Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-25
Balueshlps Were Not Disturbed BY
Storm, But Visitors Plans
Were Thwarted.
NORFOLK INVITATION IS ACCEPTED
Hundred and Forty Officers and
1000 Ven Will Parade-sperry
Leaves for Washington Today
Separation Of Shirs Will Await
Adm;raIs Return-Oixie Arrives.
(By Associated PresS.)

(By ASSOclateQ freSS.)
FORT MONROE. VA. Feb. "a
After being flooded in brilliant sun.
light throughout the morning the
American battle ship feet in Hampton
Roads. was swept by another severe
storm this afternoon.
The big battleships and cruisers
did not suffer in the least from the
blow. but the steam launches running
TO the shcre made decidedly heavy
work OF it.
Two sailors on ships launches
were tossed overheard this afternoon
but were rescued A launch belong
ing to the battleship Rhode Island
was partly wrecked in trying to come
alongside the ships gangway.
A luncheon party of ladies was
aboard and when the waye-tossed boat
! crashed into a side boom of the
arnlcrclad several Of those on board
tainted. The launch drifted rapidly
away from the ship. the engine hav-
ing caught a dead center.
Water Very Rough,
Before she was. picked up she had
drifted more than half mile in the
chopry seas. The water was the
toughest known in recent years in
Hampton Roads.
Many tea and dinner parties PLAN
ned on board the various ships had
&c be postponed. while scores OF visit
ors. swho went early to the anchored
vessels had to remain on board until
late this afternoon before they could
be sent ashore.
The ships launches are stanch lit
tie craft. provided with alright cham
beers. and can stand ANY amount or
pounding. Shore boats did not at
tempt to make the battleships dur.
ing the storm.
No Plans for Detachment.
Rear AdmiralASperry will leave Tor
Washington tomorrow afternoon in
stead of Friday, as he at first had
planned He goes to con"ut with
the navy department authorities as
to the further plans for the fleet, ana
nothing IN the way of inspection or
detaching any of the ships will be
done until he returns.
The commanding and other oficers
of the fleet were much gratified by
the published reports from Washing
ton today that Admiral Sperry Will
continue as commander-in-chief OF the
hattieship fleet until the date of his
retirement in September.
Some others were inclined to be-
I;eve the report that has spread
throughout the feet to the effect that
President Roosevelt intends himself
to name the next commandments
before he re,ires from Office on
March 4.
Norfolk Invitation Accepted.
An Official announcement is expect
ed while Admiral Sperry is in Wash
ingt,n. The invitation OF the Nor
folk entertainment committee to Of
ficcrs and men Of the feet to visit
that city on Saturday was formally
accepted by Admiral Sperry today.
The commander-in-chief himself
will not be able to attend on account
OF his visit TO Washington. but IA"
Cheers and 1000 bluejackets. forming
a feet brigade. will go to Norfolk for
a parade. in which several hundred
regular trcoos at the post at Fortress
Monroe will participate. 1mmedia-
tcIy after the parade the ofsicers and
men will he dined at Norfolk and all
hands will return 10 the ships a.
night.
The brigade sent TO Norfolk viii
be practically the same as that Viii n
will he in line at the Inauguration
parade in Washington on March =.
Dixie end Prairie IS transports.
The converted cruiser Dixie arrived
in the roadssead today saiuting Al
miraI Sperry's nag with u guns.
With the Prairie. which arrived
Yesterday. the rixie will be employed
in Transporting the feet brigade 10
Washington. =
The transfer of the men will bc
made here and the battiessips from
which the men are drawn. viii wait
here for their return
One Of th8 most thrilling stories
fceutssvel on Sixth Rss).