The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-15
A PRETTY SEA PICTURE.
RETURN OF THE WAR5HIPS TO
HAMPTON ROADS.

Flags Flying and SalUtes Booming
From the Guns-The Requirements
of Naval Courtesy Met to the small
est Detail-No Additional Arrivals
of Foreign Men-of-War.
FORTRESS MONROE, VA, April 14.-Ths
day was given an official flavor by the re-
turn Of Admiral Gherardt from Washing
ton where he made the final arrangements
with Secretary Herbert for the reception
here next week. A steam launch awaited
his arrival with two naval aids aboard
and soon tho valiant old officer was being
piped over the sides of his flagship with all
the pomp aud ceremony known in navy
regulations. Admiral Gherardi expected
to find the whole feet here but as the ar
rival of both Admiral Benham and ADJ
miral Walker yesterday would havo COM
plioated matters in regard TO permission TO
anchor, Admiral Benham decided to keep
the squadron at SEQ for "a day and run in
from the capes this morning.
Hardly had the national airs on the flag
| ships at s o'clock this morning died out In
the distance when several flags were dis
played upon the Chicago and Philadelphia.
| Their meaning was soon interpreted when
| in few minutes Admiral Walker stepped
into his gig and, rowed by six lusty tars,
| approached the sides of the ships Of his
| senior.
| MORE SIGNALING FOLLOWS.
More signaling followed from the yard
arms, carrying messages from one ship to the
other, and as the admiral mounted the sides,
the marines presented arms, the bugle
sounded and the band broke loose with
| lively music. The admiral came Go report
his return from the fleet drill yesterday and
TO pay his respects TO bis senior. After ac-
! oomplishing this duty he was again piped
over the sides and as his gig
shot sway seven reports from the saluting
battery announced the termination of his
visit. These reports brought every person
| I'm the hotel and on the government reser-
| walton TO their feet and TO those who did
not know their meaning the enfeFence was
that some other foreign ship had mado her
appearance. But people here have got 40
customed to salutes and knowing that gun
powder is wasted on the least provocatiOn
they were soon satisfied that no new visitor
was In the roads, aud after all it only meant
that one admiral had called to sec another.
RETURN OF THE OTHER SQUADRON.
Hardly had these ceremonies been COM
pleted when down toward Cape Henry
there we're seen faint curls of black smoke
issuing from five smoke stacks Closer the
vessels came when it was seen that the
Benham, which had anchored In Lynn
Haven bay over night. Before the outlines
| Of the ships could be distinguished by the
| crowds on the government wharf, a piece
| Of bunting was floating To the breeze from
the Philadelphia. 1t was signal to the
| Newark from Admiral Gherardi
that Admiral Benham might proceed
with the vessels under his command
| up the roads and come to anchor. Tho sig-
nal was followed by others from the mill
tary mast Of the flagship, aud cs the ap-
proaching fleet came majestically in the
roads every vessel haunted dozen or moro
| signal flags, which, 1t Is presumed. gave
them permission Co do what they wanted in
coming TO anchor.
PRETTY PICTURE.
Gracefully and beautifully the Eve ships,
under easy steam, slipped down toward
their anchorage grounds like so many swans,
the Newark III the lead and all strung out
In line. Behind came tho Baltimore, with
white curls OF steam drifting astern from
her two white tunnels. Between the Balti-
| more and San Francisco was the little BEN
ningtoD, and in the van was tue Atlanta.
The other ship attached to this division was
anchored by herself away from Admiral
Walkers squadron and where she would be-
the last ship in Admiral Benham's feet.
These ships, as :bey glided along with their
white sides shining IN the sunlight, and
with the flags on their yards, presented
magnificent marine picture, whicn was
watched with closest interest by those
| ashore. Half mile north OF the Philadel-
phia the Newark slgnaled TO prepare to
anchor The signal was repeated from
ship to ship, and at a command from the
flagship i've bow anchors dropped into
sixty feet OF wnter, and the five ships swung
10 a stiff ebb tide. Later Admiral Benham
reported TO Admiral Gherardi and was re-
ceived with the sautes due his rank.
Admiral Ghererdi stated to-day that all
the ships would remain anchored until they
started on their trip to New York on
! April "a.