New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-28
ALONG RITERSIDE DRIVE.
TENS OF THOUSANDS STATIONED 1hEhE'
~ ADMIRABLE PLACE FROM WHICH 10 SEE
TIE GREAT SPECTACLE.


TIE GREAT SPECTACLE.
Man and nature made Riverside Drive ana i''r"
Simply an ideal place from which to see Yesterdays
,occont Not ONLY was it easily accessible. but IL
was spacious enough TO accommodate every ono WIZ
vor, there and tens of thousands beside IN" slopes
made II possible for all 10 obtain good view MOI
many women wore big opera hats, ana II t'ey h"u
If would have been easy to get from behind them
and find an advantageous spot from which To auhic
the floating fortresse'.
Tho first corners made their way TO the drive i'm
mediatcy after an carly breakfast with prudence
that was Ill rewarded. By O'Clock The crowd mum
bo,ca thousands and grew for the next two hours.
Anor that however the soaking rain and the non
appearance OF the Dolphin wore ont the pauehoe anu
spirits CT hundreds and they started IoT "o'"c'
soyertv second st. and other thoronshfares leading
eastward were flied with regiments OF unorcii"- IVA"
ing uacl,int Osll wearing men and Women
All the while, however others were mari NM
toward the river front Many had been detained Dy
business or had slcp; late and expected to see none
NJ thc ceremonies but only the SHIPS al anchor I'
Measurement OF the review was boon 10 N"''
About ! o'clock when the pclting rain had c"a's'u
% y mist and finally ceased altogether INC e"""''
from the shore sachened. There llad o''h "uV"
orarnr rs to tho cause OF the delay. and as to us
nrohahle length. But Ncw-lork CROWDS nave hau
nrov,ous experience with big celebrations whlch oiu
~. rup on tho scheduled time, and they ala ho'
worry overmuch -, ,
Ahou, the middle Of the day, news OF the post
movement Of the Dolphins start until ~ o.'o,"
spreod along the lines and groups OF people, anu '"r
waiting became less irksomc. Wien thc ram "''
ha re dav hundreds who had been driven home by II
,rrpad IN the drive refreshed BY their luncheohs'
e. streams Of people flowed toward the drive ana
49,, ona down It until late In the afternoon In ire
,,oraoue volumes. The late corners wanted I'D see
~. sbns anchored opposite the drive even u 'hey
had missed the fine spectacle oil the sa''eS " ''
dent Cleveland. 1890
Parts OF the long pleasure grounds were uhq"'S'
,,orahlv muddy. small boys In rubber top boots
had no end OF fun. sill II was easy 10 ma Pias'n'
spots from which the lines Of war vessels ana tie
mossas ~ excursion steamers could be seen. Inc
cravo,,sd roadway and sidewalk Of the drive proper
wore we'll drained The grass OF the park was -oi'
and NOT over wet cushion TO stand on ana 'He'e
was n refuge from the mud on the numerous rocks
cropping up OFT OF inc SOIL.
Tho entire drive was lined with cabs carriages
coaches AMI other vehicles. the occupants oi WHO"
had more or less interrupted view OF the gay scene
on tbo river At Seventy second-st. was "douDie
decker stage loaded with pretty girls. those on
ton had umbrellas and waterproof cloakS ana cha''en
and laughed through the rainy hours IN Il way u
make all around forget their d'sconiior's' Hi"'o''
or,,sue then Law the Aretl,us" ind Just brlo" WIS
the shaggy Jean Bart. which called out no end Of
comment.
The crowd found much TO amusc Il while II waited
and waited These with field glasses ana telescopes
evcllcd them at the white American cruisers ana inc
black hulei strangers and gave Bulletins abou' wha'
was stirring Oh them Pcdlcrs sold sandW'ch'a,
fuit and candy 10 the hungry. big crowd
gathered carly on the knob at Eigi'ietllst., Known
AZ Big Tom to the boys WHO coast down IT, Indeed
a perfect swarm Of people covered the river sid" "i
tho hill The piers black with people and 20
were the boats anchored along the shore Ihcre VIZ"
one mishap which, however. did not end seriously.
A crowd lined the low bank running along the tracks
~ the New York Central rOtd. Part VI Tie Dahh
near Eighty sccond-st. had been undermined b. the
rain and ii gave way. letting twenty or thirty
people drop three O. four feet Some excitement
was CAUSED, but II soon found that all had
descended easily ana In entire safety
\ most admirable place from which to SOC III"
spectacle was opposite Nircty-fourhst. where lay
the formidable LOOKING Blake wide stretch
separated the drive from the shore here. 50 there
was no end Of room. The English ships. the Blake.
Australia Maciccnnc and Tartar IN plain sight.
Tile dark looking Dlmitri Donskoi the General
Admira, ard the Rynda were in the range OF eye
sight. and the pretty, nnocen'-lookng white
cruisers the Philadelphia, Newark Atlanta. san
francisco. Bancroft and Bennington.
About 80 ocloc; the boom Of cannon that re-
v"Iberatcd 70 the west ana TO the north with
tlundcrous roll heard and every eye and every
glass was turned the broad waters Of the river.
After an interval the continued fire OF cannon told
that the review had begun. A burst OF blue smoke
with Il momentary heart Of white flame could be seen
eaping from the sides OF the vessels down the river.
For a long willie the Dolphin was lost In the cloud
Of smoke, but her progr IS was marked b. the
Of the caun0nadlng up the river.
The manning the yards Of the Russian vessels was
a pretty sight to those at Ninety -fourth-st The
figures OF the sailors stood ont against the sky like
those OF pcmies. ON the British men oiwar which
had no yards. the mcn in the tops or marshalcd
in military line deck. The wind being from the
north the sauies OF the vessels lying urthest down
the river sounded dull and mufed along 'hc drive.
In fact tie noise most like the pounding Of "A
bass drum. As the nearer vessels paid their tribues
Of smohc. fame and noise TO the President the boom.
ing became more distinct.
The great feet Of boats flied with sightscers
chiefly opposite the drive along the Palisades.
II was th.cIcst BY the Newark and above. where lay
The oddOohing caravcls. Al! morning CANOPY OF
steam and smoke hung low over this tumble Of cx
cnrsiOn steamers. tugs, ferry boats and Fighters. The
craft were 80 crowded together that IL seemed possible
Lv leapinc from TO the other TO get ashore from
the outetmos one. As the Dolphin drew up. half
a hundred bands ana five hundred steam whistles on
his feet set up camor that .ecmcd likely 10 drown
the report OF the 3!akc's big guns. The Dolphin
to anchor between the Blake and the Philadelphia
and then the merchant marine contingent grew rest
less. The boats moved around like swarm Of bees
and numbcress collisions seemed Inevitable. The
snar untanglcd. however, and the vessels started
down thc stream amid The menoi,war TO get better
For iwO hours those on shore could SEQ launches
from all the sqnadfons bringing officers The
Cleveland. At ! 80 o'elock The President earn, mt
ashore AT Ninety SIX th-st In the boat of the Dol.
phir, aud the crowds spread along both sides Of