Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-22

tho eager faces OF tho scamen all along the
squadron. The marines were In line upon
the after-deck. presenting arms TO the flag
OF the Spanish Admiral. The bands upon
the fag-ships PLAYED the Spanish national
airs, The quickening breeze stirred TO lite
the pendant flags and they stood at right
angles to the mas,s.
NEWCOMERS GREETED.
fleet Of small boats put out from tho
shore and hastcned 20 greet the new
comers, while even Admiral Hopkins, in
his anxiety for a closer view, cruised
around the carayels in his own launch.
The Spanish ships passed directly through
tho feet and then came around on the
outside. the lnfanta Isabel taking her
position abreast of the Blake. which in
turn was opposite the Philadelphia The
Roma Rcgcnte with the Santa Maria
reaching the end of the line, cast of the
vessel which Columbus made famous and
presently the handful OF sailors upon tho
curious craft began TO spread her sails 20
the wind.
THREE SQUARE SAILS.
There were three SQUARE sals-one di-
rcctly under the bowsprlt. one hearing a
huge red cross at her foremast, and another
with red tomplar cross at her maiumast.
From the mast which rose from her nigh
cabin no the stern there swung a latecn
sail The canvas dark and dlscolored IKE
ancient parchment, bellicd out to tho
wind From the bow the waves danced
IN ghstening burrows. The ship seemed no
longer helpless thing, doomed to be tOwed
like a mimic toy. As she pushed her way
forward through the blue water, scli-re-
liant and independent Of her steel belted
companion, 10 was easy 20 imagine that
once again the real Santa Maria was atioat
and that the spirit ot Columbus hoycrPd
/ over the ship Everybody and every
thing was proud 10 do her honor.
The bOttlc-Creen torpedo boat Cush-
ing. n significant contrast 10 the ancient
model. steamed alongside ready 10 lend q
helping hand # needed. From every ship
ia the harbOr o company OF steam
launches and trim cutters had assembled
and hung on either side. Sall-bOats. cX-
curslon steamers. and even lumber harces
gathered 10 allow their passengers a closer
view Of Columbps's flagship.
BsnEyoorrD MUSICIANS.
The barefooted land on the Htua played
Hail. COlumbia,' and the Spanish air.
! The Russian band added lts music.
Admiral Bcuham came ont upon the
atter-brIdCc Of the Newark and lifted his
cap IN formal salute. whilo the Newarks
band contributed IT'S melody. The sun
fell upon tho Santa Alaria's sails and en-
yoloped her III golden glory. Her dark
bronze guns hardly larger than turkey
oul- gave forth salute. A mOneht
later. having reached The end of the fleet.
the sailors Of the Santa Maria unwound
the thick rope which served as the cable
for the anchor ard tossed overheard the
lolro inst as Columbus must have done,
when under the loe Of Wa,hng's Island he
made ureparatlou TO step upon the shore
of new continent. As she Law at anchor
the Santa Maria pToscnteda picture worthy
oi painter.
ASA H-GE ARMCHAIR.
Atn single glance sho roscMbied nothing
So much as hGge armchair lrlng az rest
upou the water. Her high back, the de-
preston of her sides where the arms
might Doe supposed TO rest, and the stu
lower cutting away amdships made the
resemblance moro real. The ship was
less than seytuty-6ye feet long and not
more than twenty-five feet beam, SO that
she could be placed with ease upon city
luIillug-lOt She was painted dark Ollye
with trimmings OF light terra-COtta and
red the combination being artistic enough
to please the cyc. Her malumast, scarcely
taller than The distance of her stcrn-deck
from tho water. was straight as an arrow.
The masts. forward and aft, ran out az
angles % each other like tine ends Of tho
/ letter ".
LITTLE UhSETT OF WOOD.
/ Near the top of the malnmast and sur
rounding n was q curious little basket Dt
+ wood. crudely ornSmeuted IN rod ana
/ white with a se0mCtrical figure such as
+ the Indians used t. decorate their pottery.
/ Across the mast was ward up 10 winch
/ the sail was h0isted when iurled. Inc
! ward of the foremost on the contrary WAS
. lowered 10 the deck, sull aud all, when the
foresaIl was taken N. From the stern ran
ont spar so that the vessel had bow
spirit at one end and u stern spirit, so TO
-urak. ~ the other Around the stern,
winch Was 1idlcuiou~lY hIrh a. coupaTed
with tho rest o. the boat, ran Moorish
lLa decoration. while directly over the
ruddoy-post was picture OF the Madonna
AMI the Christ child.
ABOARD TEE CEiTI.
A very modern stcp-lalde. ran from tho
water 10 the deck. Climbing up this lad
der your correspond stood upon the
deck of tie Santa Maria. The dimnntlve
elle ot the ship was now more apparent
taan over. \ stone might have been
tossed easily from the stern over the red
uaiutcl bow. The deck was so small that
"a uttls piuuace. which lay euShrouded IN
canvas. leit little room for man 10 pass
one eitutr side Ih. cabin. IN the stern,
was as roomy as the size of tie ship would
allow. and that ~ NOT saying GREAT deal.
IAcro1m was hung with t1c-suutcS OF the
rcl curtains which 500 Won the heart and
eve Of tho Indian chief whom Columbus
first mot, and there was an antique ward
robe with drawers. 4 Httle table, al
which not more thtn two people could
sit. was ~ the centre Ot the room.
There were no decorations save a
picture of the patron saint OF the
Spaaish di-cOytrcrs. VI raStelln. Windows
with Moorish arches gave YcutAa,on and
at the same time Afforded something Of
view Of the St. beyond. AZ the UroW stood
uu a2muaps lantern. reprodu 'ed from
picture of the one winch was similarly
placed IN the original craft. ID was Ian
i.ru such a- Columbus himself might have
lighted nightly as Pee glanced ont TO the
hnrlI0n aud saw neither the san Of q
friendly ship nor the Glmiuer OF looked
tor beam upon the land.
TIE PINTA AND MIA.
The plnia, "a miniature edition OF the
Santa Maria, was not anchored, but rocked
upon the waves. tuSgng at the line which
-tl'l held her iist 10 the lnianta Isabel.
The Nina, the tlnicst of all, WAS hardly
thirty feet long, and looked like Jaby,s
cradle 70, she tossed to and fro with
the slightest swell. She was crowded
with crow Of eleven men, a number less
than T. take. 20 man one of the ordinary
barg,s Of "a man-0f-War. Her three mastS
were fitted with loteen smls fastened TO
long yards. winch hung ~ sharp angles TO
the ma-t,. 4 man standing upon her
touched hands with man standing III
boat below. Her stern, and indeed the
sterns OF all the carayels, were ~
square as the side of - hnrn aud presented
such an cxpause OF surface that with
good wind astern and "a following sea II
would bee "a uSefui a. i sail. These smaller
ships were all painted an olive color, with
terra-cotta trimmings, very much IKE the
average cottage az "a seaside resort.
Admiral Gomez breathed sigh OF relief
when h.s toy boats were ut last safely
mo1red.
~ 4 BIG STORM.
Five days ago, just after he had left the
harbor OF Havana. the barometer becantO
fan ominously. aud presently storm OF
cvclonic strength burst upon them. The
snoed of the war-ships. which had been
regulated for abou, eight knots an hour,
wa. reduced one half. but still the noun
tain waves beat with pltlless fury upon
the UNPROTECTED decks Of the three little
wooden ship. that plunged and tossed and
swuug 20 aud fro IN the powerful grasp