The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-04-28
GALLANT SEA DOGS
Grand Success of the Columbian Naval
Parade in New York
HarbOr.
A Fine Day Smiled On the First Days
Maneuvers, Delighting the
People.

the grandest marine review that has
ever been seen in the waters Of New
York. The vessels which arrived at
Gravesend bay last night swung at their
anchors in the beautiful sunlight of this
April morning, and not long after sun
rise everybody in the flee; and those who
had to do with getting ready for its re-
ception. were making final preparations
for the para',n. Extending south and
east werc two iyug lines of war vessels
brdccked in holiday attire Fussy little
tugs Tying TIE blue cross of guard duty
were pulling about the narrows and the
patrol feet was ready 10 do its duty.
Forty boats to Staten Island and to
Brooklyn were filed with sightscers who
were bound TO get as near to the start as
they could, and long before the time of
the parade the high banks along the
Narrows and bluffs at the forts. both Oh
Staten Island and Fort Hamilton, we're
thronged with people, and the roads
were filed with spectators hurrying tow
ards the shore to find good point of
view. Early in the morning the low
! hulled and aggressive looking MiantonO-
NAH left the fleet and went up the bay
| TO the point of the battery where she
prepared to give the visitors to American
| waters salute. When the MiantOnO-
nah left it seemed to be the signal for
every vessel in the fleet to start up, and
in a short space of time rolls of black
smoke were pulling out of black and white
hulls alike Notwithstanding the fact
that the ships were all on an errand of
peace they were particularly warlike in
appearance, for many Of the foreigners
have bows which are curved most ag
gressively and their hulls are rugged in Il
fashion so foreign and strange to mer-
chantmen that they take on Il naturally
pugnacious look The sun made the
sides of every white vessel in the fleet
| flash and the brass work of the decks
glistened like patches of FURNISHED gold.
There was hustling and business-like
air aboard them all, but there seemed to
be no confusion at all in getting ready.
At 9:18 the Philadelphia fired single
gun and good many of the sight see
ing pleasure craft blew whistles, but no
nois, could be heard so strong was the
wind. BY all odds the American line
made the finest showing. That was the
opinion of everyone, but. then everyone
who witnessed the picture from land was
actuated by feeling of patriotism. Ger
tainly Americans, and they numbered
thousands, who looked down upon the
Philadelphia, Newark, Atlanta, San
Francisco, Bancroft, Charleston, Nesuv-
ius and Concord, had reason to feel
proud. just such Il day was given to
the fleet on its start from Hampton
Roads. There was plenty of room for the
war ships to move in and the high banks
of the Narrows gave plenty OF room for
visitors by the thousands.
The fleet anchored in squadron forma-
tion, the powerful Blake, with Vice Adj
miral Sir John Hopkins pennant stand
ing out stiff in the wind, being about 800
yards below Fort Lafayette, and the
Philadelphia, with Rear Admiral Cher
ardls blue flag with two white stars at
her main, the same distance below Fort
TompKins, Strung behind each leader
were the ships which were to follow up
the bay and all are in readiness for start.
Dlmitri DonskOi was in the position in
which she anchored last night, and her
crew had been kept busy getting her in.
to trim for the review. rs she had not
been in pOIt at Hampton Roads, it was
necessary for the other admrals to pay
their respects, and at half past O'Clock
Sir John Hopkins put of from the Blake
and was saluted 10y II guns from the
Russian as he stepped on tho quarter
deck, the British flag at the same time
being hoisted. This was the first firing
that broke the stiffness of the morning
air and spectators not generally
knowing the cause Of the fir
ing were waiting for the fort to
answer A minute or two afterwards the
attention Of all was directed to Il black
speck up the Narrowa and with streaks
of foam diverging from her bows and a
wide wake of white water astern. the
diabolical Gushing rushed by at an eX-
press train speed. She reached the
Philadelphia in a short space of time,
wheeled around as if she were on pivot
and run up alongside the flag ship with
dispatches to Admiral Gherardi. She re-
ported all right at anchorage and along
the route of parade, and at . o'clock the
signal to prepare to get under way was
hosted. AS soon as the signals were
hosted on the Philadelphia two patrol
boats took up their position about lwo
hundred yards above the squadron ready
for the start. Steam was up on all OF
the war ships and Admiral Gherardi
was assured Of a prompt start when or
ders we're given. At ii quarter past nine
o'clock all anchors were hove short and
only the signal to move needed for the
procession to anchorage for the great
review of tomorrow. The route up the
bay was entirely clear of boats.
Looking down the bay the warships
could be seen iu squadron formation and
light smoke was coming out of their
smoke stacks as they moved slowly into
line. One gun sounded from the Phila-
delphia and her signals came down on
the run. Her screws began to churn up
the waters of the bay and she slowly
forged ahead against strong tide which
was racing down through the narrow
gateway to the upper bay. The Blake
was not quito in line with the Philadel-
pha so the latter waited for her to come
abreast of her before she went on her
way. Soon as they were in their proper
positions and with three patrol steamers
in the van they went up through the
narrows under one bell. In the mean