The Portland daily press., 1891-09-05

the Roads, crossing Hussey's Sound as she
did so, a glimpse was obtained Of the ocean
beyond. where white-capped waves were
chasing each other, and breaking In clouds
Of foam on the outer shores Of the islands.
The waves made themselves felt here, and
gave promise Of what they would do II they
once got fair chance at the Forest Queen.
They got 1t later.
As yet no signal flags fluttered from the
Observatory. aud so the boat stayed In
smooth water and sailed along the upper
side ofiPeaks Island to White Head passage,
Out through the passage and around Cush-
ing's Island was just rough enough to be
pleasant. While the steamer was making
this little side trip. the signal flags had run
up above the tower on Munjoy Hill, giving
notice that Walker and his ships were COM
ing. The captain Of the Forest Queen also
spied the fiuttering signals, and this time,
after running out through White Head pas
sage again, the steamer was headed for Nova
Scotia and started out over the heavy sea.
The passengers kept a close watch on the
line OF the horizon. but II was smoky day,
and even the lighthouse ON Hallway Rock
was hardly visible. 1t was so indlstInet that
some on board took 1t for one OF the fleet.
Meanwhile the people who were proof against
seasickness enjoyed the pitching and
roiling OF the steamer. as she moved slowly
out, while the others-well the others didn't
enjoy it. Some distance away the Merry
coneag was also dancing about with a party
on board and served to keep up interest In
the watch for the fleet.
At last. just to the right OF Half Way
rock. speck In the haas lowering about the
horizon took the form of cloud OF black
smoke with a little patch Of white beneath
IL. Then, 1t changed In appearance until IL
looked as II 1t might be one large vessel
After some minutes Of waiting, 1t could be
seen that there was more than one white
ship. After that, for some time, little was
heard among the watchers clustered at the
bow OF the steamer except such expressions,
as II can see three Uf them," There are
only four" "Fhey don't seem to be coming
very fast" "We could sail all around them,"
etc. But the big ships were coming faster
than they seemed to be. and 1t soon became
apparent that they were moving In regular
order, the Chicago and Newark distinguished
by their size and rig In the lead. The BOs-
ton and Atlanta, sister ships making anoth-
er couple. Still there was one missing until
at last looking like launch by the side of
her big companions. the little torpedo boat
Cushing was made out In the smooth water
under the lee Of the Boston and Atlanta.
Then all the fleet had been accounted for.
All this time. the Forest Queen had been
lying off and on, her commander keeping mis-
hQat whfQh ~ tho Il L.,
rough as well as smooth water, as still as
possible, bearing In mind that some Of the
good people on board were not good sailors.
The Merryconeag had run out to the fleet
and passed by the column. exchanging sa-
lutes with each vessel, Now as the feet ap-
preached the Queen, the watchers awoke to
new interest. Sea sickness was forgotten
as the double column approached. Then i
the whistle OF the Queen spoke greeting to
the visitors to which prompt reply was made
The passage Of the fleet resembled a review.
The great ships which led the squadron,
with their tall white halls glitterIng In the
afternoon sunlight, their masts and tapering
spars making a delicate tracery against the
green Of the Falmouth shore, seen In the dis
tance, and the water. parting In a line Of
white under their bows, presented beautl-
full picture. In striking contrast with
the Boston and Atlanta, lying low In the
water. save for their big iron deck stTuc-
lures, with long. ugly looking rifles reaching
out over bow and stern. The beauty of the
first two ships hid their warlike character.
The other pair could not conceal the fact
that they were built for deadly work. The
Yorktown and Concord as they passed
looked as graceful In the water as the big
yachts so familiar to travellers Ia the bay,
and the beautiful lines Of the Vesuvlus also
fascinated the eye. The Cushing attracted
notice by the sport the sea was having with
1t. The big ships apparently did not feel
the waves, but the little torpedo beat was
rolled and tossed from side to side In a way
to make the sufferers on the Queen think
that there were far worse places to be Just
then than on the decks of the Casco Bay
lines boat.
As the fleet moved on, a bit Of red moving,
just over the upper deck Of the flagship, lent
pleasing bit Of color to the picture. That
bit OF red had much meaning to the fleet. 1t
was signal flag. and 1t was talking very
earnestly In the language of the signal code.
Its message became apparent when, with the
precision Of company Of soldiers, the ships
changed the double column formation In
which they mad been moving and were soon
in single column. As they neared the mar
Dor mouth. with the Queen and Merryco-
neag following In their wake. again the lit
tie patch of red sent its message ana douoie
formation was resumed. Coming up the mar
Dor, while the victims Of sea sickness on
each excursion steamer, were forgetting
their troubles, they got nearer view OF the
vessels and exchanged greetings with the
officer, aud men. who courteously removed
their caps In reply to the waving handker-
chiefs OF the ladies. The afternoon was
one OF novel pleasure to the excursionists