The Washington herald., 1909-02-21

Old Point Comfort. Va, Feb. 2o-The
Atlantic battle ship feet is approaching
Care Henry tonight, but Is saving moth
ing. Not one word in the way Of news
has escaped It.
L receives no messages except those Of
an official nature o. an occasional one
from some members Of the officers fam
HES and a few that embody invitations,
public and private. 70 officers and men Of
the feet But the purely Official business
kept the air pretty wen filed with wire
less SPARKS
The average naval operator works none
too fast. and ne is not the equal Of his
brother At the commercial KEYS There Is
nov great stack Of private messages
for transmission to the feet that viii not
get there-not BY wireless.
A record-breaking crew yg1H greet the
record-breakins batne snip feet when It
steams Into Hampton Roads Monday
after its giobe-girdiing trip. Every incom-
ing train and steamboat Is pouring
multitude OF people into the towns that
surround the Roads. adding TO the thou
sands already in this vicinity.
Multitude of sIghtseers.
All reports from transportation agen-
eIes tonight agree in the announcement
that by sun-up on Washington's Birth
DAY there win be such a multitude Of
-. rB-..-- ---.- ne -.arrz- -
fore been Witnessed
The big crowds that saw the ships de-
part viii be far outdistanced Monday.
For obvious reasons. the enthusiasm ~
that day VIII be as q zephyr IN cempari-
sen 20 the cyclone Of joyous greetings
that Il Is predicted on all sides VIII hail
the home-c0fneTs-
It is expected that $500 visitors viii
iand here and In Norfolk and Newport
News before Sunday afternoon, and Il Is
believed that twice that number of vis!
tors from the neighbOring States viii
blockade the steamboat wharves and rail
road stations before the next morning,
Cots have already been called into re-
ouisltlon at the Chamberiin, not prima-
riIy because the mammoth hotel IS Yet
filed. but largely due 10 the room reser-
E2IfCus made months ago
People from All States,
Il Is almost an overflow house now.
Within its walls tonight may be found
people from all States in the Union
wives. daughters, and sons OF feet oh1-
GERS. or sWeethesrts, as the ease may be.
The hotels OF adjoining points are becom-
Ing taxed II means almost an hours
4 q ~
where the feet viii be-
The number OF visitors Is testing the
capacity Of hostelries that wiJhstOOd the
demands OF the jamestown Exposition
without a tremor. The more moderate
places here and IN Norfolk are housing
tba relatives and friends Of the jackies
There's & reason. it's the rates.
There Is no use even 10 refer 10 the
prices Of the big rooms fronting the sea
I-vep the hack rooms are eashing IN more
than some Ane Inaugural prices at Wash
ineion; not as a criterion, but just that
he who runs may read. It may he said
that huge room behind the dancing
room and with one end touching the
bowling alley has tonight eight cots IN
II. each occupant paying 81 Gay.
Hotels Raise Rates.
That includes meals. and also the
plcasurable emotions OF being IuHed to
sleep by the music and the tkUndsring
OF the bowling halls and the rattle Of
the pins which never seem To end But
the occupants couldn't be prled away
from their quarters al double the money,
and they won't leave Il more cots are
put IN.
And that IS one reason why jackies'
folks. who are as 4 rule, not wealthy
have to seek less expensive quarters
They VIII be vel taken care Of. Il they
have exercised the usual fODethOught
however, for up TO this time, by some
strange dIspensltion, the crowded hotels
o. the neighboriRg towns are absorbing
the visitors
TIE extra force OF clerks wear wearied
looks, and there are signs Of deep
wrinkles forming but the owners are
making up by faces wreathed in smiles.
Il IS a gigantic task, that IS being met
with fortltude and rare good humor.
An Extraordinary Scene.
The -iarine spectacle OF Monday gives
promise Of being extraordinary for these
waters. Should the weather even be a
duplicate OF to-day. with strong breezes
and choppy seas. but bright skies, Hamp-
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