The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-27
RALLY OF THE WARSHIPS.
The Vessels Now Lying in the North
River.

fall into line. The start was so prompt
at 9;45 o'clock that the thousands Of spec
tators who had gathered to witness the
spectacle from Navesink Highlands and
the nights of Fort Wad5worth and other
points of vantage on Steten Island had
hardly taken up their position before the
guns of Forts Hamilton and Wadsworth
doomed their welcome to the advancing
fleet, Steaming neck and neck the two
admirals (Gherardi and Hopkins) and
their flagships led the way at the rate of be-
tween eight and nine knots A brisk breeze
curled the waters in,o white capped
breakers, but the magnificent ships
glided along 50 smoothly that their mo-
tion seemed scarcely perceptible. The
time occupied in passing the forts was ox-
actly half an hour. After passing the
narrows the vessels entered the upper
bay and the feet of excursion steamers
and yachts fell in and became volunteer
escort. The absence of cannonadiug left
the air clear and the outlines of the mag
nificent ships stood out in luminous sill
houette against the clOudless sky. The
flags of the different natioualities and
even the names of the ships were clearly
discernible from either shore
THE STATUE OF ERICSSON.
The various exercises attending the ar
rival of the American and foreign naval
officers in port began to-day with the un-
yelling in Battery park of a statue to
John Ericsson. The ceremonies began
with parade of the Swedish societies,
followed by exercises at the park, which
consisted of Choruses by 300 Swedish
singers, prayer, unveiling of the statue a
salute of twenty-one guns by the monitor
MiantOnOmOh and an OratiOn by Col
William c. Church.
MOVING UP THE RIVER.
The fleets were preceded by the navy
yard tugs and patrol steamers, whose
duty it was to keep the course clear. The
rear was brought up by four revenue cut
ters. No vessels of any kind were
allowed to break through this line. The
ships steamed up the river until the
Philadelphia and Blake reached point
opposite Eighty-ninth street, when the
signal was given to anchor. The rear of
the double line was opposite West Thirty
fourth street, and was held by the Mian-
tonomoh The Dolphin was off Twenty
second street, where she will remain
until President Cleveland boards her to-
morrow morning at 1920 o'clock to re-
view the ships 1t was Just II :45 o'clock
when single gun from the Philadelphia
announced that the anchorage ground had
been reached, and answering almost i'm
mediately a gun doomed on the Chicago,
and the anchors of the twelve American
ships dropped as ifreleased by electricity
The foreign vessels slowed down and
steamed to positions opposite the escort
ing vessels of our feet Scores of tugs,
crowded with sight-secrs, and excursion
boats and committee boats followed the
column of warships up the
North river. The navy tugs
and signal boats directed the foreign men
of-war where to anchor.
BEAUTIFUL SCENE.
The scene from any point on the river
front from NinCty-Sixth street down to
Thirty-fOurth street was beautiful one,
and q good fOrermner Of the spectacle
that will take place tomorrow Aside
from the signal gun to anchor, there was
no cannOnading to wake the echoes of the
palisades or the nights of Riverside park.
IL was high noon when the last
anchor was dropped and the fleet was in
position. The British ships extended down
to about Eightieth street, the Russian to
SiXty-ffth, the big, black Jean Bart of
the French navy being opposite Sixtieth
street. The Italian Etn& is off Fifty
ninth street, with the Giovanni Bausan
next in line. Opposite is the Concord, the
last in the American line. The De Julio
is opposite the Bausan, while the Van
Speyk is nearly abreast of the Infanta
Isabella. GCrmanys two vessels are on
the Jersey side, opposite tho other Span
iards. The Brazilian ships are just south
of the Spanish vessels on the New York
shore, and are anchored nearly off Thirty
sixth street There was no accident and
no confusion attending the anchoriug of
the men-Of-war. The big vessels moved
up the river in the positions to which they
had been assigned, and let go of their an
chors at almost precisely the points Sc
lected for them by Admiral Gherardi.
sIGHT-sEERs GIVEN CHANCE.
No vessels were allowed to pass be-
tween the line of the two columns of war
ships until they were all at anchor Then
steamboats, filled with sight-scers passed
up between the lines, and in and out to
obtain good views Of our white cruisers
and the floating castles Of the foreign ma
tiOns who are represented. The streets
to the river were filled with parties of
Sight-seers, aud the city assumed a holi-
day aspect. Crowds thrOnged the piers
which were accessible, and carriage
parties drove out on the Fifty-ninth
street pier to get a look at the ships. The
Riverside drive had gay throug Of people
all day. The big Blake and Philadelphia at
the heads Of the two columns were much
admired and the formidable looking Jean
Bart, the Brazilian battleship Aquida-
ban and the big Russian cruisers were
picked out as the most destructive looking
of the visiting ships. The clear atmos-
phere made all of the vessels, even those
of the farther column, plainly visible
from the New York shore, and while the
day was chilly it was such an improve
ment over yesterday that it was fully
enjoyed.
The caravels were lot in the position
to-day which they will occupy in the re-
view tomorrow.
THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB RECEPTION.
The reception given to the officers of the |
visiting naval fleets and the Duke of
Veragua by the Union League Club to-
night was a most brilliant affair The !
Fifth avenue front Of the big club house
was decorated with lines Of red, white |
and blue electric light, and an enormous |
star Of incandescent glass was sus-
pended above the entrance The /
staircases within were trimmed with |
laurel. and the rooms were hung with a !
profusion Of American flags. The big |
banquet hall was elabOra tcly trimmed I
with bunting and flowers In the lower /
hall two lines Of marines from the Philadel- /