Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-31
NAVAL REVIEW AT yuCrORlA.
From the Standard.

ture's park Of Vancouver Island, has
not presented more attractive specta-
Gle than II lid at the review Of the naval
forces which took place yesterday morn
ing. The weather was delightfully."- fine,
in fact no more lovely atmosphere colld
have been desired than that which pre-
vailed. Soon after 7 o'clock in the
morning the flagship Swiftsure, and ii.
NJ. S's. Nutine and Sappho, riding
placidly at anchor in Esquimalt harbor,
presented an aspect of unwonted activ-
ity, and at the word of command the
boats were lowered from the davits and
quickly manned. One by one, follow
ing in procession order, they were taken
in TOW by the steam launches, and thus
the forces reached suitable landing
place between the two bridges on the
Esquimalt road. The men, numbering
some $40, having beea drawn up in
marching order. proceeded from the
landing point to Government street,
thence mp Fort street, and thence, BY a
detour of Humboldt street, through the
lovely avenue which stretches to Beacon
Hill. Here the review took place. Rear
Admiral Lyons arrived on the grounds
ct 1905 a.m., and having alighted from
his carriage, proceeded at once to in
spect the men, whe we're drawn up in
line on the west side of the park. Ac-
compauied by his staff the Admiral first
inspected the font ranks and then passed
between them and the rear ranks. The
men presented an excellent appearance
and their accoutrements were in such
thorough order that the Admiral did
not have to halt even once TO complain
on any score. After the inspection the
men were put through their drill by
Commander Edwards of HI. NJ. S. Mu-
tine and the precision by which all
their movements were marked could
not have been excelled. The
"march past" the flag being erected
at the foot of the hill on the east
side, looking west, was splendid spec
tacle. But il was excelled by the sub
sequent movements in which the men
| formed square to receive cavalry, and
went through the bayonet and cutlass
drill The time in all the movements
was excelleutly observed. and as they
opened ont from line the step was as
accurate as clockwork. The same &C
curacy was noticed whsu the men came
to the double, and in the company fir
| ing no better time could have been
kept. But one of the prettiest sights in
the review was the imaginary attack on
an imaginary enemy. The men taking
the positions of advance pickets and FIR
| ing from the ground on the brow of the
hill, the reserves coming up, the relief
firing in the ranks, the retreat and the
lovsliness of the placid straits, formed
picture not looked upon for many
years. The desultory firing from the
solid and hollow squares, and the fre-
quent detonations from the field pieces
gave TO the review an actual mimicry
| Of war. The summit of the hill was
crowded with people, and viewed from
q western standpoint no more delight
full or impressive scene could have been
enjoyed. There were two 9.lb. field
ground. but the latter was not brought
into requisition. II is a weapon Of waI
consisting OF ten rified barrels, which,
when employed. revolve with great ra-
pidity. dischareing their deadly fire as
quickly as the feeding cylinders can
keep the barrels supplied. The cylin-
ders, six in number, each contain some
100 cartridges, and these are placed on
tho breech Of the gun to keep the wsap
on fed. The extractor removes
the discharged cartridge and another
cartridge 10 let down into the barrel oi
the gun. Tho weapon Is q most formi.
dAble one and, 10 quote the language Of
a gentleman who examined il yesterday
il II in truth "a nasty pepper box" Ths
number of men detailed TO take care oI
this little pop gun is eighteen. but yes
teriAy the company was two short. Ths
number Of men for the nine pounders
.. is also eighteen each. On the groundl
YESTERDAY vas the Ambulance corps
! with DIR. Wells in command. Forth
! nately their services were not required
!, except TO carry from she field . MAJ
who had sprained his ankle, bat VII,
appeared TO be enjoying his passage II
the ambulance 10 his hearts content
The splendid band Of the Sviftsure
under the leadership of Bandmaste
Bird, vas in attendance during the aft
ernoon and performed some excelleu
military Airs The review vas IN ever,
respect an event long to Be recollecse<1
the precision Of all the movements AM
: the excellent conduct Of the men re
fiecting credit not only on themseive
bat ON their officers, who have brousn
!. them 10 the veiy pitch Of Perfection u
drill. II is estimated that the numbe
, of spectators On the hill was at ieas
. 500. Approaching Beacon Hill. and
: tho men died Up Fort street, the specta
2 Gle vas a splendid one and the hi
, !, itself, with the snow-capped mountain
: of the Olympic Range, the placid "a
ters OF the Straits. the tiny puffs o
steamers coming and going and tn
lovely verdure Of the surrounding tor
!, csts rendered the whole picture on
which cannot be rivalled in any othe
!. part Of the world Beacon Hill 10 =