Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-21

| ships that brought Columbus and his hardy
band to these shores four hundred years
ago. The contrast is now complete. The
Pinta and her two sister ships now lie at
anchor in the quiet waters of the rosdstead
alongside the Blake and the Philadelphia. 1t
is the fifteenth century and the nineteenth CEN
fury placed in juxtaposition.
As soon the Spanish fleet was sighted the
dispatch boat Gushing started down the roads
to meet them and escort them to their anchorage
Directly after her followed the tug Rescue. which
had been secured by Admiral Gherardi's aid.
Mr.. Smith. to tow the caravels inside the bar
The carayels draw but eight feet Of water and
inside the bar there is ten feet with safer
anchorage for small boats.
On board the Rescue was the STAR CORE
spondent, who went down to see the arrival of
the wonderful trio.
ENTERING THE ROADS.
The fleet all came in close together First in
line came the graceful white man-of-war
Infanta Isabel, with the Pints in tow Then
came the Nueva Espana. with the Nina in tow
Last in line but not far behind the other two
came the Santa Maria, which was being towed
along by the Reina Begente.
1t was a wonderful sight and one never to be
forgotten by the crowds who watched the pro-
cession from the shore. Every one was out to
see the sight and as the curious-looking
line of the feet they were greeted with
enthusiastic cheering and were given the most
remarkable reception accorded to any OF the
foreign ships. They deserved all they secured.
for the arrival of the caraYels has been watched
for with more interest than anything that has
yet trsnspired in connection with the rendez-
vous.
1t was perfect day. There was nothing
wanting to complete the beauty or impressive
ness OF the scene. The sun rose this
morning in a most cioudless sky and the
wind that ragged all last night with very con-
siderable force had Gained down so that when
the Columbus caraveis came up the rosdstead
there was little more than a mere ripple on the
surface of the water. Slowly the curious col
lection OF vessels made their way along the
fleet; as they passed each IF the vessels that
were lying at anchor the men on their decks
we're piped to quarter and the marines were
drawn up in line to give them . welcome.
HoSoaINa THE ARRIVALS.
Soon the ships Of The feet began firing their
salvos in honor of the new arrivals and almost
| instantly the water became alive with the small
boats that had put out from the foreigners to
chase after the Spaniards for the purpose
should come to anchor. The Pinta. looking
almost ridiculously small beside the big men-of-
var, ploughed along in the wake of the Isabel
and seemed to raise her head even higher from
| the water as if she really appreciated all the
importance and prominence Of the part she
was playing in the events Of the day.
It would be nearly impossible to describe
these Columbus carsyels so that one could have
q mental picture OF them. Fortunately every
one is more or less familiar with their general
appearance from the newspaper cuts that have
been printed Of them. In general form they are
very much alike; they are even smaller than
any one here had supposed and all who have
seen the caraveis this morning have now an
increased admiration and wonder for
the daring boldness and hardihood
Of those sturdy mariners Of four
centuries ago who had the courage
to embark in them for an unknown country or
at best for a known country by an unknown
route. That they discovered a new world, they
| say, was something in the nature Of an acct
| dent, but all the same Columbus is a bigger
man here today with the crowds who have seen
his ships than he ever was before.
The Pinta. the one first to enter the road
stead and consequently the one to attract the
most attention At first, stands very high out of
| the water for her size. Her lofty decks
| fore and aft, with low deck be-
| tween, makes her look not unlike a
| mammoth slipper cut away in the center She
has three nasts, one well forward, another well
at and the third and prIncipal one amidships.
! At the top Of this middle mast is a lookout or
crow nest. painted in odd stripes, that its APP
pearance Is something Ike that OF a huge bowl
Of aztec pottery.
One man Irreyerently remarked that it looked
very much like big shaving mug; and the gen.
ersl impression is that these caravels would
make an excellent model sor new style Noah e
ark in q child's set of toys. Their sails are
much like the lateen rigs that are SO common
in the waters of the Mediterranean.
The arrival of the caravels this morning was
all the more welcome in that it had been
| feared that owing TO the rough weather that
has prevailed for the past few DAYS their
progress might be SO much delayed that they
| would not have the time to put in at Hampton
Roads, but would have to go on directly to New
York.
| LOOKING FOR THE cARAvELs.
| The first definite news from them received
there for some time past came from Washing
ton, where it was reported that they
had been sighted along the horizon and
| that. unless sniuethinS unlocked for occurred