The sun., 1889-04-30

| The rift in tho clouds in the east looked
white and cold. The southwest wind was raw.
The gray waters of the bay were rumpled. The
steam from the exhaust pipes OF tugs and ferry
boats was cut off short at the top Of the pipes,
and sent driving away over the water like
fleeces OF snow.
AS the sunlight struggled up in the east.
hardening the shadowy outlines OF tho shores
OF the bay, a Sergeant walked down under tho
walls OF the old round stone fort on Governors
Island and worked over the cannon there Tor
minute. and then stepped back with watch in
one hand and the gun lanyard in the ether
waiting. little later he gave the lanyard a
smart pull. The cannon flashed and doomed.
1t was the sun rise gun
With the flash Of the gun the sun appeared
over the low bills OF Long Island and then. as
II there might have been some magic in the
echoing report. siul-arched rain bow, with one
foot on Staten Island and the other on the Jer-
sey shore appeared in the clouds. while flames
seemed leaping here and there from the cloudy
msts of the Jersey shore. where the rays OF the
sun were reflected from cottage windows. 1t
WAS most beautiful but fleetiDg spectacle. In
Tow moments the rift in the clouds was closed
and all became rs sombre rs before.
DAiBREAK ON THE FLEET.
At this time the feet OF warships lay in o
Chicago. which lay to tho north and east OF
Bellows Island. nearly two miles away to tho
south to. where the white -hulled Boston was
anchored. They swung to their anchors. bows
to the south, under tho influence OF the tido
with scarce vestige OF life about them so far
as people on shore could see The yards OF the
ships were square by the lifts and braces, and
everything was shipshape, but not so much as
square inch OF bunting or anything bright
save the brass work could be seen about them.
The contrast between them and the gayly
decorated merchant ships was striking.
Beginning with the peep of dawn, the pa.
triotic tug men and the deck hands ofthe ferry
boats had spread flags and burgess to the wind.
They wero soon followed In this by the watch
men and sailors on the merchant ships at an
chor In the bay and at the East River piers.
Gradually. flag here. a heaving line strong
with signals there. the display Of bunting
grew. especially In tho East River, until at last
1t seemed as II every ship had been covered
over till half out of sight.
AS tho morning passed. tho feet OF tugs and
other steam vessels increased in number.
while the usual fleet Of tow barpes decreased.
Then the ruin ceased to fall, and crowds OF
spectators began to tlirung the water front.
The Battery wall and tho lower piers wero
soon covered, ss 1t seemed. Then there was u
Hooking OF iow gayly decorated vessels about
the men-oi-war. and people who were crossing
the river on the ferryboas in thousands began
to crowd TO the sides next to the war ships.
THE NAVY WAKES UP.
Finally single blue -shirted sailor man ran
out to the end OF the ChicaGo's jibboom and
there made fast line Another sailor was seen
al work on little spar over her stern. Then
men In like places were seen on the other ships
All eyes along shore watched the movements
OF these men altentiyely. At lat they stopped
work aud stood EJECT. A glance at the great
clock on the Produce Exchange showed the
hands lust marking the hour offs.
GIhe next moment a tongue OF fire leaped
from slender gun that pointed from one OF
the starboard ports of tho Chicago. Tho smoke
shot In widening cone far out from the black