Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-18
OUR SQUADRON AT GENOA.
Saluting the Birthplace Of Columbus
A Blast From the Alps.
From Q Genoa Letter.

From Genoa Letter.
The Atlanta, with the italian flag at tho
main, saluted the birthplace OF Columbus with
twenty-ons guns at am. March 4, and a few
moments afterward one Of the enormous forts
built on the mountain sides above the city re-.
sponded gun for gun. Since the arrival OF the
Atlanta and Boston the weather has been Iu-
tensely cold and very much unlike the sunny
Italian weather we are accustomed to read
about. vigorous wind sweeping over the
icy Alps and in turn over the Apenines. which
form the background of the city. chiils the
visitors TO the marrow. while the coal dust
from the lighters alongside hurled and scat
tered in every direction il both binding and
exasperating. The white cruisers are a sorry
spectacle at the present moment and the faces
Of the first iieutenants wear a savage express
SION as they glance along the sides Of their
ships.
Capt Howell called officially on the maritime
authorities and on the United States consul,
and they. in turn, returned the calls and re-
ceived the salutes and honors BETTING their
rank on leaving the Atlanta. Notwithstanding
the severity OF the weather and the profusion
OF coal dust, the two vessels were crowded v 18th
visitors. In no port which the squadron has
visited have SO many persons boarded the ships.
party OF visitors from San Reno came down
on purpose to see the squadron, for" said
they, we have never seen anything so pretty
on the Riviera coast as those five beautiful
white ships which sailed past u on Saturday
afternoon"
The fifth vessel WAS James Gordon Benefits
yacht, Namouna, painted like those OF the
squadron.
There are no men-of-war in the harbor ex-
cept our ships, but it is crowded with merchant
shipping of all nations. The harbor 10 finely
aud effectively protected by q magnificent
mill in, LAM
inner ones. All the shipping is moored to the
INNER breakwater. On sunday the command
ing officer received from the captain OF the
port copy of rules and regulations AS lengthy
as the Constitution Of the United States These
rules and regulations. prepared especially for
the guidance Of foreign men-of-war visiting
Italian ports, are very explicit in their word
ing and imperative in their requirements. The
regulations respecting the number OF foreign
men-oT-war OF the same flag allowed to visit tn cir
ports at one time and the number of days they
may remain are particularly stringent and do
| not at all coincide with our notions of treating
| foreigners. 1t is impossible for the squadron
to remain intact while visiting the Italian Dor t.
as four men-of-war OF the same nation are not
allowed IN port together; nor are foreign men-
oY-war permitted to remain in Italian ports
longer than eight days at time without OBJ
| tanning special permission from Rome, which
| ID only granted under circumstances Of abso-
Lutte necessity.
No less than four different houses are pointed
out AZ the house in which Columbus was born.
Our boys on liberty have been trying to dis
cover the right one. Failing in this, they gen.
orally wind up at the Campo di santo, which is
| said to be the most magnificent burial ground
| IN the world. The Irish element shapes q course
| for the house in which Daniel O'Connell died,
! which, at least, is authentic. The inhabitants
are very courteously inclined to Americans
| and are extremely attentive to them on shore.
Several OF the officers Of both ships obtained
! leaves Of absence, in order to visit the capital
and interior cities OF Italy. They rejoin their
| ships at Naples.