The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-14
THE VESSELS RETURN.
INTERESTING DETAILS or THE AR
RIvALOF THE WHITE TESoUADROY.
Tho Spanish and italian Cruisers Ex-
pected to Arrive To-Day-The Ban
croft Joins the Squadron.

become as black as II an August thunder
storm was brewing II needed not the
practiced eye OF mariner to know that
the White squadron was returning home
from its forty-eight hours cruise, and that
the green waters Of the harbor were
soon to reflect again the snowy hulls Of
the beautiful fleet. The news Travelled
with electric rapidity. The pretty girls
in the hotel lobby, who had been signing
their sweet lives away. threw off their
ennui and dOnned their bonnets Through
drizzing rain and with a disregard for
the effect of dampness upon their dainty
spring toilets, they sped merrily down to
the edge of the spacious wharf under the
escort OF attentive cavaliers, who wore
the blue and red uniforms of artillery
officers. BY the time they had ranged
themselves in a most attractive line along
the edge of the wharf the vessels had
emerged from the mist, and were dis
cernible in long column. with the mann
moth Chicago at the head. The flagship,
with its towering masts and shapeiy hull
came proudly on. crushing its way
through the waves and throwing to each
side a series OF miniature billows. each
capped with a crest Of foam, that. like
the hull OF the vessel, was as white as
the driven snow.
Behind It came the Yorktown, the trim
cruiser, that, under the command of the
gallant Robley ID. Evans, laughed the
Chiians to scorn in the harbor of Val
paraisO when the Baltimore departed.
Then came the Charleston. vertable
bulldog Of a vessel Its short military
masts gave IL a stumpy appearance an
effect heightened by the protected sides,
which rose high and white above the sea.
while its massive jaws displayed a row
Of dark and ugly-looking teeth. In its
wake was the Nesuvius. the dynamite
cruiser long. low and narrow. Last Of all
came the Concord, one OF the smaller
gunboats as compared with the giant
Chicago, but, nevertheless, an effective
and handsome vessel.
Whittier and whittier grew the procession
OF these greykounds Of the sea as they
came closer into view. and more and
more distinct became each detail. Upon
the mizzen mast of the Chicago there
revealed itself tiny white flag bearing
two blue stars. the ensign of the admiral
The tall forms Of the officers. in their
long blue ulsters, began TO be outlined
against the sky. From the signal hal
liards noated a gay array OF bunting
which to the unintiated were nothing but
strange and mysterious symbols. ON the
bridge a man waved UP and down and
sidewise and lengthwise a large red flag
with a white square in its centre. IN
stanty the Philadelphia, the flag ship
Of Admiral Gherardi, became the stage
Of a live scene. There was musical
and ringing sound of bugle, ana ma
rines. who had been gathering In readi-
ness ever since the fleet was first sight
ed. fell into line. From the bridge
blue uniformed sailor talked silently, but
none the less energetically, with the man
who was still wigwagging with his red
flag on the Chicago. He was telling the
incoming vessels the news which had
happened since they went out TO sea.
admiral Gherardi has gone TO Wash
ington." waved the man on the mia
delphia." 80. K.," replied the man on
the Chicago. Then both men laid down
their flags, and their places were taken
by men who talked to each other by
means of long strings OF crazy quilt pen
nant. that meant ever 50 much TO those
VINO could understand them.
As the incoming warships hled slowly
past the Philadelphia the scene was eN-
ceedingly picturesque. on the quarter
deck Of Admiral Gherardi's vessel the
marines. with glistening guns. bright
uniforms and white gloved hands stood
in solemn precision. presenting arms In
honor of Admiral Walker, while on the
Chicago the marines also executed the
same ceremony. because they were I'm the
presence of the flag ship OF the squadron
The officers stood at attention, ana even
the crew of the Philadelphia. who had
been lounging over the side OF the snip
straightened up with momentary dignity
\ moment later the Chicago let go her
anchor. with the noisy rattle or heaVy
chain. almost within stones throw oI
fh..fs
cIided silently by sheered off to her side.
and took positions in the same order as
thev had entered the roads. except that
the little Vesuvius nestled herself quite
snugly and almost lovingly under the
shelter OF the Chcago's ponderons null.
The vessels went 10 their places win All
the grace and intelligence of well-trained
horses entering their stalls, ana then,
with their noses pointing seaward, as II
with a longing to snif again the iresh
salt air. settled down to rest tltteen
minutes later a procession Of pert nttle
launches put out towards the whari' d
score of officers received Joyous WEI
come. the hotel lobby once more puzzeu
with merry chatter and everybody was
happy. , r..ho,,,s
aoet which had also been out 10 Lynn |
through which the ships had gone were !
the same as those which made the drill
~ a fey days' ago so successful Ihey |
moved along I'm column formation, each |
shin exactly two hundred yards distant |
from the one in front and the one behind; !
thew circled I'm great curves, ike snowy |
eagles lowering over their prey ana ready |
20 swoop down upon IT; they signalled
Zach other with flags by day and with |
electric lights by night, and they PLAYED |
ar warfare with no enemy in eight. The
value ~ practice was shown by the mark
ed improvement OF these ihahoeu'leS o'0i
those of last week.
The return OF the feet was not the |
only event of the day. The Bancroft
ioined the squadron. Early TINS morn,
ing she lay opposite some huge coal
docks at the mouth OF the Elizabeth |
river. with an ungainly collier for
companion. BY slow degrees the dirty
cargo of the scow was transferred TO |
the hold of the war vessel. the white
paint becoming streaked with ink lines.
The Bancrofts signal number. a snowy
flag OF red, white and blue squares. fiut-
tered in the morning breeze, and the
early sunlight reflected the glisten OF
polished brass. At | O'Clock she moved !
up to the anchorage of the fleet.
II was time she had participated form
ally In the rendezvous, and she an
nc unced her arrival with becoming noise
and ceremony. There was n great deal |
of talking back and forth between the
men with the flags as she |
appeared In view. and there was much
running up and hauling down Of the
cfCnalC Ac she StQa med |