New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-29
GHOSTLY STEAMERS IN THE MIST.

| THE NAVAL AND MARINE DISPLAY INTERPRETED
With BY THr B,D WEATHER.
The marine and naval display would have been
gorgeous yesterday If the weather had been at all
propitious AS 1t was, 1t solved itself into q
vague outline of what might ha,e been.
All the steamers and tuQboats in the fotilla were
| ordered to assemble off West Forty -slxthst and
| follow the Coast SURVEY steamer Gedney down to
| Bedl Ow's Island When the Gedney dropped
anchor at the designated place shortly before noon
few tugs aud steamers were dlmly seen through
the heavy mist which hung over the
| Rivers ard Bay. At 1915 o'clock Gun from
the Gedney gave the signal for the otilla to start
The Gedney steamed ahead and few of the wait
ing vessels followed IN the order assigned them but
so wretched was the state of the weather that the
Gedney bad to stop several times before anything
like procession could be formed. When finally
euOugh boats had fallen INTO line to make respect
able showing the fotiIla passed down the river
OFF Iwenty-ifuh-st the Dispatch was at anchor
waiting for the Presidential party watch was still
ashore. Captain Crosby blew salute on his whistle
to Captain Emery, which the Arctic hero promptly
returned. Then the fotilla swent like nautical
ghosts toward the mlst-shrouded and gigantic
statue that lo0med up through the mist to The
southwark. Many of the vessels which won ID have
joined The procession down the river had The
weather been suitable had already taken up their
anchorages off Bediew's Island when the Geoney |
arrived. | he UedDey and her tributary steamers |
swept around the long line Of men-of-war y ich |
were auc1Ored there and took u y a position near |
the landing. The surface OF the bay was covered |
with steamers, tugs and yachts just astern of the
he Gedney was the schooner yacht Dauntless W th
square yard rugged on her foIemast he hoti.la
was INSIDE OF he war ships, wnlch were anchored
IN the following order; Yantic. Alliance. len
nessee Portsmouth, saratoga and jamestown. the
tugs and steamers were crowded close together
thai every said. '' How like an International
yacht race" The calm weather. the drrary, foRgy
day aud the crowd OF boats did Indeed make one
ex pect TO see the Oalatea and Mayhower drift
down the Bay.
THE STATUE TOWERING THROUGH THK MIST.
But over all and above all, towering grand
through the mist the gigantic statue with Its
yelled face made one realize that O grander
occasion was at hand Presently n
spectral ship with ghosty flags flying from its
rigging came steammg by the feet Al the main
lev the fresldenGs hag which ar Cleyeiand han
SAID early IN Ills administration should never 60,
liss the breeze. But the flag " as there and $500
Dispatch passed along fame and snoKe burst,.o
0ugh The mist from The ports OF the memo VIZ |
aluted 1t and grand chorus OF Steam whistle.
the other boats shook The heavy wreath. of |
OK. he President landed the Isl and while this
chorus was going and Tor a tim. com
arative quiet feigned over the fleet. Every eyenow
atched the flag that ped the colo,saj fac f
be slatns that lowered so grandIy above The
Il uds OF mist aud smoke and steam ro cd aronud
nd rnveOped IL like the smoke OF the battles m q
'tich lie prototype was born. Suddenly the fri %
DIOR vanished aud looking down through the fou :.
nj rain was that mighty human face At TAI 4
ouieDt The guns from he memo war and from tho l.
st- ~fcatned walls OF Castle William burst forth
tremendous savo Of arti lery anu all the steam, h
hist'es In the notilia blew AS they never blew a.
Btore.
Amid this thunder Of cannon and shrek of ~
islies tle PRESIDENT again passed on board the tl