercenten-
nial exposition viii have ali oppOTtu-
nifty to see is the Norfolk navy yard,
which many people may be surprised
to know is not located in Norfolk at
all but just across the Elizabeth river
in Portsmouth The naval training
station attached to the navy yard is,
however. located in Berkley. on the
left side Of the Elizabeth, which is
now part of Norfolk.
The naval glory of the United States
is inseparably connected with the
Norfolk navy yard. From this yard
have gone forth the great naval cap
tains who have alone been able to
lower the colors of England's navy.
It was here that the Merrimac, or
Virginia, was sunk in the general
destruction Of government property
when the federal authorities evacuated
Norfolk in 1861. She was later re-
paired and armored to fight a battle
with the Monitor which changed the
character of naval architecture
throughout the world.
The first dry dock ever used by a
ship of the line was constructed here
and that ship, the Delaware, was
placed in it on June II, 1888, the
fifty-fifth anniversary of the battle Of
Bunker hill. The dock was built of
stone and was et that time considered
a magnificent specimen Of that class
Of work.
The occasion of it's opening was
made a general holiday in Norfolk.
Portsmouth and vicinity and crowds
fiocked to Portsmouth from meny
miles around. Speeches were made
by citizens of Delaware, the federal
authorities and navy yard officials.
The Delaware was one of the first
ships of the line ever built for the
| United States government. She was
a "A gun ship and was the second Of
that name. the first having been a "a
gun vessel She was begun in 1918
under the superintendence of Captain
Arthur Sinclair, who had been de-
tailed from the navy department for
! that purpose. She was launched in
| October, 1920, amid general rejoicing.
After the completion of her hull she
was housed over, not being required
| for immediate service After this she
was fitted out and made several
cruises. At the outbreak of the civil
war she was again in the Norfolk navy
! yard along with several other vessels.
When the federal officers decided to
evacuate Norfolk and the government
property was destroyed the Delaware
was sunk along with the Pennsylva-
MIA, Merrimac and several others.
! Of great interest to visitors to the
! Norfolk navy yard is the trophy park.
/ Even those who have been around
| battle ships and naval shops all their
lives find interest in the grim relics
/ of American victories arranged there.
| The chief and largest objects Of in
| terest are, of course, the cannon, tor
pedo tube and torpedoes captured
from the Spanish during the Spanish
American war. Under the heavy trees
! of great age which shadow the trophy
park stands with all its equipment a
14-centimeter rife taken from the
! wreck of Admiral Ceryera's flagship
the Oquendo. after the battle OF July
] 3 1898. at Santiago. A level twisted
out of shape and a rod broken there
shows all too plainly the damage done
by American fire.
Grouped about the flagstaff in the
center of the yard are specimens OF
! the armor of the ram Texas and the
| Albemarle. At one side Of the park
are the torpedo tubes taken from the
Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes dur
! ing the Spanish-American war. There
J are relics of famous American ships
and trophies from British, French
} Snanish. Chinese, Mexican, South
American and Turkish ordnance
shops. Perhaps the most curious
trophy of all is the ancient Turkish
/ cannon ball more than a foot in diam
eter which came from Constantinople-
These trophies of past achievements
are the strongest incentive to future
deeds in those belonging to the naval
branch and an equally strong incentive
to loftieF patriotism in those who do
not.