The state chronicle., 1893-04-27
A BEAUTIFUL SPECTACLE.
yesterday AT THE NAVAL RE.
VIEW IN NEW YORK HARROR.
Inc Maneuvers of the Splendid Ships
carried Out to a Nicety---The Flags
of the Different Nationalitfes Gailv
FIaunted
BY Southern Associated Press.


NEw YORK, April 26-Shortly |
after 8 o'clock this morning Admiral |
Gheraldi gave the preliminary sig
nal for the American and foreign
fleets to break anchor and fail into
line. The start was SO prompt (at
9:45) that thousands Of the specta-
tors who gathered to witness the
spectacle from the Navesink High
lands the Heights OF Fort Wards
worth. and other points of vantage
on Staten Island had hardly taken
up their position before the guns
of Fort Hamilton and Wadsworth
doomed their welcome to the ad-
vance fleets. Steaming neck and
neck the two Admirals (Gherardi
and Hopkins) and their fagships
led the way at the rate Of between
eight and nine knots.
A brisk breeze curled the waters
into white-capped breakers, but the
magnificent ships glided along so
smoothly their motion seemed
scarcely perceptible. The time oc-
cupied in passing the forts was ex-
actly half an hour. After passing
the Narrows, the vessels entered the
upper bay, and the fleet of excur-
sion steamers and yachts fell in and
became volunteer escort. The alb
sence of cannonading left the air
clear, and every outliue of the mag
nifcent ships stood out in a lumi.
nous silhouette against the cloud
less sky. The flags of the different
nationalities and even the names of
the ships were clearly discernable
from either shore.
Various exercises attending the
arrival of the American and foreign
naval officers in port began today
with the unveilling in Battery Park
of the statue to John Erickson
The ceremonies began with parade
of Swedish societys followed by the
exercises at the Park, which consis-
ted of chorouses by three hundred
Swedish singers, prayer, unveiling
of statue, salute of q guns by the
Monitor Mianatonomoh and ora
ton by Col. William G. Church.
The fleets were preceded by the
navy yard tugs and patrol steamers,
whose duty it was to keep the
course clear. The rear was brcr ght
up by four revenue cutters. NJ yes
sells of any kind were allowed to
break through this line. The ships
steamed up the river until the Phil
aoelphia and Blake reached the
point opposite E;ghty-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 Mianto-
nomoh. The Dolphin was off Twenty
second street where she will remain
until the President boards her at
1880 tomorrow morning to review
the ships. It was just Las when q
single gun from the Philadelphia an
nounced that the anchorage ground
had been reached, and answerin g
almost instantly the guns doomed
ca the Chicago and the anchors Of
twelve American ships dropped as
if released by electricity. The
foreign vessels slowed down and
steamed to positions opposite
the escortirg vessels of our fleet
Scores OF tugs, crowded with sight
seers and excursionists, and the
committee boats followed the col
umn Of war ships up North river
The navy tugs and signal boats di
rected the foreign men of-war where
to anchor. The scene from any
point on the river front from 96tE
street down to 34th street was
beautiful one, and q good fore
runner Ct the spectacle that vii
take place tomorrow. Aside from tn
signal gun to anchor there was nC
cannonading to wake the echoes 0
the Palisades or the heights of River
,, side Park. It was high noon wLel
: the last anchor was dropped ant
, the fleet was in position. TIL
! British ships extended to abou
00th street, the Russians to 65tE
the big black Jean Bart, OF th
French navy, being opposite GOT
street. The Italian Etna is off 59t
street, with the Giovanni Bause
. next in line. Opposite is the Cor
: cord, the last in the American lin,
The De Julio is opposite the Bause1
while the Van Speyk IS nearl
abreast of the Infanta Isabella. Gel
- many's two vessels are on the Jel
= sey side opposite the other Spar
y iards. The Brazilian ships are Jul
: south Of the Spanish vessels on tt
New York side, and are anchore
: nearly off Both street. There WI
.. no accident and no confusion a
tending the anchoraging Of Il
men-of-war.
The big vessels moved up Il
IS river IN positions to which they hs
been assigned and let go of the
anchors at almost precisely Il
le points selected for them by Admir-
y Gherardi. No vessels were allow,
Or to pass between the line of the t.
columns of war shiIs until tn
were ell at anchor Then steal
o. boats filed with sight-seers pass
M no Iho l,-1, -