The record-union., 1896-09-01
"A Hard Rain Prevents His Going
Ashore at West Point.
A Hurried Trip rIade Around the Post
by the Others of the Party, When
the United States 0unboat Dolphin,
Which Conveyed the Party Up the
River Returned to New YOrk-The
Chinese Diplomat Takes nuch
Interest in the Sights Presented.

NEW YORK, Aug. 81. - Ii Hung
Chang and leading members of his
suite, accompanied by distinguished
party of American friends, sailed at $50
this morning on the United States dis
patch boat Dolphin for West Point. In
anticipation of his departure, and de-
| spite the early hour, large crowd had
| assembled in the vicinity of the Wal
| dorf.
| The start for the pier was made at
1:35. The Viceroy walked to his car
rage, which he shared with General
RuSer and interpretr LO Fung Luh.
| During the drive he talked with General
Ruger and appeared to be asking many
questions. On arriving at the pier Ii
| seated himself in the sedan chair and
| was carried to the barge in waiting.
| The boat was manned with a Lieu
| tenant and a crew of eight men. Ii
| seated himself in the stern, General
| Ruger and Lo King Shu, the Viceroy's
| second son, occupying the next seat.
The oarsmen pulled vigorously and were
soon alongside the Dolphin, which lay
anchored out in the stream. When Ii
reached the top of the ladder he was
received by the commander, Captain
Glover. The Dolphin's two guns boom
d
private steam yachts in the vicinity
| dipped their flags and blew whistles.
he other visitors came on board in the
DOlphins steam yacht.
The Dolphin hoiSted anchor at $40,
| turned round and steamed past the Bat
| terry and up the Hudson toward West
Point The yellow dragon flag of China
| fioated from her foremast, the Jack at
the bow, and the American flag from
| her stern.
The proposed inspection of war-ships
was abandoned, the Viceroy deeming
| it to be crowding too much into one day.
| The piers on both sides of the East
| River were thrOnged with persons anx-
| iouS to get view of the Dolphin as she
| forged her way toward the Battery. The
| stream wa illed with small craft,
which kept up a constant shrieking of
whistles. When opposite the navy yard
the regulation navy salute was given.
The Brooklyn bridge and the Battery
were lined with people scrambling to
get good vantage points. The Dolphin
pointed her nose up the Hudson River
at $50. All along the river front she
was saluted by the ferry boats and
steamers and in some instances vessels
We're decorated in honor of the party.
After Ii Hung Chang had boarded the
Dolphin and warmly greeted the others
| Of the party he went to the poop deck
where he sat and chatted pleasantly the
greater part of the journey up the river.
He Immediately began to display an in
tereSt in his surroundings and his
inexhaustabe supply Of questions began
to pour forth.
In passing the navy yard the Chinese
a;-fn all cr,i
Vermont while the saluting battery on
the Cob deck fired a salute of nineteen
guns. The Viceroy then caught sight
of the Brooklyn bridge. He was in the
very best of spirits, and kept up con-
slant run of questions with those about
him. The entire party became very
much interested in Colonel Grants his
tory of the bridge, and the Viceroy be-
gan to cross-examine the Colonel on
some points He asked if the bridge
belonged to a company or to the munich
palities, and what it had cost to con-
struct it. Had it paid for itself, etc,
and finally he wanted to know if New
York City bonds were at a premium.
After all of these questions had been
answered to his apparent satisfaction,
he remarked that it was a wonderful
structure, that the Americans were a
very ingenious race and that their in
genuity seemingly knew no bounds.
A continuous rain to-day interfered
with a big demonstration in honor of
Ii Hung Chang's visit to the military
post. AS early as 8 o'clock the crowds
began to arrive at West Point by boat
and train and by noon time there was at
least 10000 people upon the ground.
The rain, however, precluded any out
side military display, hence the drills
and reception at the superintendent
quarters were abandoned
The Dolphin with it's distinguished
guests aboard dropped anchor at West
Point at 1910, about 200 yards from
the landing. Earl Ii declined to go
ashore on account Of the rain, but per-
mitted his youngest son to land.
A hurried trip was made around the
pest, and the distinguished guests were
then returned to the Dolphin, which i'm
mediately weighed anchor and started
back to New York. There was no Incl
dent of note on the return trip, although
the viceroy was interested in the speed
of the New York Central trains
When the Dolphin anchored Ii Hung
Chang thanked the officers of the Dol
phin through his interpreter for their
ccurtesies, and as he left the dispatch
boat another salute was fired and the
Chinese Imperial flag was lowered. He
was driven to his hotel at once.
During the trip to-day many of the
Viceroy's questions caused much
amusement He asked ex-Minister Sew
ard what business he was in. Mr.. Sew
ard replied: Il am in the insurance
business
Then replied Ii, you will insure
my life?"
Mr.. Seward explained that he could
not, as the law restricted his business,
at which the Viceroy smiled and re-
piled: .Oh, you are afraid because 1
am "A years old"
President Thomas Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad now came in for his
share of the question. How old are
you?" inquired Ii. He then inquired
about electricity as applied to railroads.
and asked how many miles of rails were