Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-04-27
THE PAST AND PRESENT.

THE PAST AND PRESENT.
Arrival at Hampton Roads Of tho SAINTS
Maria. Nina nnd Pinta--The Represents.
lives OF tho Ago Of Territorial Discos.
cry Mostly Welcomed by Those Or the
Era of Demonstrated Progress--A Queer
Contrast between tho Vessels Of Colum-
bus Day and Those of Modern Times.
FORT MONROE, Va, April 3s.-While
all the fleets lay at anchor yesterday
in calm and motionless sea there came
moving slowly into barber three war
ships of the Spanish squadron. Be
hind each one of them was an bid and
miniature ship. cross between Chi
nese junk and Queen Ann cottage.
AS if with Columbus still at the
PROV, the feet sailed on. The caravels
for such they were, were decorated
with as many flags and f1uttering PEN
nants as Christmas tree. From the
foremost foated the white flag
with the green cross. the ensign which
Columbus dew as admiral of his dimnu-
tive feet when he turned his face to-
ward the western sea- Underneath
this was white pennant with the
same design. From the mainmast flew
the royal standard of CASTLE and Ara
gon, the rampant lions on white
ground, and the castles of Aragon on .
deep red field. Beneath this was the
pennant of Columbus
The miniature ships with their fags
and pennants attracted the attention
of the aggregated squadron. The At
lanta and the Australia were the outer
most sentinels already at anchor. Be
yond them lay wilderness of masts
and spars and bristling guns Between
the congregated monarchs of the navies
of the world the Spanish squadron sped
slowly on. while the guns of the fort.
without waiting for the American
colors, saluted first. and kept up q
noisy booming. On board the men-of-
rigging, the sides, the decks were
crowded with dark blue figures, while
from open PORTFOLIOS peered eager faces
of the seamen along the squadron.
The marines were in line upon the
after deck presenting arms to the flag
of the Spanish admiral The bands on
the fagships played the Spanish ma
tional air.
The Spanish ships passed directly
through the feet and then came around
on the outside. the Infanta Isabel TAX
ing her position in the back, the Santa
Maria reaching the end of the line, and
spreading her sails to the wind. There
were three square sails, one directly
under the bowsprit, one bearing
huge red cross at her foremost
and another. at the templecross of her
main mast. From the mast which rose
from her high cabin at the stern there
swung Iateen sail. The canvas, dark
and discolored like ancient parchment,
bellied out with the wind, and as she
pushed her way forward, self-reliant
and independent, verybody and every
thing was proud to do her honor.
Having reached the end of the fleet,
the sailors of the Santa Maria. the
Pinta and the Nina tossed overheard
their anchors.
Admiral Gomez breathed a sigh of re-
lief when his toy boats were at last
safely moored. Five days ago, just
after he had left the harbor of Ha-
vana, the barometer began to fall om-
inously, and presently a storm of cy-
clonic strength burst upon them. The
water swept in upon the tiny Nina, and
more than once the officers of the Nueva
Espana laid astern with keen solicitude
for the safety, not only of the craft
that had been entrusted to their care,
but of their fellow-oficers and seamen
who were aboard of her. It took nearly
half an hour for the Spaniard to pay
his compliments all around. first to the
American flag, then to the American.
English, French and Italian admirals,
and finally to all the ships that had
saluted him. AS soon as they had been
concluded the round of official visits
began.
Admiral Hopkins, commanding the
British feet at the naval review, visited
Washington to-day. The admiral was
presented to the president. shown
through the departments and taken to
the navy yard.