The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-17
Seventeen War Ships Ready for the Great
Naval Review Next Week.
The Sunday Quiet at Fortress Monroe Dis.
turbed by the Arrival of Two Formidable
Looking Vessels from Across the Sea-
British Squadron of Five Men-of- War,
Including the Blake, OF the Capes.
Don Christabel Colon Welcomed to the New
World by Catholics-World's Fair Notes
from GOtham-Krupps Monster Gun.
THE GATHERING WAR SHIPS.

THE GATHERING WAR SHIPS.
Seventeen Now in Hampton Roads-Arrival
of the Bausan and Jean Bart.
FORTRESS MONROE. Va. April 16-Tbe
broad green. white and red bars. with q
snowy cross on Q scarlet shield of the Tag
of Italy. and tri-color of France. float to-
day over the white-capped waves which
restlessly rise and fall In Hampton Roads.
Two new foreign vessels have srrived-the
Giovanni Bausan aud the Jean Bart
making seventeen men-of-war now in the
harbor. All this afternoon and until the
setting sun caused the shadows of the pro-
trudlng cannons to fall like dark index
fingers on the dazzling sides of the ships, q
brilliant picture was presented. The
launches and cutters of the vessels. eEch
displaying the snowy colors of its
nationality. sped to aud fro across the
waters. carrying lively parties to the
man-of-war and back again. The golden
sunlight was unbroken by q cloud. The
air W as 80 wonderfully transparent that
the CLINT of the brass works on the distant
Atlanta shone like star point in the
heavens. The sky was blue and the water
bluer still, with each wave crested with q
feecy rim of foam. as soft and dainty as the
fur which encircles q woman's opera cloak.
The excursion boats. thronged with specta-
tors of the scene. were moving monuments
of flags Upon the shore, the bustlina
throDGs in the hotel lobby. with the
officers conspicuous in their uniforms. the
gay throng of stylisbly dressed women on
the broad and sunny piazzas radiant IN
spring costumes and with huge bunohes OF
llacs on their breasts. and the merry .
chatter of conversation In half q dozen
languages gave spirit of animation to
Sunday scene that would have made the
Puritan father seek refuge in the bleak
forest of another continent
The Giovanni Bausan was sighted early
this morning. but not too early for the
usual burning OF powder. She is not
stranger to American waters. having par
ticipated In the last review in New York.
but her ARRIVAL was. nevertheless. the oc-
casion for much ceremony. She is par
TALLY protected cruiser, with two man.
moth ten-lnch guns which send half ton
of steel as straight as an arrow to the
horizons edge. She is not fair to look upon.
with her black and yellow paint, but she
can fight. She came to anchor in the vicin-
ity of the American feet. about SIX hum
dred yards from the:wharf. and, after she
had flung the United States Tag TO the
uihlu mast dDu e8lutou ~ Wiku ~Ou0
gune. WI hich was answered from the fort
an officer OF the Baltimore went on board
of her with all ceremony.
THE JEAN BART.
After the formalIty of the Bausan's re-
ception had been concluded the quarter
master on the bridge of the Philadelphia
cast his weather eye over toward the wide
stretch of water between the canes and
koA II
Like Q silhouette her black hull was out
lined against the white. feecy clouds which
hung lazily upon the horizon. Unlike the
Russian ships, she had no tapering mssts.
or graceful yards. or delicate traces Of
rigging. Her two masts were thick and
dwarfed. and but for the crows nests
which surmounted them. and which be-
trayed q military purpose. the craft might
have been mistaken for some gigantic
coal barge. AS she steamed nearer
told her nationality. and the vicious
looking ram which extended from her
PROV proclaimed her name. the Jean Bart.
a formidable armored cruiser added to the
French navy within the last five years. As
the cruiser moved slowly down the anchor
age, with scarcely ripple from either
side of her long and slender nose. the Jean
Bart presented d striking. although q SOM
bre picture. Her tall sides were dark 40
paint disclosed the undercoating of red
lead. The furnishings OF her decks. the
smokestacks and the steel masts were .
dirty yellowish drsb, like beach of sand
upon cloudy day. ana even her guns. in
stead Of rejecting the brilliant sunlight.
were dull brown. Through her open ports
the broadside of five and six-inch gums,
each weapon surrounded by its appropriate
Grew, were conspicuous. The huge
cylinders Of steel which surrounded
hA hnll nonfa afoA
by the large muzzles of her rapid firing
guns. The tars were standing at their
quarters in respectful attitudes, while
group OF officers In full uniform on the
glasses the fleet already assembled. With
equal interest the men upon the United
States vessels gaZed upon the warlike
stranger. and the marine who psraded IN
solitary glory upon the stern deck Of the
Italian presented arms.
Splash and rattle went the anchor of the
Frencbman to the bottom. The same in
slant the glorious stars and stripes wero
run M TO the summit of the mainmast. just
underneath the slender pennant. The gen.
tie southern breeze tenderIy caught the ma
tional emblem and seemed TO caress IL,
while underneath the big gums honored the
flag with an international salute of twenty
one guns. The ecao OF the hring had not
the distant fort thundered back q recogni.
tion and welcome.
THE FRESCHMEN SURPRISED.
Just at this instant the officers of the
Jean Bart ran to the side to gaze curIously
upon q strange craft that had come up
unobserved behind them and was silently
sliding by. 1t had the form and build of q
torpedo boat, with rounded decks scarcely
above the level of the water. and sheathed
with metal. painted brown. Over Its stern
was house on stills not much larger than
q hen coop of respectable size. 1t was
whaleback, common enough on the lakes
but decidedly unique in the Frenchmen's
eyes.
While they were still lost in wonder as
the unique specimen of naval architecture.
q significant incident happened. Even
while tine Frenchmsns gums were pay
ing their loud tribute 70 the Amer
lean flag. the captain of the General
Admiral stepped into his gig and started
as rapidly as four oars could carry
him towards the new arrival. reaching the
latter's side while the boarding officer from
the Baltimore was still some distance
away, and being received with due honors
There is q general impression among naval
Off cers that the ostentatious haste OF tho
Russian to welcome the latest arrival was
which Russia desires TO cultivate with
France. Admiral Walker. however IN
speaking of the incident. was not disposed
TO regard it in this light and said that any
vessel could thus formally welcome an.
other there being no established rule of
precedence. At the same time there is Q
feeling that under the circumstances. when
tho foreign ships are here by an
invitation from the United States