The state chronicle., 1893-04-28

| Hoo passed. the Jack tarS
came down from their positions in
| arms.
The Van Speyk and the Infanta
Isabel salutes ran into each other.
There was pause for a minute and
the Argentina's cruiser belcbed
forth flash that was responded to
by the big guns on the Giovanni
bausan, 1t was 1:53 when the Con-
cord spoke, and she spoke so rapidly
that her salute was done in two
minutes The Etna paid her re-
spects next. Then, after a short
pause a ligh-blue puff arose above
the dynamite tubes on the Vesuvius
and few seconds later there was
DIP overhead, as though the sky
was made Of sheet iron and the
bomb had struck. The people at the
foot of 59th street had not recovered
from their astonishment when the
sharp tongue of fire shot out from
the side of the Jean Bart and there
was report that made the women
scream and the windows ratified
along the river front.
1t was just PIP as Englands
crack cruiser, Blake, fired her first
gun. There was big puff of
smoke and the deep boom was me-
tlrely different from the sharp
sounds of the guns of toe smaller
vessels. The Philadelphia saluted
as the Dolphin reached the head of
the line and came to a stop Just in
the rear Of the caravels. At the
same time all the steam boats, tugs
and pleasure craft blew their whis-
ties and made a din almost as deaf
ening as the saluting. There was
cheering and waving of hats, hand
kerchiefs and umbrellas, and the
trlumphal procession Of the Presi-
dental party. The whistles sent up
a cloud of steam, which added to
the smoke Of the guns, obscured the
view Of large portion of the river
! The admirals of the different SQUAD
rons then embarked in steam
launches and proceeded to the Dol.
phin.
| At 2:30 the Merchant marine was
signatled to get away. TIE Sea
Bird with committee on board.
rounded the head of the double
column of men of war and started
down the river on the New YORK
! side. Al Foster followed and the
police patrol tugs fell in line two
by two. After them came the tugs,
steam boats, and steam yachts, two
and three abreast, and ell with
whistles blowing, men shouting and
women waving parasols as they pas
sed each man of war. The como
tlon that followed has never been
equalled IN Hudson river. Clouds
OF steam rose from the tugs and
blew across the men-of war
Crews of men-of-war faced the
rail and waved hats and handler
chiefs, at the noisy tugs and steam
boats, as they passed. Several
steam yachts salutod the men-of-
war with one gun which sounded
like toy pistol after the big guns
OF the men Of war. The whistles
Of the tugs snd steamers kept up 8
continual footing and blowing from
the time they were given permis
sion to start until the lower end oi
the long line of the squadron was
reached. The monotony Of the
noise Of the whistles was varied by
the sirens on several tugs and fire
boats.
The passengers On the steam
boats crowded to the side toward
the men-of-war. and many of th,
steamers seemed IL imminent dan
ger OF careening. They went dow
the river with one paddle wheel il
the air and the guards were under
water. In the procession of boat
were steamers from Albany anC
; Troy, from Long Island Sound
from Shrewsbury river and Newark (
y. j.; Staten Island ferry boats anc
boats from hundreds Of near bv
points. One ocean steamer, til,
Roanoke, Of the Charleston line, wai
! even pressed into service, and thu
lighthouse tenders, custom hous,
boats and barges towed by puffins
tugs were numerous.
The reception of the Adnirals bv
the President lasted until 40 D. m
/ Then his flag was hauled down OF
the Dolphin and he went ashore a
Goth street and at signal from th,
! Philadelphia the guns Of the entir,
I | fleet belched forth simultaneously
+. Each vessel fred 2l shots an,
the roar that they made was deafen
ing. When it subsided, the smok
! hung IL heavy clouds over the rive
1 and the Jersey shore was invisibl
! for some minutes. The admiral
: returned to their steamboats,, whic
still fingered with passengers desir
Gus OF seeing all of the great navs
j. pageant, went to their piers an
the ceremonies were over.
From the time the President start
= ed on his tour through the line
until the final salute was fired; th
q weather was cloudy, with rain. Tn
q air was cold and unpleasant, an
: the wind came out of the northeas
q lt was an Improvement upon th
Il e0Tpn0Qn ht1t -