Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-28
TONS OF POWDER
Was Burned as the Fleet Sailed
Up the River,
And Thousands Of Flags FIuttered as
President Reviewed Parade.
Despite the Rain the Naval Review was A
Grand Success.

sad 10 say all New York awoke this morn
| ing TO fad steady downpour of rain usher
ing IN the day of the great pageant A
chilly northeast wind added to the discom-
fort, and 100, 900 people who had arranged
to view the grand marine spectacle were
disappointed.
AT o'clock in the morning there were
signs of activity on all the vessels in the
fleet From the flagship of each nation
there was great hustle which indicated
that orders were being issued to the fleet
A moment later each vessel ran up big
American flag to the top of the mainmast
and and the big flags of her own country
fore and aft The Spanish, French, Bra
lillian and Argentine ships ran up lines of
steamers on their yards. Uncle Sans
white navy tioated the big holiday flags
from each mast.
At 10 o'clock the United States vessels
ran up their bunting and the British, Rus
sian, Italian, German and Holland ships
followed suit until all were in holiday at
tire.
At 10 so A. NJ, the signal boat, Gushing,
started out from 34th street and, running
up alongside of each vessel in line, carried
the information that the review had been
postponed until p. NJ.
The blowing of hundred whistles and
the booming of guns at LIS announced
that the President had embarked, and al
most instantly the crews of men-of-war all
along the line went to positions facing the
rail and at the mastheads and tops.
The rain had ceased and while clouds
hung low overhead, there were indications
that led anxious spectators to hope for the
appearance of the sun.
AT 1.30 the first boom of the gun on the
MiantOnomoh announced that the Dolphin.
with the President on board, was passing
between the columns.
The President was escorted by his naval
aides and ccompanied by Mrs. Cleveland
and members of the cabinet with their
wives, and members of the diplomatic
corps representing the foreign governments.
No representatives of the press or of the
general public were permitted on board the
Presidential yacht.
Even the Duke of Veragua, the nations
especially invited guest, the lineal descend
ant of Columbus, was brought along in a
separate vessel, the army boat of General
Meigs.
The roar of the Miantonomoh's guns was
followed by salute from the Brazilian
ships. The Dolphin replied to the Brazil
ians and a cloud of smoke arose over the
lower end of the line of warships. The
Brazilians manned the yards just before
firing and the long lines of bluejackets
stood out against a white background of
smoke.
The Dolphin moved at a slow and stately
gait and the salute of each was distinct and
sharp 1t was Just 9 u as England's crack
cruiser, the Blake, fired her first gun. The
Philadelphia saluted as the Dolphin reached
the head of the line and came to a stop just
in the rear of the caravels.
Each crew saluted the President, and
each ship began 2l-gun salute after he
passed, and when the Dolphin came to an
anchor at the end of the long alley all the
flag and commanding officers left their
decks to go and pay their respects to the
Chief Magistrate.
Then, when the President stepped ashore
from the Dolphin, up went all the men on
the yards again, bang-bang went all the
guns on every ship, and then the Presi
dents flag was hauled down, and the great
est naval spectacle ever gotten up on this
continent was ended in smoke. This in
brief was the programme of the day as car
ried out.
When the Dolphin reached the end of
the line in the neighborhood of 95th street,
she dropped anchor and made preparations
to receive the commanding officers of the
foreign squairons. Duly attired in full
ceremonial uniforms with cooked hats and
swords, the distinguished officers entered
their bsrges and pulled off for the Presi-
dental yacht where they were presented to
the President.
These visits formed one of the most in
teresting features Of the day. Fifteen min
utes before the reception ended and when
the President was preparing to land, an ad
moHitory signal was given from the Dol
phin, and as he left the vessel and entered
his barge at the foot of 96th street every
vessel in the fleet again manned yards and
rails and once more fired a salute of q
guns, following the Dolphins lead.
Then the Presidents flag was lowered
from the Dolphin and the public ceremon-
les of the day were considered over.
The line of vessels reviewed was over
three miles IN length, stretching in two col
unns from the foot of 23d street to about
95th street, where the review ship the Dol
phn was anchored.
Most of the foreign vessels were stationed
on the New York side Of the Hudson river;
the American fleet, with the German,
Dutch and Argentine crnisers occupied the
New Jersey side. The ships were anchored
800 wards apart, and the space of 400 yards
was left between the two columns.
Daring the half hour or more that the
presidential procession lasted. this cannon
aiing never ceased until, in all, more than
1000 guns had been fired.
Toward the close of their booming sepa-
rate identity had been merged in one great
roar, while flashes of red flame and dense
sulphurous clouds of smoke were all the
spectators on shore could distinguish.
The three admiralty flags were seen in
the American feet on this occasion. The
admiral Of the blue-that important func-
tionsry whom Capt. Marryat made familiar
to the worId-was in this case that gallant
fighter and sailor. Admiral Ghersrdi.
The rcd flag was at the peak of the New
ark. the flagship Of Rear Admiral a. T.. K
Benham, and the shite flag waved at the
stern of the Chicago, with Rear Admiral
John G.. Walker in command. Admiral
Gherart!i was aboard the Philadelphia and
in squadron movements the Gushing acted
as his dispatch boat.
! The Atlanta was the mate to Admiral
/ Beuham's flagship, the Newark. The next
/ pairs 10 couples were the San Francisco as
leader with the Bancroft as mate ard the
, Bennington as leader 18th the Baltimore As
mate.
| The Chicago, Admiral Walkers flagship,
as leader, had the Yorktown for her mate,
| and after these came the Charleston and
/ Vesuvius and the Mantonomoh.
| The quaintest part Of tndays proceeding