Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-05-03
The Navdl Rerie'r.


Wednesday. and the great review took place
on Thursday. Il is thus described; The
original intention was to begin the review
at 1890 O'Clock, but steady fall of rain in
the morning caused postPoBementuntilthe
afternoon. The Postponement was ordered
by Secretary Herbert at the suggestion of
President Cleveland. The invited guests
had already assembled on the steamers set
apart for their use. Vast crowds had as
sembled at all points from which view of
the feet could be had. They could not, Of
course, be notified of the change Of plans,
but all supposed that some hitch had &C.
Cured. and settled themselves as cOmforta-
bly, as possible to await developments.
The rain caused great disappointment on
squadrons anchored below the Palisades
The crack ships had been put in readiness
for their part of the celebration. Their
hulls had been painted, their decks holy
stoned, their brassworks polished until it
shone and their guns had been cleared for
far different work than their makers intend
ed-the cementing of peaceful relations in
stead of havoc Of war. 1t drenched the
decks and rigging and hung in pearly drops
from the brasswOrk Dress uniforms were
abandoned for storm coats and the Jack
tars Instead of being in holiday rig were in
everyday attire.
At a. m. the vessels of Spain, France,
Brazil and Argentina dressed ship All of
the other foreign vessels hoisted colors, with
the stars and stripes at the main. The
American ships hoisied colors, but did not
dress yards until 10 o'clock, at which hour
the British. Russian and Italian ships also
dressed yards. About l o'clock the rain
ceased to fall, although the clouds contin-
ued to hover about in a threatening man
ner President Cleveland, accompanied by
Mrs. Cleveland aud Lieutenant Wood, left
the Victoria Hotel at Los p. m. Eight
minutes later the party arrived at the foot
of West Twenty-third street, where thou
sand men and women, who had stood in the
rain tor four hours cheered him enthusiast
ticalIy. Mrs. Cleveland, enveloped in a
tweed cape, Macintosh, black felt hat
and black veil, was the first 10 alight, and
her appearance was the signal for the
cheering to begin. The President followed
her, removing his silk hat and paused for a
moment, bowling all around to the people.
The party was Immediately escorted to the
launch of the Dolphin, which started away
as the company was on board. The launch
steamed rapidly out to the Dolphin, and
from the shore the Presidential party could
be seen climbing up the gangway of the
dispatch boat, Mrs. Cleveland in advance.
As soon as the President reached the deck
one of the Dolphin's guns announced the
fact and the Presidents flag was unfurled at
her masthead. 1t was about o'clock
when the signal was given to start. The
blowing of a hundred whistles and the
booming of guns at LIS o'clock announced
that the President had embarked, and al
most instantly the crews of the men-of war
all along the line went to positions facing
the rail at the mastheads and tops. At
100 the first boom of the 10-inch gun on
the Miantonomoh announced that the Dol
phin, with the President on board, was
passing up between the two columns of war
vessels. The roar of the Miantonomoh's
p guns was followed by salute from the
Brazilian ships Republica and Tiranden-
ties. The Dolphin replied to the Brazillians
and cloud of smoke rose over the lower
end of the line of warships. The Brazil
lians manned yards just before firing, and
the long lines of blue jackets stood out
against a white back ground of smoke
The Dolphin moved at slow and stately
gait and the salute OF each ship was dis
tinct and sharp. The Aquidaban, flagship
of the Brazilian feet, finished saluting at
40 and the Neuva Espana took its turn.
The Dolphin was followed at distance of
about 500 feet by the Blake and she in
tulu " tuc .utdulOuvulbu. AZ n the
Seealder, of the German feet fred her first
gun. She was followed moment later by
the Reina Regente, of the star-board COL
umn, and the two ships, one on each side
of the Dolphin, made the welkin ring
The Kaizerin Augusta Joined the chorus
and the echoes rolled up the Palisades and
down again, until one seemed to hear a
line of artillery reaching for miles on the
Jersey shore. The bands on the ships
played the national air, but it was only at
intervals between the roar of guns that the
music could be heard The Van Speyk and
the Infanta Isabel salutes ran into each
other. Then there was pause for min
ute and Argentina's cruiser belched forth a
fash that was responded to BY big gun on
the Giovanni Pausen. 1t WAS 1.53 when
the Concord spoke, and she spoke so rapid
ly that her salute was done in two minutes.
The Etns paid her respects next Then,
after shart pause, light blue puff arose
above the dynamite tubes on the Vesuvius.
and a few seconds later there was din
overhead as though the sky was made Of
sheet-iron and bomb had struck. The
crowd at the foot of Fifty-ninth street had
not received from their astonishment when