Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-20
TIE ErNA.

was the Dutch ship vanSpeyk. She was quickly
followed by the Russian General Admiral and
verv soon afterwaTd the heavy guns of the mas
sive Elake took up the refrain and added it's
impressive quota TO the general confusion.
As the Etaa passed close by the Philadelphia
on the shore side the band on board the dag
ship playing and the appearance of the
Italian was greeted with enthusiastic cheering,
well when she dropped anchor to the west Of
the Hygeia and well On down the line the Phila-
deiphia gave her the customary salutes to her
colors and TO the admiral.
FIRING sALUTEs.
This matter of firing salr.es in honor OF new
arrivals in the feet Is curious one ard has
aroused a great deal OF interest in the minds Of
the people here. There are salutes to nations
represented, 20 flags, to ships. TO officers,
in fact il becomes matter Of some
difficulty NJ times TO find just what some % the
sa.utes are being fired for. One thing is cer-
tain. that is that they make a tremendous deal
of noise. and this mas the sad effect of inter-
fering with the afternoon siestas of the beau
ties Of the hotel.
A mere estimate Of the number of pounds of
powder that have gone out in smoke aud noise
during the week would be an interesting if not
particularly valuable computation. The pres
eace Of the fort makes the problem all the more
complicated, for the artillery takes its full
share in the matter of doing honor 20 the visitor
from foreign countries.
TIE OFFICERS CLUB AT THE FORT.
1t is not only with their cannon. either that
the army boys show their friendly hospitality
to the visiting sailors. Up in the fort, almost
hidden away in the casements of the fortifica-
tions, Is that unique place OF entertainment and
good fellowship that is known the
Officers Club. This institution occupies a series
OF the easements or arches of the fort running
along side by side sad connecting with each
other and the rooms Handsomely fitted ~
with all the attachments and conveniences of
modern club life, and the members have opened
their doors 70 the strangers within the fort and
have opened opened up '.grog" galore for
their entertainment.
The officers Of Fort Monroe have long had a
weil-desersed reputation for their hospitality.
no. only to their feliow-men-aI-arms but
visiting civilians at the hotel WELL
They are taken into the club and
are made to feel a. home just as they would be
a. any institution OF the sort in Washington.
II is a frequent occurrence for them after the
dances In the evening at the Hygeia, which
close at an early hour, TO get together party
of cougenial friends ard adjourn to the club
for an hour over a cigar and glass.
During this week Of the rendezvous the
ladies. too. nave been given a chance to see
the inside OF the club. and :here have been a
number of pleasant little informal gatherings
there, but it is TO the visitors the ships that
the members of the Officers Club have opened
pitaity.
YESTERDAYS AQUATIC SPORTS.
Yesterday afternoon there was an interesting
sight out in the roads wien the ships boats that
had gone over to Norfolk 20 participate in the
boat races returned TO the fat. The boys OF
the San Francisco had proved the winners in
every event. and when they got back to the
roads between ) and o'clock in tine afternoon
they were greeted with the most enthusiastic
cheering.
Ii was for all the world like a crowd after a
great college foot ball game. Then az they
passed each snip close to her shore side the
sailors and marines who We're drawn up On
| board gave them cheer after cheer in true
sailor style.
These they returned in like form, standing
up In their small boats and tossing their caps
into the air from sheer qualification and pleas
ure as their little crafts rushed through the
| water in the wake of the swift steam Yacht
| Ii was Jolly sIgnt seen by the large crowds
who were out 10 see the return OF the yictors
| and give them welcome.
There was Lively footing Of steam whistles
from all the steamboats, and launches in the
! roads. When the procession Of boats reached
the San Francisco the fun reached its
climax The san Francisco was at the extreme
eastern end OF the line, and her men
were all ready 10 cheer them. Their shipmates
had not only brought honor TO the ship. but
they had brought large financial gains well
to the men and they are living on the best that
/ Hampton county can afford today.
As the Golden Rod passed under the stern Of
the San Francisco the men on board the big
| ship fairy went mad with joy and enthusiasm.
| The officers were 10 less elated tLan the men,
though they were not demonstratiye in the
expressions OF glorihcation.
In The ball room, last evening the brass but
tons from ths San Francisco teit that they were
quite the lions of the occasion and they
prohted by their importance. Ii is needless to
say that they did not fail to roar little over
\ the less fortunate.
| MORE VESSELS ExPEcTEp.
The third Italian warship is hourly expected.
The Braziians are also expected along shortly.
but the Russian which has been due a week
is still at sea and no one seems to
l know when she will get in. Admiral
Ghersrdi has decided not to have the ships
take up position from the present anchorayes
and they will accordingly remain where they
first dropped anchor. There are now three
lines OF wsrships before the hotel, one COM
prising the American feet, another the En-
glish and Russian vessels and the third the
| French, Italian, German and Holland ships.
During the afternoon Admiral Gherardi viii