The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-26
THE ESQUADRONS ARRIVE
SHIPS or NEARLY 4 DOZEN NATIONS
IN PEACEFUL WATERS.
The BeIated Russian Flagship Bearing
yice-Admiral KoEnahon Arrives.
The Columbus Caravels.

| QUARANTINE. N. Y. April 2.-
Promptly on time, with every prear-
ranged detail carried out with marvel
lous exactness, the combined naval
squadrons of the old and new worlds
| took possession OF the lower bay OF
New York Harbor this afternoon The
belated flagship OF the Russian squadron
the Dimitri Donskoi, with the Russian
| Vice-Admiral Koznahoff on board'
awaited them at anchor off Quarantine
AS the Philadelphia, in the lead, neared
the Sandy Hook light ship at 80 !. M''
| he fog whistle of the lght-ship gave
| series of welcoming toots. but the Dig
white flagship swung around In maJes-
| tic silence and crossing the par anu
entering Gedneys channel. set the pace
| at a good ten and a half knots an hour'
| the Newark following close In her wake,
and the Atlanta the regulation distance
| behind once fairly In the chanhel Tue
| Philadelphia signalled the fleet TO pro-
| ceed. without reference 10 formation,
| and the vessels of the starboard column
slowed down and allowed all the Ameri-
can fleet 10 round the liSht-ship hrst
| Then the Blake and the other BrlusherS
| followed. fafely crossing the bar before
food tide. at L. NJ the squadr"ns OF
each column alternating till all had
nafey rounded the channel Then the
big guns Of the Miantcnomoh doomed
welcome. hut the Hook was passed IN
silence.
The leading vessels Of the fleet turned
the southwest spit about 2:i5, and entered
the main ship channel. 1t was still ram
ing. hut the weather was not so thick as
TO seriously impede the movements OF tne
fleet. In the channel the Philadelphia
slackened speed 10 about eight knots so
as TO allow the other vessels TO eaten up
and the entire fleet proceeded in single
file and impressive silence up the pay
IA the anchoring grounds. Despite the
ohscuritv Of the weather. the procession
IN the bav was exceedingly heauttul.
| Gravesend Bay was reached at $3.50,
| and the Philadelphia opened the salutes
nv firing fifteen guns i'm honor OF the Rus
sian admiral and his flag ship. the DIM
itri Donsl<oi. the band on board the
Pbiladelphia playing the Russian national
air. The Russian promptly acknowle1sed
the salute At 1876 the Philadelphla Ired
| one gun as a signal 10 come 10 ahchor'
and the Newark passed the signal to the
other vessels OF the squadron which IN
stantly hove TO.
The fleet of guard boats kept the an
chorage grounds clear. while numperleSs
little Yachts and tug-boats ana crowned
excursion steamers circled around as
close as permitted. II was eXactly 90.
when the Philadelphia let go her ahchor oi,
| Craven Shoal buoy. and swung around
with a strong food tide, with her nose
pointing for Sandy Hook.
The VOYAGE from Fort Monroe 70 an
chorage was a most delightful one. Inc
predictions Of rough weather, based upon
the northeasterly winds whipping INTO
temnostuous waves the unusually plach
waters OF Hampton Roads, failed TO De
realized, much to the relief OF senators
Gibson and Butler, several representa-
tives in Congress and many other us
tiDgllished Iandsmen who happened TO
be on the ships.
Tho ocean was as smooth as the typi-
cal mill pond, and the wind, though cool
and fresh, did not at any time dow win
force sufficient to cause discomfort. NO
accident occurred, and there was 10
hilton in the programme at any point
save in the inability Of some or the
foreign vessels to maintain even the
moderate speed set by the Philadelphia.
The vessels kept steadily out TO sea
until Cape Henry lighthouse was some
distance astern, and then the Philadel-
phia flew a gaudy combination Of signals,
"Prepare TO change your course. sald
the silent flags. and a few minutes later
the bows OF the Philadelphia and the
Blake. instead of being headed straight
across the Atlantic, were turned north
easterly in the direction of New York
harbor All the other vessels. as soon
as they reached the place where the
} leaders had turned. also swung round.
The picture which they presented was
extremely beautiful. So close astern Of
the Philadelphia that a stone might have
been tossed upon her Immaculate decks
was the Newark Every vessel in the
squadron followed at the prescribed dis
tance, presenting an array Of cleaning
hulls and glstening guns that dazzied
the eye.
The Starboard column became demora-
Iized soon after the long low sand hills
OF Cape Henry had disappeared from
sight. The Brazilians were speedily left
| in the rear, and presently the gap IN be
tween the Arethuse and the Hussard
grew wider and wider. The Italians were
also but mere specks upon the horizon.
, | The Blake kept abreast OF the Phliadei-
, phia. and the Australia. Magicenne and
Tartar followed 50 evenly and steaully
that an iron bar connecting them could
not have secured greater precision OF
| movements No change Of course or
, speed disturbed the regularity or their
, distance from each other. They know
, how TO sail in squadron remarked Ad-
! | mirdl Gherdrdl as ne Sldhctu WIN "N-
; | miration OF a gratifed critic at the con-
, fident skill with which the British eXecu-
, ! ted every manoeuvre.
, AS a matter OF precaGtion Admiral
| Gherardi had laid course which carried
| the ships ten Of fifteen miles further out
| than the usual course from the capes "a
| New York and the wisdom Of this action
| was apparent in the freedo Il from inter
ference on the part OF passing vessels
which the fleet experienced. At 10 O'Clock
this morning the American and foreign
vessels were signalled from the Philadel-
phia 10 fall into line similar TO that which
| they presented on leaving Hampton
| Roads. This evolution was accomplished
most credtably not only by the United
| States vessels. which, as might have beer
. | expected, acted we'll together. but alsC
| by the foreign men-of-war. The Italian:
, did not fall in behind the Frenchmen
, | but remained off on one side. In this
, formation the procession OF ships headed
| for Sandy Hook Just outside Of th'
? light ship, and when Admiral Gheram
, | was discussing his noon day breakfast
the Argentine cruiser Nueve de julio ap
peared I'm sight, and made It's presence
known by salute OF fifteen guns to th'
| Admrals flag. AS soon as the SALUTE
had been returned the feet was signalleS
10 push into the bay In single column
The flagship and Admiral Benham!
} squadron steamed ahead. then the Eng
lishmen fell in, and then followed Admira
: Walkers squadron, and the Russians
Z | Holanders, Frenchmen, Germans anC
Italians In the order named The Brazilian
Slips were not In sight when the an
| cnOrage was made.