The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-26
And the War Ships Had Smooth
Water to New York.
THEY ARE NOW AT ANCHOR READY
FOR THE PARADE.

the II leets Were Welcomed lat the
Journeys End-The Paul Jones Flag.
QARANTINE, N. Y, April 25,-Prompt-
ly on time, with every pre-arranged de-
tail carried out with marvellous exact
ness, the combined naval squadrons Of
the Old and New World took possession
of the Bay of New York this af-
ternoon. Shortly before one, the fleet
was sighted moving along at ten knots
an hour, in double column, with perfect
alignment, the distances being accurately
marked, 300 yards between each ship and
six hundred yards between each squad
ron. The big white flagship of Admiral
Gherardi, the Philadelphia, headed the
port column, and the huge black British
cruiser Blake. Admiral Hopkins s flagship
led the starboard column, the other yes :
sells following in order. On the port side
followed by the Atlanta, San francisco,
Bancroft, Bennington and Baltimore.
Then came the flagship Chicago, Admir-
al Walker, followed by the Yorktown,
Charleston, Vesuvius and Concord
Bringing up the rear Of the column were
the Dutch warship Van Speyk and the
German cruisers Kaiserin, Augusta and
Seeadler. The Blake was followed on
the starboard column by the other YES
sells of the British squadron, the Austral-
la, Magicienne and Tartar, and by the
Russian vessels General Admiral and
Rynda. The belated flagship of the Rus
sian squadron, the Dimitri Donskoi, with
the Russian Admiral Kosnakoff:: on
board, awaited them at anchor off Quar-
antine. Next came the italian vessels,
the Etna and Bausan, and the Brazilian
squadron, the Aquidaban, Tiradentes
and Republica.
AS the Philadelphia in the lead neared
Sandy Hook ightship, at 1.50, the fog
whistle of the lightship gave series of
welcoming toots. The big white flagship
swung round in majestic silence while
crossing the bar. Entering Geaney's
channel, the leader set the pace at good
ten and half knots an hour. The New
ark following close in her wake, and the
Atlanta at regulation distance behind.
Once fairly in the channel, the Philadel-
phia signalled the fleet to proceed with
out reference to formation. The vessels of
the starboard column slowed down and
allowed all the Americans feet to round
the lightship first. Then the Blake and
the other Britishers followed, safely
crossing the bar before flood tide, the
squadrons of each column alternating
until all had safely rounded and entered
the channel. Then the big guns of the
MiantonOmoh doomed welcome,
bnt the Hook was passed in
silence The leading vessels of the fleet
turned the southwest spit about 2.45 and
entered the main ship channel. In the
channel the Philadelphia slackened
speed to about knots, to allow the
other vessels to catch up, and the entire
fleet proceeded in single file and impress
sive silence up the bay to the anchoring
grounds which Capt. Rogers and his
aides had selected. Despite the obscuri-
ty of the weather, the procession up
the bay was exceedingly beau tiful.
Gravesend Bay was reached at $50 and
the Philadelphia opened the salutes by
firing Is guns in honor of the Russian Ad-
miral and his flagship, the Dimitri Don
skoi, the band on board the Philadelphia
playing the Russian national air. The
Russian promptly acknowledged the. sa-
lutte. At 3.35 the Philadelphia fireds one
gun as a signal to come to anchor, and
the Newark passed the signal to the 9TH
er vessels of the squadron, which instant
ly hove to. The fleet of guard boats
under Capt. Rogers kept the anchorage
ground clear. Numberless yachts, tug
boats and crowded excursion steamers
circled around as close as permitted.
At 3.47 the Philadelphia let go her an
char off Craven shoal buoy and swung
around with the strong food tide with
her nose pointing for Sandy Hook.
The voyage of 270 miles from Fortress
Monroe to the anchorage was most de-
lightful. The ocean was smooth and the
wind, though cool and fresh, did not at
any time blow with force sufficient to
cause discomfort. No accident occurred
and there was no hitch in the programme
at any point save the inability of some
foreign vessels to maintain the moderate
speed set by the Philadelphia. When
the fleet sailed out of Hampton Roads
yesterday morning, it consisted of 81
ships formed in two columns. The
United States vessels kept in excellent
line and position.
THE PAUL JONES FLAG.
Gotham Now Has Liberty Pole 135 Feet