New-York tribune., 1896-08-29
COMING Up THE BAY.

COMING IL
other. Ii Hung Chang lighted his cigarette
md took a puff or two in contempative fashion.
Then he appeared to notice General Ruger
standing before him in conversation with his
aide Colonel Wilson was also standing at the
time and Ii Hung Chang suddenly remarked to
the Interpreter in a mild tone of wonder, at the
same time looking at General Ruger:
You are higher than Coknei wilson"
The Colonel answered for the General
"Rut YOU were COMMUNICATIVE chief Of the cav
airy" insisted the nterrogator whose inquis-
torial vigor had apparently been quite restored
by the cigarette
General Ruger is in command Of the In
fantry." Colonel Wilson replied. He is IN su-
preme command of all the Army here
Then the General interrupted to explain his
rank. by saying thai he was in command OF
what is known as the Department of the East
Then you are active"
THE INEVITABLE QUERY.
This was another leader. and the General
replied that in this country officers were retired
for age at sixty-four. He might have known
that hc was treading on dangerous ground, al
though his age is no secret. but bacl: the ques-
tion came:
How old are you?'
With a blush the General replied: Il am just
past sixty.
You look much younger" rected the inter
prefer; "how is that?'
The General made reply: GOOD haoits ana
plenty Of sleep "
Then seeing opening. he said to Ii: you
do not look seventy-four years of age
At this apt response the questicner broke
into quite a hearty laugh, and looked immensely
nleased both with himself and with the dis
elimination Of the General
And SO the conversation went on for some
time. Ii Hung Chang continuing to ask many
questions of the people about him.
THE SCENE IN THE BAY.
But while all this had been going on In the
recepton-room on the steamers deck. there
were great goings on outside which were the re-
suit of great preparation and the outcome Of
hours Of waiting.
From the early hours Of the morning people
had been gathering from many quarters. In the
citv the elevated trains We're loaded with folks
dressed in holiday attire. all making their way
toward the South Ferry station, and the sole
tonic of conversation was the st. Louis, the
chances of her breaking the record. and the pos
sibility of seeing her distinguished passenge" when
she did arrive. From the dawn or day the
lookouts at Fire Island and at the Forge Life
Saving Station had been scanning the horizon.
which was at first filled with haze. for the first
sight Of the smoke which would tell them the
liner was at hand. The hours drew on toward
O and then it was safe to affirm that she would
not establish new record
Finally the message came from Fire Island
that she was off that point at y O'clock revenue
officials had been making momentary Trips from
tba Barge Office TO the Office of the United AS
dc bod
beeen increasing, and the people were making
their way to the docks of one or the other OF
the numerous excursion steamers which are al
ways available at such time The boats that
,,ay.ad ia and fro in the bright sunlight which
bathed the beautiful Bay in a flood Of glory wee
beNagged In honor Of the occasion, and when
6nallv the revenue cutter Hudson in charge OF
Cantain Rogers, and bearing Collector kilbreth
and marty Of friends. and the Chanler, car
ING the revenue officials. left the Barge Office
nier the first object they fell in with was the
.oar,or Mohawk filed from stem to stern with
Chinamen who were bound to express their pa
triotic admiration for the greatest n IN their
fowery realm next to the emperor nlhsell' me
Mohawk was flying the dragon flag of the
Chinese Empire other boats fell into line as the
cu,ters proceeded toward the scene OF the days
enthusiasm
MOVEMENTS OF THE DOLPHIN.
Tho DoIphin. with her official Notification Com
mittee had gone down the Bay on the first re-
CENT of the news and had taken up her station
at the extreme outer end Of the double line Of
warships and quite close to the Quarantine sta
ton, so as to be at convenient distance for the
passage OF her launch, which was to convey Gen
eral Ruger and his associates on board the st.
Louis
The picture presented by the gathering vessels
among the anchored warshps was one of con-
stantly changing interest The naval monsters
alone Of all the train seemed undisturDed by the
perturbatiOns of the meaner craft about them.
They did not even degn 10 rock TO the rhythmic
behest of the swell as II tumbled and frothed and
cleaned in the sunshine under the fretting stimu-
lus of a multitude OF whrrng propellers. With
their white sides glistening In the blaze Of the
growing day, the black smooth length OF the
cannon showing from turret and protecting
shield and the polished brasswork rejecting with
dazzling brilliancy the rays Of the sun, the ships
of war formed whether viewed from distance
or near at hand. n spectacle OF grace and mighty
power While the jackies on board worked at
their tasks or deG about the decks. they gave
many a curious glance at the passing boats, and
their caps and handkerchiefs were ever ready 10
wave and their voices to cheer the gathering host
But there was no departure from ordinary naval
rontine The battle-ship Maine was begrined