The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-04-28
GREAT SHIPS OF WAR.
Cruisers and Battle Ships of Many
Nations Ready For the
Grand Parade.
A Fleet the Like of Which Was
Never Seen by Mortal
Man.

New YORK, April 25-Promptly on
time, with every prearranged detail car
ried out with marvellous exactness, the
combined naval equadrons of the old and
new world took possession of the lower
bay of New York harbor this afternoon.
Shortly before l o'clock the lookout in
the "crow's nest" on the vicious look
ing, double turreted monitor, Miantona
NAH, which was lying at anchor midway
between Sandy Hook point and the Scot
land light ship, signaled the fleet in
sight.
A special tug with the Associated
Press flag at her fore promptly put out
to sea, and through the gathering haze
and drizzling rain sighted the fleet NOV
ing along at rate of fully ten knots an
hour, in double column and perfect
alignment. The distances were accu
rately marked, 300 yards between each
ship, 600 yards between each squadron.
1t was stately and majestic signt. The
big, white fla. hip of Admiral Gherardi,
the Philadelphia, headed the port col
umn, and the huge, black British cruiser,
Blake, Admiral Hopkins flagship, led
the starboard column, all according to
the programme, the other vessels follow
ing in regular order:
On the port side the flagship Newark,
Admiral Benham, followed by the Allan
ia, San Francisco, Bancroft Bennington
and Baltimore. Then the flagship Chi
cago, Admiral Walker, followed by the
Yorktown, Charleston, Vesuvus and
Concord. After them and bringing up
the rear of the column were the Dutc h
warship Nanspeyk and the German
cruisers Kaiserine, Augusta and the
Stadler.
The Blake was followed on the star
board column by the other vessels of the
British squadron, the Australia, Magi-
cienne and Tartar, and by the Russian
vessels General Admiral and Rynda.
The belated flagship of the Russian
squadron, the Dimitsi Donskovi, with
the Russian admiral. Kozonakotf on
board, awaited them at anchor off quar-
antine. Next came tho Italian vessels
the Etna and Rausap, and the Brazilian
squadron the Aquidaban, Tiradentes and
Republica.
AS the Philadelphia IN the lead neared
Sandy Hook lghtship at l:50 p. M, the
fog whistle of the lightship gave series
of welcoming toote, but the big white
flagship swung round in ma jestic silence
and crossing the bar and entering Sed-
ney's channel, set the pace at good
ten and half knots an hour, the New
ark following close in her wake and the
Atlanta the regulation distance behind.
Once fairly in the channel the Philadel-
phia signaled the fleet TO proceed with
oat reference to formation. The vessels
of the starboard column slowed down
and allowed all the American fleet to
round the lightship first. Then the
Blake and other Britishers followed
safely crossing the bar before flood tide
at 3;31 p m.
Then the big guns of the Miantono'
nah doomed II welcome. The leading
vessels of the fleet turned to the south
west spit at about 2:i5 and entered the
main ship channel. 1t was still raining
but the weather was not so thick as to
seriously impede the movements of the
lleet, In the channel the Philadelphia
slackened speed to about eight knots tc
allow thu other vessels to catch up, aud
the entire fleet proceeded in single file
up tie bay to the Hnchoring grounds
which Capt. Rogers and his aidcs had
selected. Despite the obscurity of 1hC
, weather the procession up the bay was
!, exceedingly beautiful. Gravesend bay
was reached at ;5::iO and the Philadel
phia opened the salutes by firing iiftecl
guns in honor of the Russian admira
, and his flagship Dimitri Donskoi, The
; band on board the Philadelphia playing
Il Russian national air The Russi I
promptly acknowledged tho salute. A.
3:J the Philadelphia fired one gun as /
] signal to core to anchor and the New
, York passed the signal to other vessels
Of the squadron which instantly hove to
The fleet Of guard boats under Cap
tam Rogers kept the anchorage grount
clear while rumberless yachts and tug
, boats and crowded excursion steamers
, circled round as close as permitted i
/, was exsctly BAT when the Philadelphia
let go her anchor right OF the Craver
shoal buoy and swung round with th'
, strong food tide with her nose pointing
D for Sandy Hook
Twig the Gold Bugs.