New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-12
A NOBLE FLEET OF HONOR.
IT SWEEPS UP THE BAY AND RIVER.


GUNS IT CELEBRATES THE FAME OF
THE GREAT PILoT.
Flooded with sunlight, bright with banners and
glorious in power, the marine pageant with whlch
New-York honored the memory Of the great
Genoese who discovered the New World swept up
through the Narrows and deployed itself in the
Upper Bay and on the broad waters of the North
River yesterday. The men-of-war which flew
their various flags in Gravesnd Bay had been
assembling since the night before. The Inst OF
the fleet arrived at the place of meeting just as
the sun swelled out of the Eastern waters. The
late arrivals, which came down through the Mar
rows in the carly light Of the morning, were the
Mantonomth, that low-lying and peacelul-looking
ship which is nevertheless almost invulnerable.
and some of the other American men-of-war which
had been king at their anchorage off Tompkins-
Vile. So when the sun had risen through the
mist it shone on fleet composed Of the men-of-
war Of our nItions, assembled there below the
green gate Of the imperial metropolis of the New
World which Columbus gave 10 the Old. The
day was n beautiful ore, but there silver
haze over the ocean and over the great waterway
surrounding the city. From early morning until
aie IN the waning sunlight of the afternoon the
towering slcpcs of Fort Wadyworth were crowded
with people who arrived early in the day TO see
the marine display and 10 eat their luncheons while
they watched it, Several thousands went from
the city and discovered Staten Island and the
beauties thereof wherefore they felt in sympathy
with Columbus, and spoke with the tongues Of
men and of angels afterward in describing the
parade.
COMING OF THE SHIPS.
nj
on all the broad cNpansc Of wafer liquid light,
sun-fooled and shmmcrinc. the ships began TO
aprear They came IN little troops and groups
down from the piers where the rising tide washed
the shores Of t.le East River, and from where It
struggled against the downfowing current of the
Uud-on. pouring through the Highlands and the
Palisades These notillas of tugs and yachts and
steamers ranged themselves up and down the
Upper Cav and formed a lane through which the
feet of war vessels 20 pass and did pass with
the laundering Of their guns and all their BAN
nor, displayed.
The scene at the rendezvous in Gravesend Bay
was one 10 he lon, remembered. There flew thc
fac of Spain under which Columbus had sailed
on his quest of the New World, and the flag OF
Italy which save him Firth. The flags of
France and of the United States few side by side
in their old-,ime friendship. All the shores were
gay with color, flying from buildings and from
p,rs TIE hills of Staten Island loomc1 through
the hazv atmosphere. with bright patches against
the sky. where few the flags and streamers flung
out in honor of TN. day. So also along by Owls
Head and the slopes of Bay Ridge the fading
green of the turf brilliant with banners ana
glorious with all the beauty of an autumn day.
Il was half an hour after the sun had reached
the meridian that the signal for the starting of
the feet was given Then all thar mass OF v's-
sels. mo, inc TO military orders and in perfect
harmony spread itself into column. at the head
of which went ihe white hull Of the formidable
Philadelphia. Next behind her was the black
hulled flagship Arcthuse. with the colors OF
france streaming from her main The Other
men-of-war took positions and steamed up after
tie two leading ships.
THE FLAG OF SPAIN.
Tho Spanish ship Infanta Ysabe flying tias
Hag upon which Charles V boastei that the sun
never set, closed the procession. She IS wicked
looking boat and one which seemed capable of
maintaining the ancient glory and r"nown OF the
flag which she bore 1he French ships, trim and
saucy, like gamecocks at fight. were IN their
assigned position, and so the whole fiotllla swept
between the grceh gates Of the Narrows.
Before the fleet went a long line Of tugs led by
one which flew the great blue flag of the Naval
sixteen tugs in that advanced notills and when
they had passed through the Narrows Captain
Miller signalled from his flagshp and they spread
ont into long line reaching across the bay be-
tween the anchored fleets of the escorting
divisions These were the yidette boats, and
with large and proper distance between them
and the Philadelphia came flying along the swdI-
low-tailcd remnant of Commodore Erben.
As soon as the Philadelphia passed the forts
the saluting began. and earth and shaken
by the concusson Of the guns. Fort Hamilton
opened first with her scaward battery, and then
was answered gun for gun. The old granite walls
of Fort Tompkins reposjng in harmless memo
ries below Fort Wadsworth, gave back the sllute.
There were twenty-one guns fired from each
fort the guns on Staten Island following those
OH Long Island. Clouds cf smoke, gray with q
blush tinge and leaps of flame were all that the
spectator could IL did not take a vivid
Imagination to picture hostile feet forcing
entrance to the Narrows Then the gentle wind
from the southern swept aside the smoke Of
the forts and the fleet replied. Every vessel
fired twcnty-onc guns, and in flame and smoke
passed up the harbor
MINGLED CoLoRS OF NATIONS.
When the Narrows were well passed the feet
took position as had been assigned, the American
men-of-war forming themselves on each side Of
the visiting vessels So the flags of four great
nations passed up the Bay and went into the hssy
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