The Delta independent., 1889-05-07
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
Fitting Celebration of the Centennial
of Our Government.
GRAND NAVAL DISPLAY.

stands, and along the avenues ana streets
there was the beginning of the adornment
of buildings for the day.
The arrangements for the naval parade
were today carried out to the letter. Att
| o'clock the steamer Dispatch, having on
| board Admira, Porter, General Schoteld
and representatives of the Centennial Com
mittee left the foot of Twenty sixth Street
and gay with futtering flags, steamed down
| East River on her trip to Elizabethport,
where she was to meet President Harrison
and party.
BY this time the harbor was literally
alive with sailing craft of every descrip-
| ton, and whistles sounded and guns
doomed salutcs as the Dispatch picked her
| way on her course.
The general formation of the line was a
| column consisting of naval division, a
revenue division and yacht division, in
| the order named, anchored a little TO the
west of mid channel, with the head 200
yards south of the white buoy northeast of
| Ellis Island.
The naval division was in a single col
umn 200 yards apart and in the following
| order: Chicago, Kearsace, Gantic, Essex,
JdHCst"H, Juiiahh,
and Boston.
/ The revenue yacht division was in a
| double colnmn 100 yards apart and
2U1 yards between columns, the
| eastern column directly astern of
the naval division. The yacht division
| included vessels of the New York Yacht
| Club, the Atlantic. Corinthian, Seawan-
| hanaka American and Larchmont clubs.
The length of the first column was about
one and n half miles.
In the rear of the first column was the
merchant marine division 10 squadrons in
double division on opposite sides OF the
| channel.
The naval parade was in command of
Admi raj Porter and Rear Admiral Jouctt.
chief OF the staff and marshal Of the day.
In the merchant marine column were
| over 400 vessels, varying in size from tugs
| and lighters to large passenger and freight
steamers.
AT 5 a. m. the ships of the naval division
were dressed in rainbow fashion, with the
| flag OF the Secretary of the Navy at the
maintop of the Chicago and the flag OF the
| Admiral of the Navy at the maintop OF the
| Boston. National ensigns were run TO the
| top OF all the other mastheads.
1t was about IL rs when the start of the
| Dispatch on her trip up the Kill was an
nounccd by the guns from Fort Richmond,
| and it was after l. o'clock when she came
| iu sight in the upper bay. For several
| minutes the roar OF cannon as she passed
| the several men -of-war was almost deafen-
ing, each of these, together with the forts
| in the harbor, firing a national salute.
The scene was a stirring one. Family
above the roar of cannon could be heard
the shrill pipe of the boatswain, whistles
on the revenue cutters, yachts and men-of
war. In a trice the sturdy tars manned
| tho yards and cross trees, and with heads
| uncovered gave hearty American cheers as
the Dispatch steamed slowly by. The
| officers stood with uncovered heads.
The bay was crowded with small boats
| and vessels of every description, so that
| from n distance glimpse OF clear water
was practically impossible. As little war
ships emerged from Kill Won kull, the
| yacht cannon began to boom in quick sue
ccssion the National salute, u guns being
7 fired. Soon there WAS perfect roar of
cannon and clouds of smoke hung over the
bay like. a bank Of sea foam. Belches OF
fire flashed through the smoke like streaks
of lightning, giving the scene lurid
glare.
As the Dispatch came opposite the flag
ships of the different squadrous the latter
one on each side, steamed out and accom-
panied the war ship the length of its squad
| ron. Then the colors were dipped, and as
NJ. s.t th,
| the entire fleet of over 400 steamers blew
their whistles.
She passed the Battery at IL 80. On went
the state war ship up through tho channe
| and into East River whore she came to an
, chor of the foot of Wall Street
As soon rs she had got we'll into the river
signal gun was fired from tho Chicago
| and anchors were got on board with alac
rity. Then began the real naval parade
u sight that will long bc remembered by
| thousands who lined the docks and house
tops along the river front. Almost every
steamer of any size had band of music
aboard, and the variety of airs that floated
ashore on the haxy air was something re
markablc.
The Chicago steamed on until opposite
| Twenty fourth Street, when another CUR
was fired. This was n signal for the yachts
and cutters to disperse and, like huge
| flock of swans, they gracefully wheeled
around and sped down the bay to their va
rious anchoragcs. Then naval vessels
came to anchor of Fifty first Street. Mean
while tho merchant division was doing the
grand on East river, both divisions com
bining into one. Led by tho Bergen, they
steamed up the river, n literal mass Of
bunting and flags. Tho flagship turned a
stake boat Just below the rocks at Hunters
Point and then camc down tho west side
Of the river around the Battery and up the
east side of tho Hudson aud broke up a,
24Op.m.
On arrival of the Dispatch opposite Wall
Street Ferry, a barge manned by u crow OF
shipmasters from the Marine Society, uni
formed In black frock coats, striped trous
ers and silk hats, such rs worn by tho so
ciety on tho occasion of Washington's in
augural, went out to tho vessel and con
ductod tho distinguished guest to tho dock
Al tho President stopped out of The boa,
! Presidential salute Of twenty Ono gun,
was fired.