Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-05-04
THE GENERAL MEIGS


awoke this morning to find steady down.
pour Of rain ushsrng in the day of the
great naval pageant A chilly northeast
wind added to the discomfort, and some
hundred thousand people who had arranged
to view the grandest marine spectacle ever
presented in American waters, II not in the
world, were disappointed.
The day was made legal holiday by an
act of the Legislature. There was con-
tinuous stream Of people toward North
river all the morning, and hundreds OF eI-
cursion boats, steam yachts, tugs and othor
craft which had been pressed into service
were filled up with sightseers whose patriot
ism and enthusiasm carried them through
the wet. Vantage places under cover we're
In great demand, but thousands stood or
sat in the open air and watched the pro-
ceedings the river.
There was great disappointment on the
Uarshipslancnored belowithe Palisades. Dress
uniform, were abandoned for storm coats
and Jack tars instead OF being in holiday
rig were in every day attire. About 1880
the signal boat Gushing started OH and car
RED to each ship information that the re-
view had been postponed.
Most Striking of Modern ReviewS.
NEW YORK, April 27.-The international
rendezvous and review in honor OF Column
bus which has been in active progress for
nearly two weeks eliminated to-day in
demonstra alton more spectacular, more noisy
and more remarkable in other respects than
anything of the kind recorded in modern
history. There had been naval reviews of
an international character before, but none
so striking as this
1t was peculiarly manifestation of sen
timent, not Of force, Yet some of the fleet
for ilob1 val 40 in 4 ha
world were there and the quaintsst part of
the days proceedings was that the post OF
honor at this head of the reviewed columns
was given to the apparently trustworthy
productions of the Columbus caravels, the
Santa Maria,h "Piutan and "Nina. :"
These pigmy boats, high popped and lateen
rugged, cutaway amidshps like Roman
galley, were anchored opposite 93rd street
and formed practically the turning point OF
the review. The contrast of four centuries
of naval development could not have been
more strongly and picturesquely mark ed
About o'clock the rain ceased to fall
although the clouds continued to hover
about in threatening manner. President
Cleveland, accompanied by his wife and
Lieut.. Wood, left the Victoria Hotel at
1905 p. m. Eight minutes later his party
arrived at the foot of West 28d street,
where a thousand men and women who had
stood in the rain for four hours cheered him
enthusiastically.
The party was Immediately escorted to
the launch of the Dolphin, which started
away as soon as the company was on board.
The launch steamed rapidly out to the Dol
phin.
Soon as tho Presi d snt Reached Deck.
Bang went one of the Dophin's guns, and
the presidents flag was unfurled at her
masthead. From the time the president
started on his tour through the lines I'm til
the final salute was fired, the weather was
cloudy without rain. The air was cold and
an unpleasant wind came out of the north
east. 1t was an Improvement upon the
forenoon, but it was not a pleasant day on
the river and on exposed points OF vantage
along the shore.
At ESQ the merchant marine was sig
nailed to move away. The Seabrd with
the committee on board rounded the head OF
the double column of men of war and start
ed down the river on the New York side.
The Al Foster followed, and the police pa
troll tugs fell in line, two by TWO. Attei
them came tugs, steamboats, and steam
yachts, two and three abreast and all with
whistles blowing, men shouting and women
waving parasols as they passed each man
Of-war.
The commotion that followed has never
been equalled in the Hudson river. Clouds
of steam rose from the tugs and blew
across the men OF war. The crews of tn,
war ships faced the rail and waved hats anC
handkerchiefs at the noisy tugs and steam
boats as they passed Steam yachts salutet
he men Of war with one gun which sounded
like "A toy pistol after the
Big Guns of the Men of War.
The whistles of the tugs and steamers KEEP
up Il continual footing and blowing from
the time they were given permission t,
start until the lower end of the long liue o
the squadron was reached.
The line of vessels reviewed was owe
TIRED miles in length, stretching in two col
umns from the foot of 2Sd street to sbou
J5,h street., where the reviewing ship, tn
Dolphin, was anchored.
Thousands OF visitors poured into the cit.