The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-15
The war ships were in holiday attire. Flags !

The war ships were in holiday attire. Flags
and bunting were displayed in abundance.
Signal flags hnotted together We're run over
each ship from bow to stern, and mast to
mast, be- ginning at the waters edge directly
over the bow. From here the streamers ran
| to the bowsprit or jibboom then to the fore
royal truck. from there over to the lofty
| main. thence to the mizZen royal truck, de
| scenGing to the outer end of the sparker gaf
| on the nlizzen, down to the taffrail over the
poop and finally ending at the waters edge
| under the stern.
There were six revenue cItters-the Grant
and one each from Baltimore. Washington,
Charleston. Philadelphia and Boston.
The Sandy Hook pilots had six pilot boats
in the parade. and over 100 merchant craft
were also il the line.
The river and Sound steamboats, and tugs
were formed in two grand divisions, IN
charge CT senior end junior rear adnlrals
respectively.
The nautical schoolship st. Mary's took
part in the demonstration, but she was all,
chorcd in the East River. dressed. in flags, and
when the Dispatch approached her yards
were manned by the boys tine same as on the
naval vessels.
\ small tug from the Brooklyn Navy Yard
was stationed at the entrance of the Kill Won
Kui. As soon as the Presidents vessel came
in sight signal flag was displayed. Then wnen
the Dispatch steamed by the fleet OF war
ships. orders were given TO the sailors to man
yards. As the command, All hands sy
aloft and man yards" was tumpeted across
the decks, blue jackets in Sunday attire ran
into the ship rigging and up into the tops,
ready to lay out on the yard arms.
When the order Lay out.' was sounded
the sailors walked out on top OF the lofty
ward and, facing down the bay from where
the Presidents boat approached, saluted the
Commander-in-Ch Chief. With the order Lay
out" the first gun was fired from the flagship
Chicago, closely followed by those from the
other warships in the feet. Each ship fired a
full Presidential salute of twenty-one guns.
The Chicago's brass band in full dress played
the National air as the President passed, and
the sailors gave three rousing cheers,
AS soon as the President passed the war
ships the merchant marine fleet followed the
Dispatch and the river parade began.
The Dispatch steamed to a position off
Wall street, where she was anchored While
the review was held.
The course of the parade was around Gov
ernors Island into tine East River, taxing
the east shore, passing the Presidents boat
on her starboard side and continuing up the
East River to the stake boat off Newtown
Greek, thence doSn On the S west
the Battery, up North River to
Fifteenth street, around the stake boat to the
west shore. down the west shore Of the Hud-
son. passing the flagship III review OFF Gov
ernor's Island and dismissal.
The yacht squadron was a beautiful feature,
and the long procession Of hundreds OF
steamers was very impressive. The spectacle
along the river front was g beautiful one.
Every wharf ard pier. every sailing ship in
port and all the great foreign steamers were
decked and dressed with bunting.
When the Presidents boat passed each
squadron its Commodore caused salute to be
given by dipping of colors and blowing of
steam whistles OF period not TO exceed half
g minute.
The same salute was given when the feet /
passed up the North River and was abreast
of the war ships at anchor about Thirtieth
street.
When passing in review before the Vice
Admiral, off Governors Island, the same So
lutte was given.
The magnificent parade was witnessed by
an immense crowd, which lined the water
front on both the East and North rivers. The
firing of cannon and the footing of innumer-
able whistles were responded to with tuulul-
tuous cheers from the assembled multitude,
All in all, the marine parade was th9
greatest ever witnessed in this country, if
not in the world.