The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-27
PASSING UP THE BAY,
Tho British Ship Blake Catches the Eye
of tho Multitude

Tho British Ship Blake Catches the Eve
of tho Multitude.
New YORK, April 27-The shores of New
York bay were lined with people yesterday
to see the war vessels from all nations pass
mp from the Narrows. Flags and bunting
blew from every craft on the water, pre-
senting brilliant appearance. After sew
eral hours of expectancy the long hulls oi
the war vessels were seen far down the
Narrows. Soon their ghostly lines as.
sumed definite shape, and as the feet came
out of the Narrows the squadron distance
was formed. The two columns were COG
yards apart. with the Blake and Philadel-
phia in the van. As the leaders passed
Governors Island a salute thundered from
Ehe old fort, while steam whistles shrieked
b noisy welcome, and ms tho ships passed
Liberty Island the Miantonomoh fired
kwenty-one guns In honor Of the unyeiling
of the Ericsson statue. The Blake caught
the eye Of the multitude She moved as II
heid in check, but her speed was nine miles
an hour. She carried a guard flag at her
koremast peak and floated the naval en-
Sign of Great Britain at her spanker gaff
The river was kept clear during the pass
ing of the squadron by a patrol Of three
tugs The fleet presented magnificent
on the British ships as they proceeded up
the river and the strains of music waited
across the water were plainly heard by the
crowds along shore.
The Philadelphia passed the Santa
Maria, which was anchored near the Jer-
sey shore, nearly opposite Eightietn street
The Pinta and Nina were anchored short
distance farther up the stream The crews
of the mimic Columbus fleet cheered and
waved their hats as Uncle Sam's navy
steamed by. The white ships Of our own
navy made showing that was not cclipsed
by any of the squadrons of our visitors.
Following the formidable looking Blake
came the other Britishers and Russians,
the Frenchmen, the Italians, and the
Spanish and Brazilian vessels brought up
the rear of the starboard column.
The United States vessels in the port
column were followed by Argentines
crack cruiser, Hollands single representa-
tive, the Van Speyk, and the German ves-
sells
1t was Just 1i;45 when single gun from
the Philadelphia announced that the an
chorage ground had been reached, and,
answering almost instantly, gun doomed
on the Chicago, and the anchors of the
twelve American ships dropped as if re-
leased by electricity.
The foreign vessels slowed down and
steamed to positions opposite the escort
Ing vessels of our feet.
There was no accident and no confusion
attending the anchoring of the lnen-of
hwar. The big vessel moved up the river in
the positions to which they had been as
signed, and let go of their anchors at pre-.
clsely the points selected for them by Ad.
miral Gherardi. No vessels were allowed
10 passed between the iipes q the two
columns Of war ships until they were all at
anchor. Then steamboats, filled with sight
seers passed up between the lines and in
and out to obtain good views of our white
cruisers and the floating war castles of the
foreign nations who are represented Small
boats also became numerous and lodged
In and out among the war vessels.