New-York tribune., 1885-08-09
U. B. GRANT,
DIED JULY 28, 1885.
THE NAVAL DEMONSTRATION.

GUNS FROM THE FLEET IN THE HUDSON.
When the first beams of the morning touched
the bold shores Of tho North River the mcn-of-war
lying still and dark In the shadows OF the bluff OF River
side Park became suddenly stirred into life. The shrll
sound of the boaswains call echoed from ship to ship
hills returned echoes Of the revee whicn came
from the busles Of tho scaret-coated marine buglers
Pennants and cnsigns nuttered up into the sunlight
stopping OF half II the at the halyards had
not the heart to them further The yards of the
ships square and straight and with the hags
half masted the feet had trim, ship shape air. But
suddenly all down the line Of vessels the yards were
Then indeed tho feet looked mouinful.
With the yards all pointing different directions the
flags and pennsnts hanging idly halfway the masts
all jauntness gone and grief expressed by tho
vessels other inanimate object can express IT.
At tho fore Of Admiral Jouetts temporary flagship the
Dispatch, tho Presideots flag displayed at half
mast tho Admirars nag being haf-masted at 'the
main. As tho rose gun was hred from the
Dispatch and at intervals of half ON hour s day long
gun kept up steady and monotonous boom. Tugs
from the Navy Yard alongside the vessels early In
the morning. and the blue jackets and marines who wore
to march In the funeral procession were transported
down the river and landed In tho lower part OF tho city
As tho head OF tho funeral procession left the
city Hall the Dispatch fred q salute Of twenty-
guns When the salute from the Dispatch was finished
the Powhatan took up and down the line until
all the shps saluted. Tho naval brigade had drawn
nany the feet that the ships were compar-
atvey deserted few sailors sitting about. marine
orderly or two marching up and down tho deck with
steady tread alo the weary flags and the tangled net
work OF displaced yards-suoh the picture on oard
There sound tut the booming Of the guns and in
stiffness might be heard the quiet flap OF
sail merchant vessel went up or down the
river The hills above Yonkers the stately Palisades
green slopes Riverside Park basked Ia the sun
light as placid river flowing out Of the purple
obscurity to the northward AMI ran lko stream OF
silver between the emerald borders peaceful sadness
broodcd everything Even the sound Of the capDon
sound OF peace and not OF war; The thunder OF
the National salute which rolled along the line when the
funeral procession started from the City Hall had
nothing OF the sound OF exutation In 1t but seemed
rather the safro IT rale OF some grand chorus.
BY aspect OF tho slopes OF Riverside Park had
changed and they wore black with people. But some
how the presence owds shore only made
The peace and -orrow Of tho fleet complete.
Tnen tho head OF the funeral column reached the park
h-ets and unlfor and bright bsyonets Cleaned
along It's crest But still the sorrowfu looking leet lay
tionless the CLASSY tide and from the Dlspach
half hour tongue OF flame leaped forth wreath
OF smoke blown away aud tho sound or cannon
rolled shore shore aud died away IN sobs far up
among tho hills When tue services we're over at tue
toint down tho hill to tho shore came tue sailors ana
the fleet and were conveyed on board Al
sunset the sulors hauled down. tho yards were
quarrel and tue Navy had paid its Last tribute OF
respect TO the illustrious dead