Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-09-11
THE WHITE SQUADRON.
Five Thousand People Visit the
ships Off Bridgeport Harber Yes
terday-VfsIt of the Admiral and
other Officers to Bridgeport.

Five Thousand People Visit the
Ships OFF Bridgeport Harbor Yes
terday-Vfsit of the Admiral and
other officers to Bridgeport.
BRIDGEPORT, Sept. 10.-The whole city
is delighted to day over the presence of
the White squadron which lies in Long
Island sound off our harbor about four
miles away from the city, but not SO far
but that thousands visited the ships to-day
by means of steamers, yachts, rowboats,
etc. The squadron is indeed beautiful
sight. The exquisitely fine weather to-
day gave the climax to public satisfaction
over the notable and brilliant event.
"Uncle Sam" is voted by all very sensi-
BILE man in providing these fine vessels for
national purposes, and pride and patriotic
satisfaction is written on all Bridgeport
faces to-day over the grandeur of the war
vessels and honor done our city in this
visit. Crowds to day visited the flagship
Chicago and grand war ship she is, and
she has Alb men on board. It is believed
that fully five thousand people visited the
ships to-day. The hours of reception were
from 1890 a. m. to p. m.
Every available craft in the harbor OBJ
tainable was pressed into service, and all
day long sort of ferry system was inau-
gurated between the Rosedale dock and the
anchorage of the White squadron. There
were row boats, sail boats, sharpies, cat
boats, ice barges, sloops, yachts, tugs and
even canoes, going back and forth laden
with human freight. The sight was a pic
turesque one all day long. The water
front for considerable distance was lined
Ia xryt,o - - I.
ships, but they had lots of fun in watch
ing the more fortunate ones who dfep
There were six massive warships, the
flagship Chicago, the Newark, Boston, At
lanta, Yorktown and Concord. There
were also the torpedo boats Vesuvius and
Gushing. These were small compared to
the other ships, but their destructive quail
tiles in actual conflict are accounted great.
Each Of the search lights on the Chicago
is supplied with power from an electric
dynamo and each incandescent is $4,000
candle power. A powerful reflector
throws the light back and all can easily be
turned into any position desired.
An eight-iuch B and L gun YVES also an
object of public interest with its long steel
barrel and treacherous shells. Each of the
latter thrown from the gun weighs $50
pounds. The shell is cast iron, but small
shot and explosives are concealed within.
The Instrument is operated by electricity
and is loaded, aimed and fred by simply
turning a crank 1t costs about $3.50 to
discharge it once and the fire can be kept
up as fast as couple of men can turn the
crank. When the smoke becomes SO thick
that the opposing craft cannot be discern
ed, naval chart is produced, by which
the location of the enemy's fleet can be &C
curately determined The electric motor
operating this gun is fve-horse power
The weapon weighs $4,000 pounds and
costs about $4,000.
The representatives from the city of
Bridgeport, the Bridgeport press and other
guests were very pleasantly received and
made welcome by Admiral Walker in his
cabin, which, by the way, is an elegant
apartment and elegantly furnished and
equipped. A notable feature is the choice
silver set presented to the admiral by citi-
zens of Chicago.
All there was to be seen on board mod
ern, high-class man-of-war was shown.
The vessel was inspected from stem to
stern. The quarters of the admiral of the
fleet were inspected with fully as much
freedom as those allotted to able-bodied
seamen. Lieutenant Knight, who was ex-
tremely busy, was with the party por-
ton of the time and by his explanations
materially assisted in showing the work
1ngs OF a man-Of-War.
Of course everything on board was spic-
span. 1t always is on man-of war, and
particularly so when in port and ready for
public inspection Not only newspaper
men, but all visitors were shown over the
ship. The utmost courtesy was extended
to everyone. The big guns were viewed
and how they were manipulated was ex-
planned to every inquirer.
At o'clock this afternoon the commit
tee appointed by his honor, the mayor, met
at the Atlantic hotel and received the Off
GERS of the fleet. Open barouches filed up
to the hotel entrance and the members of
the committee and their guests entered the
carriages. A pleasant drive through the
city was greatly enjoyed and then the
party proceeded to Black Rock, where
they were Hospitality entertained by T.
w. Pearsall at his elegant residence on
Grover Hill
The delegation then returned to this city
and visited the Union Metallic Cartridge
works, where the manufacture of shells
proved very interesting to the naval
officials 1t was 6 o'clock when the Off
mittee and permitted to return to their
vessels.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept 1O.-Secre-
tary Tracy has made further changes in
the squadrons on the North Atlantic coast.
An order issued this morning transferred
the Boston and Atlanta from Admiral
Walkers squadron of evolution to Admiral
Gherardi's command-the North Atlantic
squadron. This leaves the two squadrons
equally balanced in number of vessels