The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-27
READY FOR THE REVIEW,
The Majestic Fleet OF Warshlps
Lying at Anchor in the
Hudson.
By Comparison Our Beautiful
White Squadron Suffers Not
the Least.
Every Craft in New York Harbor Was In
Full Dress in Honor Of tho
Occasion.

New YORK. April 2G-The day opened
with the unveiling of the bronze statue Of
John Ericsson. the inventor OF the Moni.
tor. in Battery park. The ceremonies were
simple. 1t was presented to the city by the
Swedish citizens and accepted by one Of
park officials in behalf of the city, while
the guns of the double -turreted monitor
Miantonomah fired salute. The unveil-
ing was preceded by procession of sSwed-
lsh societies. Next came the great pageant
Of warships moving up in two columns
from the lower bay to their anchorage in
the hudson river. opposite the upper end
OF Manhattan islnnd, whore they will lie
until President Cleveland passes between
the lines to review them Tomorrow.
The day opened bright and clear. and
soon the whole harbor was blocked with
craft Of all sorts loaded with sight seers.
The vessels which arrived at Gravesen d
bay last night swung at anchor in the
beautiful sunlight and not long after sun
rise everybody in the fleet and those who
had to do with getting ready for its recep-
tion were making final preparations for the
parade upon the bay and river to anchor
age.
| Extending south and east were two long
lines of war vessels. bedecked in holiday
attire. Ferry boats to Staten Island and to
Brooklyn were filled with sightseers who
were bound to get as near to the start as
they could. and long before the time for
the parade the high banks along The Mar
rows and bluffs at the forts both on Staten
island and Fort Hamilton. were thronged
| with people, and the roads filled with spec.
| tators hurrying towards the shore to find a
good point of view. The fleet made a too
| imposing sight for the spectators to cut any
figure at all.
BY all odds the American line made the
finest showing. Tho fleet anchored in
squadron formation, the powerful Blake
with Vice-Admiral Sir John o. Hopkins
remnant standing out in a stiff wind, being
the Philadelphia, with Rear Admiral
Gherardfs blue flag with two white stars at
| the main. the same distance below Fort
Iompkins. Strung behind each leader
were the ships which were to follow up the
bay and all in readiness for the start.
As the Dimitri Donnkoi had not been in
| port at Hampton Roads. it was necessary
for the other admirals to pay their respects,
| and at $3.50 O'Clock Sir John Hopkins put off
from the Blake and was saluted BY fifteen
guns from the Russian, and as Ee stepped
on the quarter deck the British flag was at
VIC enAuo VINO uoIbteu. Inc Otnef AumlrRlB
followed in due course. minute or two
afterward the attention Of all was directed
to black speck up The Narrows, and with
two streaks of foam dive.ging from its bow
and wide wake of white water astern, the
d1abolical Gushing rushed by at express
train speed. She reached the Philadel pha
in short time, wheeled around as if sho
was on pivot. and ran up alongside the
flagship with dispatches to Admiral
Gherard.
Shortly after nine o'clock Admiral Cher
ardi. from the flagship Philadelphia, gave
the signal to move. Then the representa-
tives of the naval strength of ten nations
fell into double lines. the port column
headed by the Philadelphia. taking tho
New Jersey side. and the starboard column
headed by the British cruiser Blake taking
the New York shore in the following order:
Port column: United Ststes-Philadsl-
phls, Newark. Atlanta, San Francisco, Ban
croft. Bennington, Baltimore. Chicago,
Yorktown. Charleston. Miantonomah, We.
suvius and Concord; Argentine Republic
the Neuve de Julio; Holland-the Van
Speyk; Germany-the Kaiserin Augusta
and See Adler.
Stsrboard column; Great Britain-The
Blake, Australia. Naeicienne, Tartar; Rus
sia-The Dimitri Donskoi, with General
Admiral Rinda; France-Arethuse. Hus-
snrd. Beaufort: Itely-Etna and Giovanni
Bausan; bpain-The Iufanta Ysabel, R.ine
Regente and Nueva Espana; Brazil-Ths
Acquidaban, Iiradentes. and Republioa.
As the vessels got into line at intervals of
800 yards between the ships in the same
column and like distance between the
columns. and moved forward at a speed bs-
tween eight and nine knots per hour, the
forts in the harbos turned their guns loose
In grand salute, and all the steam craft
within hearing distance added to the din
with Il screeching Of whistles.
The contrast presented by the snow white
American vessels and dark hulled foreign
ers was very marked, Rs they moved side by
side. each heiRhteninV the effect of the
other. he two schools of naval architeo-
triot felt with glow OF prido that the now
navy of the United States did not suffer by
the comparison.
Standing on the high Long Island shore.
midway between Owls Hoad and Fort
Hami' ton, the view was a beautiful one
The fleet then proceeded at about eight
knots an hour, and in perfect formation.
Ths marrow channel had brought them al
most side by side. the 600 yards interval
between the columns was abandoned OF
necessity. An interval of 800 yards
between the vessels was main
in company. Every point of view along
the Bay Ridge road was packed with spec-
tators who eyed the ships as they passed.
AS the fleet came out of the Narrows and
the Strengthened lines cama up the upper
bav, squadron distance was again formed
and the two columns were then 600 yards
apart. Tide currents. however caused
some OF the boats to fall behind. and there
fore they were somewhat out Of place when
the battery was in sight.
Coming up the bay with tho fleet the
sight was brilliant one. Every ship in
harbor was flying every Bit of bunting it
could get together. and buildings i'll tho
lower part of the city were decorated with
flags OF all nations. Steam whistles were
screochtng. and the battery wall and all F.,
house tops and other places from
which the river could be seen were black |
with sightscets. When the leaders iE thu
parade got opposite Governors island the
battery III the old fort began n salute and
the fleet steamed along half hidden for a
few minutes in smoke from the cannon.
The ships dipped flags in answer, but did
not return with cannon. The bands played
national aits Oh tho British ships MS they
proceeded up river and ths strans of music
waited across the watcr were plainly heard
bv the crowds along the shore. The Grew
on tho mimic Columbus fleet cheer cd and
waved their hats as the navy steamed by.
II was 1ust ll:lb when n single gun from the
failadslphia announced that the anchorage
ground was reached. and almost instantly
II gun boomad on tho Chicago. and thu
anchora OF tho twelve American ships were
dropped al II released by electricity. The
foreign vessels slowed down and steamed