The record-union., 1893-04-28
Special to the REooRD-UN1ox.

Bpecial to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
New YORK, April Z.-Rain on the
roof, rain on 10000 roofs, rain washing
the sidewalks and pavements, rain prick.
ing the river surface into rash of white
spatter, rain wetting the decks of the
pulseless war monsters riding at anchor
wetness above, moisture below, permeat-
ing, saturating everything, everywhere
such were the conditions of early morn
ing about this fiag-covered, bunting
decked city. In the night a storm that
had stolen over the Jersey hills wrapped
the squadrons on the river, settled down
on the city and blotted out the dark brow
of the sea from the view of the people
ashore.
Out on the bosom of the lordly Hudson
River, somewhere in the dense gray fogs
the navies of the nations were softly
chafed by the uneasy tides, but to those
astir as daylight wore off the edge of the
night the ships had been spirited away in
darkness, and no eye could pierce into
the gray thickness, where the black
waters wallowed about their iron sides
and sullenly splashed at prov and stern.
But as day broadened two rows of brist-
ling vessels We're at length revealed,
though dimly at best. tor the persistent
spring tide of rain falling made the dis
tances uncertain and indistinct.
One of the most painful results of the
storm was the wilted, forlorn condition OF
the many beautiful decorations on the
buildings throughout the city. All the
fine effect of yesterday had passed away.
The water soaked bunting was as dull as
the leaden skies above, and the flags on
the housetops tloated heavily in the stiff
breeze.
After while all New York was aroused
for the holiday, only to find a steady
downpour of rain ushering in the day for
the great naval parade, and some hun
dreds of thousands who had arranged to
view the grandest marine spectacle ever
presented in American waters, if not in
the world, were disappointed.
The rain did not keep all at home, how
ever. There was a steady stream toward
the North River all morning and hun
dreds of excursion boats, steam yachts.
tugs and other craft, filled with sight
seers were not kept at home by Farmer
Dunn's disgraceful weather. Other
crowds sought places along the docks, on
the tops of buildings and at Riverside
Park; they plodded through the mud
stood in pools of water, with umbrellas
and mackintoshes weeping in proportion
to the wet.
There was great disappointment on the
squadron's crack ships. Ten nations had
been put in readiness for their part in the
celebration. The hulls were painted
decks holystoned, brasswork polished
and guns cleared for salutes. On board
these vessels the rain was most unwel-
come. 1t drenched the decks and the
rigging and hung in pearly drops from
the brasswork. Dress uniforms were
abandoned for storm-coats and the Jack
tars, instead of being in holiday rig, were
in everyday attire.
AS early as o'clock the naval vessels
began to put on their holiday attire
United States flags were run up to the
mastheads on all, American and foreign
and the lines of steamers followed, soon
Transforming what had been collection
of bare poles into gayly decked forest Of
masts.
Just as everyone was expecting the pro-
gramme would be carried out, word was
passed around that the review had been
postponed till 2 P. NJ, and the signal boat
Gushing pushed out from the pier and
made the rounds of the vessels, notifying
the commanders of the change. AS soon
as the facts were learned, the excursion
CT r,rJf hoalr 10 no
siderable grumbling on the part of the
passengers. who had much discomfort to
no purpose. Later, as the time for the
ceremonies set approached, they put oui
on the water again.
Promptly at l o'clock President Cleve-
land and party left the Victoria Hotel,
drove to the dock and embarked on the
steamer Dolphin and steamed away to
review the squadron, in spite of the still
unfavorable weather.
The President was escorted to the Dol
phin by naval aids, accompanied by Mrs.
Cleveland and members of the Cabinet
and their wives. The Duke of Veragua,
the Nations specially invited guest, the
lineal descendant of Columbus, followed
the Dolphin in the army boat General
Meigs, and the members of the Diplo-
matte Corps occupied the coast suryey
steamer Blake.
AS soon as the President touched the
deck bang went one of the Dolphin
guns. and the Presidents flag pulled out
from its ball at the masthead. Then be.
gan screeching of whistles from all
sorts of craft, while the Dolphin. Con-
cord and Miantonomah fired in turn a
Presidential salute.
The Dolphin forged slowly ahead. sur
rounded and followed by big and little
steamers, crowded with men and women,
famous and unknown to fame, and the
great naval review had begun. Almost
instantly the crews of the men-of-war all
along the line went to positions facing
the rail and at the mastheads and tops.
The rain ceased, and there were indica-
tions that led the anxious spectators tc
hope for the appearance of the sun.
At 1:30 the first boom of ten-inch gun
on the Miantonomah announced that the
Dolphin, with the President on board
was passing up between the two columns
of war vessels. The roar of the Mianto-
nomah's twenty-one guns was followed
by a salute from the Brazilian ships Re.
publica and Tiradentes. Then the Dol
phin's reply to the Brazilian's was heard,
and cloud of smoke rose over the lowel