Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-26
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

fEEKskIIL ON THE HUDSON, July ~, loSZ.
The last week with the white squadron has
been grand show for outsiders and visitors,
but to the officers and men Of the ships, and Of
Commander Miller's naval reserve artillery Of
New York, it has been one Of downright hard
work. Last Saturday, as the old "three-
decker lay at her moorings at the foot Of 2Sth
street. in New York, the New York naval reserve,
800 strong. reinforced by the Rochester
division of fifty men, marched on board and
put the old ship into commission for her weeks
cruise, with the New York state flag at the fore.
In tow Of two tugs she stated on her cruise,
the first port being Gravesend bay, where che
anchored and was soon joined by the Chicago
and Atlanta.
According to the program Sunday was to be
given to general muster reading the articles
Of war; and devotional exercises" noticed
that the devotional exercises" came last. which
calls to mind an oft-quoted saving Of Commo-
modore Flies that "a seamans bible was the
articles OF war, his pulpit the main top and his
hymn the soundings Of the log lire"
STORIES OF COMMODORE FIFE.
Many a good story is told of the fine old
commodore. On one occasion, 1t is said, be
was commanding ship on the European station
when q salute Of twenty-one guns was to be
fred in honor Of Queen Victoria's birthday,
out Dy some OHeb mistake lNenty-tUree
guns were fired. An English admiral in
the same port Immediately sent to the
Yankee captain for an explanation why the
twenty-three guns were fred, and he got it
short and quick in the following words:
''Twenty-one for Queen Victoria. one for the
Lord Almighty and one for Joe Fife, siri''
The brave old commodore IS o native OF
Champagne county, Ohio, and while on the
Asatic station. some years ago, was called upon
to attend a state dinner In Yokahoma, Japan.
When saluted byla japanese Official with the
national saluhtion, "Ohio," he quickly replied,
Yes. Ohio, and Champagne county by Cd"
The commodore at present commands the naval
station at New London, and is always the kind,
good-natured gentleman that made the "old
navy famous for the manners of its hearty
seaman officers.
On Monday the reserves were drilled at the
great gins Of the cruisers, and though they still
have much to learn before they can aAix the
noted "S.S.D." (sad sea dog to their names,
they are beginning to show what little drilling
will do. DESTROYS of learning all the ways of
the seaman Of the regular service, a crowd of
the PRESERVE tars'' went ashore to
paint Coney Island with fire and brim-
stone and succeeded beautifully, but one
thing that charac terized this liberty par ty from
the New Hampshire was that there were no de-
serters and no Overtime men" a. is neatly
always the case with the regulars. During the
evenings the search lights of the cruisers formed
an addition to the usual display of fireworks
from Conev Island, and the enterprising hotel
keepers had this feature as one Of their attrac
tons in their advertisements.
On Tuesday the Chicago and Atlanta, with the
naval reservesa at their guns, steamed outside Of
SANDY Hook and engaged in target practice.
The shooting OF the reserve was excellent, one
shot from an eight-inch gun on the Chicago
completely demolishing the target, and another
from the Atlanta scoring hit. The Rochester
division OF fresh water lara" did especially
N IL q 49, LxI
been aboard q man-of-war before nor seen a
modern great gun.
Wednesday morning the Dolphin, flying the
new flag of the assistant secretary Of the navy,
Mr.. Solely, came down from New York and
anchored with the squadron. The new flag
Is the Secretrys flag reversed-that is, square
white flag, with blue foul anchor and four
blue stars on 1t.
SHAM BATTLE.
The day was devoted to u sham battle, the
naval reserves and part Of the Chicago's men
being stationed to defend the earthworks near
old Fort Hamilton, while the remainder Of the
naval forces. assisted by bombardment from
the ships and q battery Of the third United
States artillery, made the attack.
Crowds Of people came from New York to wit
ness the battle, and in their anxiety to see
everything frequently got between the two
lines, which resulted in several people being
injured by an artillery charge. The battle
lasted about IN hour, and the assailants were
repulsed and driven back to their boats for
want Of ammunition.
At o'clock yesterday morning the Atlanta
took the New Hampshire In Tow and the
squadron started for Peekskill on the Hudson.
A. the ships moved up the river crowds Of peo-
pie assembled along the banks to see the novel
sight: The anchorage was reached by 10 o'clock
and the day was spent in preparations for the
grand parade today.
The sixty ninth regiment Of New York State
Guards are in camp ct Peekskill with parts Of
several other regiments, and today the naval
brigade, composed Of . battalion each from
the Chicago, Atlanta and New Hampshire,
landed and gave drill on the camp parade
grounds. followed by o dress parade.
From the limited space on bossd the ships
and the few opportunities Of drilling ashore il
Il quite natural that the ''blue jackets would
not mako . very good chow on parade, but the
results Of todays drill have not shown that.
for the presence Of the land forces tended to
put the lack tArs" on their mettle, and the
result was drin that was compimented by
every one. The naval brigade was commanded
By Lieut. Raymond r. Rodgers Of the Chicago.
you1 ORGANIZATIONS DaILL Too1rHxa.
Tho militia regiment vas turned out and
paxadsd 70 rsosivs The naval brigade and tho
Arst and third Glasses from West Point were
peeeent 70 witness and taka psxt IN the drill.