The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-17

FoRTREss MONROE, Va, April 10
The broad, green. white and rod bars
with a snowy cross on n scarlet shield
OF tho flag Of Italy and the tri-color OF
France Aoat to-day over the white.
capped waves which restlossly rise and
fall in Hampton Roads. Two new for.
eign vessels have arrived-the Giovanni
Bausan and the Jean Bart-making
seventeen men.oi.war now in the har-
bor. All this afternoon and until the
setting sun caused the shadows OF the
protruding cannons to fall like dark
index fingers aslant the dazzling sides
OF the ships, brilliant picture was pre-
sented. The launches and cutters OF
the vessels, each displaying tho snowy
Colors oil its nationality, sped to and fro
across the waters, carrying lively par
ties to the men.ot-war and back again.
The Bausan was sighted early this
morning, but not too early for the usual
burning OF powder. She is not q
stranger to American waters, having
participated IN the last review in New
York, but her arrival is nevertheless
the occasion for much ceremony. Ere
the formallty OF the Bausan's reception
had been concluded, the quGrtermaster
on the bridge OF the Philadelphia cast
his weather eye over toward the wide
stretch of water between the capes
and sighted another mRn-oi-war inward
bound. 1twas the French frigate, Jean
Bart. Splash and rattle went the an
Chor OF tho Frenchman to tho bottom.
The same instant the glorious stars and
stripes were run up to tho summit OF
tho main mast, just underneath the
slender pennant. The gentle southern
breeze tenderly caught the national
emblem and seemed to caress it, while
underneath the big guns honored the
flag with an international salute OF
twenty-one guns. The echo OF tho fir
ing had not died away when reVerber-
Nting boom from the distant fort thun-
dered back recognition and welcome.
Just at this instant the officers oil the
Jean Bart ran to the side to gaze curl
ously upon strange craft that had
come up unobserved behind them and
was silently sliding by. 1t had the
form and build OF torpedo boat. with
rounded deck, scarcely above the level
Of the water, and sheathed with metal
painted brown. Over its stern was
house on stills, not much larger
than hen coop Of respec table
size. 1t was whaleback, common
enough on the great lakes, but deCid-
edly unique in the Frenchmen's eyes.
While they were still lost in wonder at
the unique specimen OF naval archi-
lecture significant incident happened.
Even while the Frenchmen's guns were
paying their loud tribute to the Amerl-
Can tlNg the captain stepped into his
gig and started as rapidly as four oars
could carry him towards the new ar
rival, reaching the latter's side while
the boarding officer from the Balti-
more was still some distance away, and
being received with due honors.
There is u general impression among
naval officers that the ostentatious haste
of tho Russians to welcome the latest
arrival was meant to emphasize tho
friendly relations which Russia desires
to cultivate with France, Admiral
Walker, however, in speaking to your
correspondent, OF the incident was not
disposed to regard it in this light and
said that any vessel could thus formally
welcome another, thoro being no estab-
lished rule of precedence.