The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-18
GREAT BRITAIN'S FLEET
FIVE OF HER BIO VEssELS REACH
HAMPTON ROADS.
Much Powder Burned en- Their Arrival.
The British Nice-Admiral Calls on
Chersrdi-Dutch Frigate.

lands big war ships. headed by the flag
ship Blake. flying the pennant Of one Of
her vice-admirals, came majestically In
the roads from Lynnhaven bay, where
they had anchored overnight let 90 as
many bow anchors and fred the GUS
tomary salute. They were as follows:
The Blake armored cruiser. 1900 tons;
the Australia, armored cruiser. 5000 tons:
the Magicienne. protected cruiser $3.50
tons. the Tartar. partially protected
cruiser. l.710 tons, and the Partridge,
partially protected cruiser. 755 tons. The
Blake is of 2O.0O0-hors power. and much
the largest in this respect OF any that
will take part In the manoeuvres, domes-
tic or foreign.
Before o'clock this morning Colonel
Frank, commandant OF the army post,
was Informed by Admiral Gherardi that
the British vessels were coming up from
the capes. and that they would be along
In an hour. This was a notification TO
stand by 10 salute the visitors after they
had fired twenty-one guns in honor OF the
American colors, and the fort was
prompt in doing this. The fashionable
set were ruthlessly awakened by this
terrific bombardment, and the reVeroera-
ton OF the mighty guns of the Blake
and the answers that came quickly back
from the post and the flagship Philadei-
phia. Hardly had the dense curls OF
white smoke disappeared from the mnz-
zle of the guns when the blake was
started in to assure the frencn. RUSSIAN
and Italian flags Of her distinguished
esteem and consideration by saluting the
commanding officers Of the four vessels
With the number of guns due their rank.
During these ceremonies the flags on all
the ships were constantly changing from
one country to another. ana 10 an on
locker IL was apparent that IL theIe ever
existed any i'll feeling between Russia
ENGLAND and France there were ht'ie
remnants of IL left. ,
The appearance these FIVE crack srlps
NJ the Queens navy presented as they
moved ,naiestically over the water anu
past the outer end or our neet " ~.
anchorage grounds designated theh ps
Admiral Gherardi was one or the pref
test sights ever seen here. AT the heau
Of the fleet was the big armored CRUISER
Rlake. a counterpart OF our own sup,
New York. heavily armored, ana the iiloS'
formidable ship that will be In the review.
In her wake was the protected cruiser
Magicienne and behind her came s ,.e
monster arrored cruiser Australia win
ber sides fairly toothed with fierce look
ing high powered guns. Gliding gracefully
next was the cruiser Tartar. ana IN ths
rear was the little Darkentine rsgeu
cruiser Partridge. In perfect line they
sailed in with signals flying from their
tops and yard arms, and the ensign Oh
the country floating dehantly from the
teffrails Of each ship. At the mast head
of the Blake was the pennant OF Vice
Admiral ]. O. Hopkins, X. G. B.. COM
mander-in-chief OF the fleet and upon
the signal halliards were combinations or
yellow and white signals to the fips
behind her.
Sweeping bv the fleet the Blake slowed
dowr Just as she passed the Newark
and when abreast Of the Philadelphia
the signal was displayed to the other
ships to anchor AS quickly az the signal
was seen lust as quickly were FIVE bow
anchors seen 10 splash the water into
foam and the deep rumbing Of the chains
could be heard as forty fathoms ran
through the hawse pipes. With the flood
tide all five ships promptly swung around
with their noses pointed out to the Roads
and forming a line extending n mile out.
The firing commenced and was kept up in
cessantly for half an hour.
At II o'clock Admiral Hopkins put on
his cooked hat buckled his sword on
and emharkins in his gig was pulled over
10 the Philadelphia. where he saw Admi-
in his honor, and they departed to his
own vessel to get ready to receive our
commander-in-chief. who went through
the same preparation and had the same
number OF guns discharged for his bene-
fit. These courtesies having been OK
changed the noise was suspended for an
hour. Later in the day Admiral Hopkins
called on Colonel Frank. and was received
as became his rank. Colonel Frank re-
IL.
called upon TO honor an official Of our
country. The weather continues perfect
The sky is as clear as a May day. and
the water smooth for the roads The
barges, steam launches and gigs wero
plying constantly 10 the ships. carving
those anxious TO see the new arrivals
AS every new ship arrives the attention
Of the ladies changes temporarily 10 her
officers and to-day IT would seem that
the Brtishers are 10 the front
The additions TO the fleet this afternoon
were the Van Spijk. Holland man-of-
war. and the Hussard, a small French
gun-boat. and the first OF the foreign
ships 10 wear a coat Of white paint The
Dutchman Is very similar 10 the old
ships Of the United States Navy. such as
the Lancaster. and presents in the very
antiquity Of her makeup some interest
Her launches are clumsy affairs, lacking
SmdTtneSS or even clednneSS, while the
marine guard, which paraded on the
bridge, was as small and comical as the
army OF supers in Macbeth" as played
by a company at one-night stands
AS she dropped anchor she saluted the
national flag. and then the American and
English admirals in their turn, and re
ceived. Of course, a smoky welcome in re-
turn
The arrival Of the entire British feet.
with a titled officer in command. was
followed by another French vessel and
the antiquated but formidable looking
Dutch frigate. Van Speyk has added to
the already brilliant scene and Increased
the interest and animation which per-
vades the multitude now gathered here
from every section of the country TO wit
ness the grandest naval pageant ever
seen before in American waters. The
scene tonight at the Hygeia Hotel. the
centre of interest Of foreign and Amcri-
can officers OF the twenty war vessels
In the roads, was one that was never
before surpassed at this quiet resort.
The parlors and corridors OF hotels
swarmed with officers dressed in all the
magnihcence OF gold lace, brass buttons
and blue uniforms, who danced and talk
ed with the beautiful women, who are
numberless. and whose dressing sur
masses that OF any other resort on the
Atlantic coast just now. On shore and
I'm the roads there was a scene of bril-
liancy that would make the poorest citi-
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