New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-15
THE FLEET AGAIN MASSED.
RETURN OF ADMIRAL BENHAM'S SQUADRON
TO HAMPTON ROADS.
ITS LATENEsS OF ARRIVAL DUE TO NICE
POINT OF NAVAL ETIoUETTE-A TnRoNG
OF VISITORS TO THE AMERICAN WAR
SHIPs-THE THREE ApMIRALs
AT THE HYGEIA.

[BY TELEGRAPH THE TRiBUNE.1
Fortress Monroe. Va, April l4-The quick re-
vval of spirits and interest at this mercurial and
light-hearted watering place, consequent upon the
unhopcd-for return last night from beyond the
Capes of Admiral Walkers half Of the fleet OF
evolution, was still further aided and reinforced
to-day by the welcome temperance of Admiral
Benham's five ships. The senior Rear-Admiral had
spent the night outside in LINN Haven Bay with
his flagship the Newark: the cruisers Baltimore,
San Francisco and Atlanta. and the gunboat Ben
nngton The cvolutions of the combined fleet
outside the Capes had been finished satisfactorily
on Thursday morning, and both squadrons would
have returned yesterday had it not been that a
question Of naval etiquette made it both conven-
lent and advisable that each admiral should bring
his squadron by itself.
As Admiral Gherard was known to be in Wash
ington, however, the returning admirals would, on
re-entering port. have found no superior officer
to whom to report and of whom to request per-
mission to anchor. In that contingency Admiral
Benham, az the naval experts say, would have
been Obliged to assume command Of the port him
self and anchor his squadron before proper per-
mission could he given TO the vessels under
Admiral Walker to resume the positions occupied
by them up to Tuesday AS Admiral Walkers
delpha. and Admiral Bcnham's to the east
reversal of the order Of the entry such az naval
etiquette seemed to demand would have proved
q practical inconvenience hardly worth encounter
ing under the circumstances Admiral Henham
sensby decided, accordingly, to send the walker
squadron i'm first, and to stay beyond the |apes
with his own ships for another night.
The heavy fog which settled down on TINS
mart of the coast last night delayed the start
from Lynn Haven this morning, and IL was hot
until IL o'clock that the Newark was sighted
approaching Old Point followed by her cruiser
and cupboat consorts The stately flagship. whose
lines retain most happily much of the beauty
and smartness of the old type of man-ol-war'
steamed slowly in, coming close to the fhiia-
delphia and after signalling for and receiving 'he
necessary permission from Admiral Gheraro', cas-
anchor in her old position at the head OF the
eastern division. The Newark few from her
mizzenmast the red Admiral's flag, with It's TWO
white stars. showing second rank in the fert
Admiral Gherardi having returned from WASH
ington the Philadelphia had hOisted again tie
blue flag with white stars, Of the ranking Au-
miral Further TO the vest, from the ChcaSo >
mizzenmast floated the white flag with blue STARS
Admiral Walker, third in rank. lhe TRIM ,oh-
cord, with her FURNISHED pipes ana cSli'oers
shining like polished copper in the dancing sun
light, took up the line TO the west Next cai''e
the narrow and elongated Vesuvius, unattractve
in outline and looking like longitudinal section
of a one-decker ferryboat Beyond the torpeno
cruiser was the Charleston, with her Irregular
turrets and her battlements bulky in the middle
and dwindling at the ends. The Yorktown, OIL
near the thriving town Of Hampton, ended the
line her copper Stacks and cylinders SHINING
even more brilliantly than those Of the Concord
in grateful contrast with the dazzling whtencs'
Of hull and decks Inside the line, and about
midway along it, was the torpedo boat Cushing
almost hidden in the water, in shape miniature
of a modern wheat-carrying "whaleback"
Beyond the line of the White Fleet the two
graceful Russian cruisers swung lazy at anchor
their white, blue-crossed flags scarcely Tapping
in the light westerly breeze; with high black
hulls and full rigging These strangers looked
the picture Of the men-of-war Of the last genera
ton, picturesque and stately, whose uselessnes'
for naval warfare was demonstrated only too de-
cisively by the ronsheathcd monster which stecrcd
out of Norfolk into the midst of the iron fleet
ut Hampton just thirty-one years ago, and out of
the result of whose later encounter with the
Monitor the art of naval construction was to
take an entirely original growth
The Newark having cast anchor and exchanged
official courtesies by signal with the Philadelphia
the other incoming vessels were directed to settle
down in the positions which they had left three
DAYS before for the cruise of evolution. The
cruiser Baltimore unsghtly in lines and forbid
ding in every aspect but that OF brute power
already, for ats experience at Valparaiso, the most
famous vessel of the new American Navy-had the
second place in line, east of the Newark. Be
yond the Baltimore was the Bennington, spick and
epan from her rclittng at Norfolk. Like her
sister gunboats. the Concord ard Yorktown, the
Bennington has some admirable qualities Of trim
ness and sightliness, though her measurements
naturally make her seem somewhat dwarfed in
such u gathering of bigger and higher-rated men
Of-war. The san Francisco, which cast anchor
third in line from the Newark represents with
the Charleston the creditable progress in naval
construction which has been made on the Pacific
Coast Both have stem and stern cut away APP
parently, and the whole weight of the armament
massed amidships, giving an irregular and far
from graceful outline to these most comfortable
and luxurious West Coast ships.
The San Francisco could not be more ungainy
looking, however than the Atlanta, her companion
20 the east, whose general heavincss and homcli
ness of feature have long been appreciated in
Eastern waters The Atlanta has been fifty eXiled,
perhaps, to the most distant and unapproachable
part OF the line She and the Bancroft are, i'll
fact, so far out toward Chesapeake Bay that
field-glasS Is necessary 10 recognize IRON snorc
even the signal flags which they fly in the con-
slant communication which is going on among
tie feet.
With the thirteen American ships all anchored
egsin of the point, the gay life here has been
stimulated to the highest pitch Of exhilaration.
This afternoon was visiting day to the ships, and
forty or fifty boats and dozen launches were
kept busy carrying crowds of enthusiastic sight
seers TO and from the big Government pier, the
900 or 400 delightful specimens OF the great
American summer-resort girl, who make life here
q fascinating whir of excitement. could be found
most of this afternoon eayly inspecting boilers,
practising the mysteries of signal codes, learn
ing about the wonderful properties Of the marine
under the hospitable care Of the officers. young
or middle aged, Of the gallant American feet.
All came back with punches Of black ribbons
bearing in gilt letters the names of their favorite