The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-23
THE GRAND DUKE ON DUTY.
HOWHE CAME IN SIGHT OF SANDY
HOOK.

; HOWHE CAME IN SIGHT OF SANDY
HOOK.
Waiting for the Muscovite-A Lucky
Saturday Night-The Biography o,
the Favorite of Fortune.
The New York World gives the following
account of the first glimpse obtained of the
Russian Prince on his arrival of Sandy Hook
On Saturday afternoon, toward dusk, there
was the usual spectral train Of lightermen and
pilot-boats vending their way around the
still waters of the bay to the shores of Man
haitian Island, there 10 lie at rest until the be
ginning OF the next working day should call
them into service again. As one pigeon some
times deserts the whole flock and turns back
on solitary flight. some presentlment caused
one of these sea ushers to leave the
train and spread her great white wings for a
lonely sail down the Atlantic coast. The last
feeble rays of the setting sun were sklmming
over the crested waves of the ocean, and the
canvas of the piot-boat Jane was clothed with
kind OF purplish hue. causing her TO appear
like some great spirit moving over the waters.
Farther down the coast huge black ship
with q white belt running around her hull just
above the water.mark, and the mouths OF nu
merous black cannon opening at her port
holes, was steaming along on her journey, TO-
wards the western metropolis. The keen eye
of the captain OF the pllot-boat sighted her,
and 1t was not long before he had borne down
! on her port-sde and indicated willingness
| to convey her into harbor. The black ship
gave the welcome signal, and soon the winged
craft was running alongside the swarthy
| stranger.
ship ahoy !" shouted Captain Hopkins, of
the pilot boat. .Is that the Svetlana?"
| I.Va ofr in6
| the officer Of the watch, who had advanced to
the end of the bridge, and whose figure looked
| like that OF giant against the dlmly lSnted
| horizon. The black leyiathan, which was no
other than the admraPs flagship OF the Rus
sian squadron, Immediately shut of steam, a
boat was lowered from the pilot, ana tap1Ma,ln M,
| Hopkins went aboard to take the wheel. The
| Syetlana was then fifty miles to the southwark
Of Sandy Hook. A few hours later and she was
anchored outside the bar, where she remained
| for the night. The piot-captain having brought
the man-of-war In safety to the harbor en-
trance. LETT his post at the wheel, and sought
| TO make himself agreeable to the officers and
crew. After looking about In vain to 6nd
young man whose abundance OF gold.lace
might indicate to this son OF the Republic that
he had discerned the Grand Duke Alexis, the
captain of the pilot boat whispered to q mid
| shipman and asked how he would be able to
catch glimpse of his Imperial Highness.
"Do you see that young lieutenant standing
there. playing with the handle CT his dirk ~
| asked the midshpman.
"That tall young fellow there with blue
coat and gold buttons? Of course do. But
that ain't the Grand Duke; he's the officer that
was on watch when / boarded you. He's
gook.leoking fellow, and was very civil to me,
/ but he amt the Grand Duke Alexis. the son OF
| the Gear, that they've been ing so much
| fuss about"
"CertaInly he is," said the mldshipman,
| she is lieutenant under the admiral, and he
happened to have the watch when you spoke
US tonight"
The news astonished the simple. mind ed
Duke APPEAR In gorgeous attire, surrounded
BY o body-gnard.
Night closed In and the Svetlana rested till
morning, lying on the surface OF the dark
water, while her men enjoyed o peaceful rest
within easy range of the American shore.
The following account of the young price
will be found interesting:
Alexis, the Russian Grand Duke, is the
fourth born, but third surviving son OF the
present 2ussiaa Emperor, aud is 10 MS tWen-
ty-second year. The imperial family consists
now of five sons and but one daughter. 1t is
descended from Michael RomaRotf. elected
Car In 1913, In the female line; aud 10 the
male line from Duke Karl Frederick OF Hol-
OF PeterI. Peter was succeeded by his Sec
ond wife, Catherine, the daughter OF LiVo-
| nlan peasant, and her successor was
Peter II, grandson OF the elder brother
of Peter I, with whom the male line OF
the Romanofs terminated In the year 1880.
| The next three sovereigns, Aune, Ivan Ill land
| Elizabeth, OF the female line of Romanoff,
| formed transition from the native TO Ger
man rulers of the Empire, whose reign com
menced with the accession OF Peter Ill, OF the
/ r1to uyiI
seen that 1t is gross mistake TO speak OF the
present dynasty OF Russia as the RomanLf; 1t
Is In fact that of the Holstein-Gottorp, The
former dynasty having terminated, bolh IN
the male and fem ile line, on the accession OF
| the sovereign last named, IN l762 All the
subsequent Emperors allied themselves with
German families, thus causing the house grad
uaIly to become ompletely Teutonic in blood
as we'll as In origin. The title OF emperor
was first adopted In the year li2l by Peter the
First, better known as Peter the Great,
Our visitor was created colonel of the Ekath-
erlnenbourg regiment OF Infantry at his birth
by the Emperor Nicholas, who died on March
2, 1855, when the present Emperor succeeded
! him. Alexis, six years old, was present at the
coronation of his father. The youthful prince
was educated at St. Petersburg by Madame de
Bernard. a French lady, and Fraulein Judith
shot, daughter of Courland noblemdn; after
wards by Professors Turganoff and Won
Stein. He became hne scholar ana
linguist. He was taught English by Scotch
gentleman named Gordon. At The age OF
twelve ne accompanied his uncle, the Grand
| Duke Constantine, Grand Admiral OF the
Russian navy, on voya9e Of inspec-
tion to Syeaborg, strong fortress In The
| Gulf of Finland, during which he had to ex.
perence the dangers of terrific storm oil
several hours duration. The turbulent waves
appeared to fascnate him, for no amount oil
persuasion was found able to induce him TO re-
| tire to his stateroom. He preferred remaining
on deck, watching the grand sight before him,
and there he stuck till the storm had abated.
| The life of sailor had become go attractive
| to him, that, on returning to st. Petersburg,
| he anxiously besought his father to permit bis
entering the naval service. His request, after
some delay, was acceded to, and in the capa-
city of a subordinate officer Of the navy, he
now visits America.
| The Latest.
WASHINGTON, November %.
Alexis and his snite arrived here this eve
ming from New York. They travelled by a
| special train of four cars-0ne baggage. two
parors, and one hotel car, all gotten up In the
most gorgeous and expensive style. The train
| was specially built, and left New York at noon,
moving at the rate of thirty miles an hour.
While In New York, Fisk presented Alexis
| with the freedom OF all he owned on the Amer
lean Continent. grand ball takes place on
Wednesday, the 29th instant.