The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-28

instant each warship in the two long lines
had a bright ensign floating at its masthead,
with its own national flag at the spanker
gaff So quickly and easily did the flags 60
up to their places that it appeared 4 marvel
Gus work of precision and unison. An in
slant elapsed and another transformation
took place. Rainbows of flags were run
aloft to the iOpgallant mast ana lined down
to the tOpgallant, topsall and lower yards.
Not sailor was a!Oft as the flags went
up, yet there was not hitch. The halyards
moved through the blocks Without sound
or squeak or rattle, and in a minute the
entire feet was dressed in holiday attire.
The effect was Frightening to the scene.
and those on shore realized what the small
groups of busy tals on the Quarterdecks,
midships and il the forecastles of the war
ships had been doing They had been bend
ing on the bunting to the halyards that was
all.
While the fleet appeared to dress in uni
son, there was, of course, a first and last,
aud to the credit of the jack tars on the San
Francisco, the fourth of Uncle Sans fleet
In the starboard line, it must be said that
they dressed their jaunty wGrship's spars
first with a skill and precision that spoke
great discipline and agility.
The big Frenchmap. the Arethuse, flag
slip of the tricolor squadron. was good
second, scarcely ten seconds behind the San
Francisco, while the Russian men-of- war. the
DImitr Donskol, General Admiral and Hyn-
da, were the last. Even the British warshius
beat them, and Johnny Bun was none too
prompt in getting his rainbOws aloft at that.
aud 1t seemed at first as if the British Off
GERS had not intended to dress their hand
some vessels much before The hour for re-
view.
Before the bells changed once again to
announce the half hour every ship in the
feet was gayly decked and small boats were
again skimmng around from ship to ship,
bearing messages and officers from admrals
to captains. Annther half hour and the
decks of the meu-of-war became alive with
yellow oilskius. The decks were cleared
and the guns run out TIL their muzzes
pointed well at the heights in Jersey and
were trained a the tall buildings OF the city.
"Clang, cang." Nine O'Clock and all
ready, the decks cleared as if for action
and the guns ready to roar the national
salute for the Dolphin. Tae rain had be-
gun pouring down in torrents-aye, as the
sailors put it. ii was buckets in the SOUP
pers," and the outlook was disheartening.
Then there was a stir on the big Phiadcl-
phia at the head of the column. signal
flag was whisked aloft foT the attention of
the Blake. Then another, and the tars on
the Blake heard that tho review had been
postponed till l o'clock by Admiral
Gherardi after consultation with his Off
GERS and other off eIs of the fleet.
The signal for the postponement was
flashed along the line in a twinkng till 1t
reached the Dolphin at the foot of Twenty
third street. She gave it to the port line
and in fifteen minutes the guns were drawn
in and all became quiet.
The deplorablY bad weather Of the fore
noon, the fear of the effects of the exposure
on Secretary Herbert, who caught bad
cold yesterday. and the promise of better
conditions later in the day from the local
signal service were the cause of the post
ponement.
Fortunately The promise of better weather
was fulfilled, and the review Of the inter-
national fleet was conducted as arranged.
except as to the time, with complete sue
cess, the rain having entirely ceased, though
light clouds still remained.
The importance Of fine weather MS fea
ture on an occasion OF public rejoicing or
celebration OF any kind in the open air was
very cruelty proved to-day, as it was so
agreeably demonstrated yesterday. Prob
ably, however. it occurred to few that bad
weather. even such heavy rain as poured
down in New York all this morning, would
interfere with or actually cause a brief
postpOnement Of the naval review.
Sailors ara supposed not to mind any sort
of weather, least OF ali wet weather, and
therefore, notwithstanding the storm, it was
generally supposed that the programme for
the Presidential review of tile combined for
eign and home feets would be carried out
on schedule time.
Such. however, was not the case. Ac-
cording to the programme President Cleve-
land and his Cabinet were to embark on tie
Dolphin at West Twenty-third street at
1890 o'clock, but a few minutes before that
hour word was received that in consequence
OF the rain the review would be postponed
until o'clock and the signal boat pushed
out from tie pier and made the rounds of
the vessels, notifying the commanders Of
the change
Although this order was not supposed to
Interfere in any way with the general plan,
except by way of delay, nevertheless, it
caused no little upsettng of official and pri-
Yate arrangements. Besides causing hun
dreds of officials, committeeman and others
to waste nearly three hours, it was the
means of nconyeDiencing many thousands
OF persons who were already afloat and
were not made aware of the cause of the
delay until some time after it was known
TO those more lmmed ately concerned.
Unfortunately, the notice of the post
ponement was not received in time to pre-
vent the embarking Of most of the various
officials and committees who were TO take
part officially in the review. so that they
had a tedious wait on the river, being
obliged 10 pass away the time as best they
could until o'clock, at which hour the re-
view was finally begun.
While the heavy rain this morning no
doubt kept thousands Of women and chill
dren at home, who had made arrangements
TO witness the review. either from coigns of
vantage on land or from boats on the river,
the public turned out in multitudes 10 see
the show.
Promptly at 1 o'clock President Cleve-
land and party left the Victoria Hotel,
drove TO the dock and embarked on the
steamer Dolphin, in spite Of the still unfa-
yorable weather.
The President was escorted to the Dolphin
by naval aids, accompanied by Mrs. Cleve-
land and members of the Cabinet and their
wives. The Duke Of Yeragua. the nations
specially Invited guest, the llueal descend