The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-09-03
HE Is ESCORTED THITHER ON
BOADD THE DISPATCH BOAT
DOLPHIN.
AARvELS At THE BROOKLYN bridge
And Said 1t Showed That American
Engineers Were Far Advanced.
The Tall Buildings Catch His
Eye and He Marvcls Again.

New York, Aug. 31.-Early this morn
ing Ii Hung Chang boarded the dis
patch boat Dolphin and in few min
utes anchor was weighed and the start
for West Point was made. The am
bassador will there inspect the military
academy and grounds
The proposed visit to the squadron off
TOmpkinsville was postponed, as there
was not sufficient time to make the trip
before starting for West Point.
REACHES WEST POINT.
West Point, n. Y, Aug. 31.-Li Hung
Chang arrived here this afternoon on the
Dolphin to visit the military academy,
but owing to heavy rain which was
falling he could not land
During the trip up the river Col. Fred
ID. Grant pointed out many places of
interest to the ambassador who asked
! many questions. Nearby were Vice
President Tompkins, Col. McCook, Mr..
Seward, Mr.. Webb and nearly all the
other prominent visitors.
Lii Hung Chang. through the inter
their paying percentage. The Dolphin
was then passing the Williamsburg sugar
refinery and Col. Grant said: "rhere
is Il plant which pays - per cent ON an
invested capital of S3,000,000" The
ambassador became interested and asked
very minutely as to what process the
sugar went through and he seemed salts
fled with the replies which were given to
him. When the vessel was abreast of
the navy yard the Chinese flag was run
up on the mainmast of the old wooden
ship Vermont simultaneously the
saluting battery on the dock fired Il
salute Of nineteen guns.
AS the boat ncared the Brooklyn
bridge all the Chinese became very much
interested. as well as Ii Hung Chang.
Col. Grant explained in detail the work
ings of the big structure, how long it
took 70 huild, the cost, sources of rcve-
nue. being owned by the cities. its length,
as well as the cable system for the cars
and the free promenade for pedestrians.
The ambassador asked if the bridge was
O00.0OO, he wanted to know if it had
paid for itself in the thirteen years
which have elapsed since its completion
lie said il was Il wonderful structure
and that it showed very plainly how far
advanced the American engineers were
and that their ingenuity was seemingly
inexhaustiblc.
BY 0 o'clock the Dolphin had passed
the Battery and as she rounded it and
turned up the North river the steam
craft of all kinds saluted her with shrill
whistles. Ii Hung did not seem to hear
these salutes and kept right on talking
to those near him.
After Gen. Ruger had shown the
viceroy his place ON Governors island.
Gen. Porter and Col. Grant directed the
ambassadors attention to the tall build
ings in the lower part of the city.
Iii Hung asked the cost of them. by
whom they were occupied. how much in
come they produced and if they paid
we'll In reply to n question as to
what he thought of them he replied !:
They are indeed wonderful; so many
of them and so high"
Passing Grants tomb oil aboard stood
bareheaded. Ii Hung Chang, with his
attendants, also stood up. but did not
uncover. After this ceremony the am
bassador turned to Col. Grant. who was
still beside him. and said: II have seen
the tombs of Peter the Great, William
the first, and Napoleon, but | have not
seen anything so grand as this grand re-
mlnder of so great general. 1t eclipses
anything | have yet seen"
When West Point was reached the
vicerOy declined to go ashore on account
of rain. The trip back to New York was
without interest
WHITECAPPING CASES.