The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-01

AaAA0 hRAAkN "a Nhk Nv NANNA 80
mosphere laid bare every point OF in
terest, every object OF beauty in the
land-locked harbor. The telegraph has
flashed the story OF the day, to which
no description can do Justice 1t was
something to SEQ these war ships,
manned by 5000 men, moving ON the
greatest city OF the new world, at their
command every engine OF destruction
that the mind Of man has been able Ia
devise, coming on q peaceful mission
gathered from all quarters OF the globe
as a token OF the fellowship Of nations.
1t seemed prophecy of the good time
coming-and' probably very far Off
when the battle ships shall be turned
into merchantmen, tho swords into
pruning hooks, the great guns into pillow
shares. Meanwhile the rivalry among
the nations goes on, each tries 70 get
the best and the most OF it, and the
strength Of each is the security OF all,
Thursday was to BIO the great day,
and SO indeed it was, in spite OF the
chill rain which April and New York
know so we'll how to produce on very
slight provoCation, and further in spite
OF the cold brutality Of somebody, or
the aggregation OF nobodies, responsible
for postponing the review for three and
half most trying hours. Embarked
on a boat with comfortable cabins was
not long in looking up q little room
with little stove in which petty olli-
Ger was induced to build u roaring big
fire for the accommodation OF our little
party, and for which distinguished SER
vice he refused to accept any other fee
than good cigar, We would have
been only too glad to exchange u whole
box OF cigars or the equivalent for the
saving grace OF that fire, What must
have been the condition OF tho waiting
crowds on the river banks, in the mud,
in the trees, on the house tops, in the
whole stretch OF unshettered places on
the two shoresP A local paper esti.
mated tho number OF sight-seers at u
round million ashore and atloat. Be
the same more or less, every one OF
them was in absolute ignorance OF the
postponement. About l2 o'clock, two
hours after the appointed time, a funny
fellow on our boat suggested that We
needn't look for tho Dolphin with tho
reviewing party very soon, for the Pres
ident, instead OF being on board, was at
the Victoria hotel taking his luncheon.
Tho idea was so preposterous that
everybody within hearing laughed.
The funny fellows random shot had hit
tho buIPs.eye. The President was at
the Victoria.
1t was explained afterwards that the
postponement was suggested to the
President and that he acquiesced readily
because he preferred not to go in tho
rain. Another explanation was that he
thoughtful better to give the weather n
chance to clear 80 that the people might
have better look at the review. Again
1t was said that the committee OF ar.
rangements did it. This at least is true,
that the President was in supreme COM
mand and nobody would have dared to
interfere with tho programme without
his suggestion or assent. Every minute
OF the three hours and half delay the
crowds expected tosee the Dolphin start
and to hear the guns boom. Through the
whole OF that dreary time the manage.
ment knew better and there knowledge
was comfort il not bliss. was on n
boat licensed to carry $500 persons.
She was chartered by the Republican
Club of New York. which limited tho
number OF passengers to 200. On this
boat everybody had shelter at least.
There were boats carrying from 5000 to
1000 each, and the people on them were
SO packed that not half OF them had
shelter from the rain and cold. The
physicians, the druggists, the under
takers will profit by that exposure.
Through it all there was that great
good nature that marks an American
crowd. Men aud women muffled to the
throat chatted, chafied and laughed
over the discomfort OF the day. There
was an easy .informality about it all.
Nobody stopped to be introduced to his
neighbor II somebody wanted infor-
nation he fired his question promiscu-
ously into the group near him, and it
was q hard question that did not re-
ceive an intelligent answer, always
barring questions relating to the delay
and its causes. An Englishman with
whom talked said this easy-going way
OF striking up casual acquaintance
impressed him as being quite extra
ordinary" when he first came to this
country. / was impressed with the
knowledge displayed OF war ships in
general and of those in the review in
particular, showing that many OF these
people had travelled and all OF them
had read. They talked OF protected
cruisers, battle ships, armamonts, dis
placement and that sort OF thing US
though it were q part OF their business
in life to be up on such things. Above
all they were proud OF the American
navy rs they saw 1t and OF the promise
OF more to come.
That would have been q good time
and place to propose an appropriation
to double the strength OF the American
navy in the next year. The bill would
have gone through with whoop and u
howl and three cheers for the Star
Spangled Banner. 1t was good thing
to show tho American navy to as many
Americans as could SEQ IL aud to show
il to them in contrast with tho repre-
sentative war ships Of other countries.
II was q contrast TO stimulate, but not
TO satisfy, our national pride. We havo
made good beginning but have not
reached the end. We must have more
battle ships before we come up to tho
full stature of a naval power Of the first
class. After this we Hhall have loss
trouble to get them.
The caravols Spanish carabclas) at
the head OF the column were objects Of
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