The Portland daily press., 1891-09-05

time by scrutlnizing with or without glasses
every steamer. yacht or rowboat that passed
and made sage observations concerning each.
But still no White Squadron. At last the
crowd In Fort Allen was notified that the
feet would not leave Bath until 1890 and
would probably not reach the harbor until
nearly supper time.
The news flew with the wings OF the wind.
Everyone as soon as he heard 1t told every
one else he knew who was In sight, and the
word soon became general. Some people
went home in disgust, but the majority took
1t good naturedly. thought Of the fine day
and stayed awhile to enjoy It, SO ended the
first act.
The cause for the change Of time Is well
known-the condition of the Kennebec river
below Bath. There is a place there called a
"bore," through which the water runs at
express speed and 1t is hazardous, not to
say foolhardy, to risk precious vessel like
one Of the war ships In It's whirlpools, when
nothing more than few hours OF time IL at
stake.
Tide was high at Bath at 11.57 a. m. Be
fore that hour, Of course, 1t was running In,
and the current in the "bore" would be
against a vessel coming out. After the tide
turned, however, the current in the "bore"
was all in the squadron's favor and so they
came out on the ebbing tide
The vessels left Bath soon after the ap-
pointed time. getting away one after anoth-
er. the last starting at 2.1Op. m, and steam
ing down river, the people alongshore giving
them an ovation as they passed. Steering
safely through the perils OF the "bore" and
out into the ocean, line Of march was taken
up for this city.
At 2.53, Mr.. Dinsm0re OF the observatory,
who had been sitting for some time with his
spyglass glued to his eye. and pointed at the
horizon nearest to Bath. saw white speck
and a cloud OF smoke. Then he saw anoth-
or, and another. and yet another
until the whole magnificent
squadron was ranged along the
sky line, making sight never to be forgot
ten. Mr.. Dinsmore was all ready for just
that sight. He bent signal on to the hal
liards Of the northwestern staff-an Ameri-
can ensign with foot ball below and raised
it. This was what the thousands were look
ing for. Everybody who had been In Fort
Allen park or anywhere lse where a view
could be obtained la the morning, went to
the same or some other place In the after
noon and those who stayed at home aud
said, 81 told you So" when they hear that
there had been a sllp-up in the plans, came
out too. so that the CAPE shore, the city and
the Islands were literally black with people.
At 4. 20 a telescope in the United States
barge office. In the hands OF Captain E. P.
Pickett, caught a glimpse of the Newark
and the Chicago apparently neck and neck
over the low point Of Peaks island nearest
to Cushings. The vessels filed by In slow
procession around Cushings island to the
Old Anthony buoy off the Cape. There they
swung to starboard and came
grandly into tire harbor. They
stopped their engines outside of the fort, and
the low lying murderous looking Vesuvius
that carries the pneumatic dynamite guns
steamed past, but did not anchor until the
flag man Oh the Chicago spelled out "In
place." Then the anchors went down with
a splash and the Union jacks floated at the
heel Of the bowsprits where there were any
and the extreme bow where there were none.
When the feet anchored the flag ship was
at once surrounded by a flotilla OF boats OF
all kinds. The steam yacht Leo was moving
around with the harbor master on board
The tug Plymouth with large collection Of
citizens on board kept near the Concord, and
the water boat Fannie G. came putting along,
towing an innocent looking launch In which
sat man In uniform. This boat looked so
inoffensive that Capt. Fisher let 1t slip by
him and before he knew what was up,
Captain Rodgers, commandant OF Fort
Preble, was clambering up the ships side,
first to pay his respects to the Admiral. The
Cadet came alongside in moment and the
delegates from Mayor True went on board.
Just as the Chicago came to anchor, out
from her starboard side there came long
low object, painted white like the vessels.
and having two dull yellow projections like
the smokestacks of the warships. For
moment everyone was puzzled. 1t looked
ike raft. or divers caisson, or landing
slip, or some other humble thing, but IL
proved to be the torpedo boat Gushing.
Lieutenant Winslow must have heard the
remarks that were made about his raft"
LOT ne soon commenced an exhibition that
pleased everybody. The boat ran in toward
the PORTLAND Company's wharf. then turned
snort around and ran back. Then she cut In
Toward the flagship Chicago, as though Ad-
miral walker and all his crew were going
skyward directly, then backed water, then
whiIled around three or four times and came
tearing up. the harbor stern first. The odd
looking craft was the focus of several hun
ared pairs OF opera glasses as she came up,
ieellng hei way along, the officers sounding
lot anchorage and trying to find soft spot
Elnally the anchor went down of the end Of
custom House wharf, In a short time, how
ever. II came up again and the cigar shaped
craft ran up to the yacht anchorage Off the
club house.
ON THE BouHDINc BiLLow.
View of tho EIaa, -. n. o..u...