Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-23

FORTRESS MONROE, VA, April o.
Bang, bang. bang, ti-bang, bang bang |!
went the guns of the Italian war ship
Htna at o'closk this morning.
Boom, boom, ti-boom, boom, boom!
echoed the heavy cannon Of the fort as
they barked through the port holes of the
stone ramparts.
Crack, crack, ti-crack, crack, crack snap
ped the wicked-l looking little three-pound-
ers on board the Philadelphia, while the
guns of all the ships in the feet tried TO see
which could make the most noise.
The explosions came fast and heavy, like
firecrackers a thousand times Intensified.
The air became thick with the white and
gun-powdery vapOr
At the same moment the ships began TO
blossom out in variegated flames until they
were as brilliant as the rainbow
AT the main mast of every ship the gaudy
colors of the Italian flag caught the breeze
and fioated side by side with the colors Of
the other nations.
Interesting and significant as was the
scene Of yesterday, the one to-day was the
most gorgeous and resplendent yet repre-
sented in this memorial gathing of the
ships of the world
All this glory of the ships was Ia honor
of King Humbert.
1t was quite happy idea Of the King Of
Italy TO get married twenty-five years ago
to-day, so that when the naval rendezvous
came to be held in 1898 it afforded an op-
portunity to present spectacle such as it
does not often fall TO the lot Of man to
witness.
OF course, the Italian flagship was the
center of the celebration.
There was friendly rivalry at noon
time between the Blake and the Kaiserin
Augusta as TO which ship could fire twenty
one guns in the shortest space Of time.
The Blake won by few seconds. The
other day when Admiral Gherardi visited
the Blake the salute Of thirteen guns in his
honor was fired in thirteen seconds, four
guns being used.
"No other nation fires quite as fast as we
do" said a midshipman upon the Blake
speaking of the incident to your CORES
pondent, Except the Germans, and,n he
added, with touch Of notional pride, Il
really do not think they do it quite as well
as we do.n
The fantistic attire Of the ships was not
the only thing TO give piqusncy to life
at Fort Monroe to-day. Sectetary Her
bert arrived this morning upon the Dol
phin.
1t was fully 10 o'clock when the white
hull of the Presidents yacht was sighted
far to the east but with the knowledge
that the Secretary was ION board the
gunners at the fort and on the fiagships
were ordered to their places. As soon as
il was abreast of the easternmost vessel,
seventeen dull rumbhug sounds and clouds
of smoke came from the fort
Instantly the guns of the Dolphin replied
and then as the pretty vessel passed down
the line it was thunderously greeted.
The Secretary, however, had heard the
a. -. 1onco hafOra arA ha -
smiled as he glanced around and shifted the
gun powdery smoke that the fresh breeze
blew in his face.
He saw, as his eye rested upon the mag
niticent squadron that displayed the stars
and stripes, the marines standing statue
like upon the after deck, their polished
rifles cleaning in the bright sunshine. He
saw too, the sailors in respectful attitude,
the officers upon the bridge OF each vessel
and the foreigners watching him through
their glasses, with pardonable curiosity
TO see an United States Minister Of Marine
The caravels which leave tomorrow
morning. for New York have been sur
rounded to-day with feet Of little boats
which hover around them as bees hover
around stock of lilies. The heavy sea
which had been whipped up by the half
gale that was blowing made II an exceed
ingly difficult and venturesome feat TO
climb up the sides Of the Santa Maria. but
Captain Concss had no reason 70 complain
of lack of visitors.
The Captain speaks English excellently,
and thousand times a day has TO tell his
fair visitors how he managed to live in the
doll house which Columbus called cabin
The girls peer into the wardrobe, handle
the ancient ink stand and hour glass, gaze
out upon the sea through the curious little
windows ana wish they could carry home
the antique armor which is hung upon the
walls.
AS soon as people began to 90 aboard the
Santa Maria, they learned that the sailors
had ribbons with the name of Columbus's
flagship upon them. Instantly the Russian
bands fell TO discount and il became the
struggle OF the hour TO get Santa Maria
souvenir The few girls who were sue
cessful are tonight the envy Of the other
bellies
Again the flag of England went down To-
dsy before the red, white and blue A
dozen barges from nearly all the ships IN
the harbor started to-day in race for the
international trophy offered by the citizens
Of Norfolk. a handsome silver vase.
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