Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29

WORK PERFoRMEp-ADMrRAI. GHERARpr COM
mANDs THE COMBINED FLEEr-socIAI ArTEN-
TIoNs TO THE oYFICERs
Correspondence Of The Evening Star
WITH THE WHITE SQUADRON,
BAR HARBon MAINE, August a, 1891
Leaving Boston on the Goth Of the month the
squadron reached Bar Harbor the next morn
ing at O'Clock, just in time to ride out a
heavy southeasterly gale in port, out of all dan
ger. The north Atlantic squadron, composed
Of tho Philadelphia, Petrol and Enterprise,
under command of Rear Admiral Gherardi,
and the U. 8. 8. Despatch, flying the flag Of the
Secretary OF the Navy, were found in port At
in the morning as the flags went up the Chi
cago fired a salute of nineteen guns to the Sec
rotary of the Navy, but no official notice was
taken by the admiral of the evolutionary squad
ron of Admiral Gherardfs presence until the
second day after the arrival, when official calls
were exchanged by the two admirals. It il a
part of the common courtesy of the navy that
none of the officers of a squadron shall call
upon the ships of another squadron till the
commanders-in-chief have exchanged calls.
The same day that this squadron arrived q
reception was given on board the Pkiladel-
phia. which many Of the white squadron's Off
GERS wished to attend, but owing to the fact
that the adnnirals had not yet exchanged calls
at every turn and demands strict obedience
even IN useless customs
For three days after our arrival the fogs
hung thick and low, and Green mountain was
buried In the white mist, and the only thing to
vary this nlonotony of fog was the rain that
occasionally drizzled down or the southeasterly
gale that blew for forty-eight hours. Still the
ofhcers had lively time. The people Of the
harbor entertained beautifully. and from morn
ing till night the little steam launches from
nf fhn fvva1 l. XbnL 10
poked their noses into the fog and carried gay
parties OF laughing girls out to visit the white
ships
REVIEW AND DRILL.
On Monday the winds Gained and the fogs
lifted enough to allow the battalions from the
ship to land and form in line ON shore About
twelve hundred men, infantry and artillery,
were landed and marched from the wharf about
two miles to the grounds of the Kebo Valley
| Club, where the lines were drawn up.
The porticoes and balconies of the Casino
and the edges of the drill space were crowded
| with people. all anxious to see the inspiring
sight and ready to praise the ''blue jackets "
| excellent drilling. The whole force passed in
review i'll columns Of companies. In the re-
| viewing stand were Secretary of State Blaine,
Secretary of the Navy Tracy, AdmiraIs
| Gherardi and Walker and many guests. After
| this function was finished brigade dress
| parade was held, and then the entire force was
| HndrcHeC Dtck 10 the landing pfNCe ana re-
| embarked on their respective ships.
| EvoLUTIoNs OF THE Combined sQUADRoNs.
| On Wednesday the two squadrons were COM
bined into one feet and an evolutionary drill
| took place off the coast. The first division,
composed Of the Philadelphia, Newark,
/ Petrol and Vesuvius, steamed out first,
| followed by the second division, the Chi
cago, Atlanta, Yorktown and Boston. The
whole fleet was commanded by Admiral
| Gherardi, while Admiral Walker had command
of the second division. For four hours this
| splendid fleet of new ships went through evo-
lutlons and maneuvers. signal OF several
| flags would be run up on the flagship Philadel-
| phia and quickly repeated on the flagship Chi
cago; then the red and white answering pen
nants would tistter out to the breeze from the
yardarm of all the ships, showing that they
understood the signal or command. When all
| had answered down would come the signals,
and altogether the helms would 60 over and
the ships quickly and gracefully form in some
new order. The Despatch, with the Secretaries
| OF State and the Navy on board and large
| party of guests, viewed the evolutions. As the
Despatch passed down the line OF ,essels each
| one fired salute of nineteen guns and beat
three ruffies on the drums, while the marine
guards were paraded on the quarter decks.
The Enterprise, with a large party of guests,
| also viewed the drills.
ADMIRAL GHERARD1's FLEET SAILS.
anchorases in Bar Harbor, and soon after
| wari the Philadelphia, Petre. and Enterprise
| got under way and steamed ont for New Lon
don, Conn. The Despatch followed them this
morning and now the white squadron reigns
| supreme. The Concord and the Bennington,
which are having their speed trials off New
York harbor. have not yet rejoined the squad
| ron. as the trials have been rather longer than
usual, yet both vessels are fully up to the re-
| CURED horse power and speed. The white
| squadron will sail from here on next Monday
for Portland, Me-. after which it will sail south
again to New York, touching ut Por tsmouth and
Boston. and reaching New York by the 9Th OF
September.
1t is thought by many Of the officers of the
| squadron that il will remain in New York for at
| least two months after it arrives there and that
| there is a large probability that some of the
vessels will be detached and sent to foreign sta
tions. as we have no ships in Europe or Japan,
and they are especially needed at the latter place.
SOCIAL ENJoYNENrs.
| Notwithstanding the hard drilling the white
squadron has undergone during the last two
months the officers have been given many
chances TO enjoy the social features of the ports
visited. On saturday lively hop was given at
| the kebo Valley Clubs Casino, TO which many
OF the officers went, and on Monday evening
Mrs. John X. Mclean of Washington gave a
| charming reception to the officers of the two
| squadrons. There were crowds of pretty girls
| and the whole affair was quite q success The
| eliminating event, however, was the grand ball
| given in honor Of Secretary Tracey on Tuesday
| evening at the Casino. Nearly all the officers
OF the two squadrons attended in. full dress.
| The buildings were tastefully and deliberately
decorated and the society OF the island was well
| represented. A fine orchestra discourscd music
for dancing while the marine bands from
| the flag ships furnished music on the balconies
| Bar Harbor has always been u fayOrite port in
| Ulst vii nnr ,nIr MI ~