The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-29
Ii Hung Chang Has Come to
Call on Uncle Sam.
A ROYAL WELCOME
Eleven Warships Saluted the
Distinguished Guest.
CHINESE FLAG LOUDLY CHEERED
Gen. Ruger Received the Vieeroy in
Behalf of President Cleveland
ard Escorted Himto the
Waldorf.

New York, Aug. 28-Promptly at 8
o'clock this morning colors were hoist
ed ON board the feet of American war
ships at anchor eff Tompkinsville,
Staten Island, with the usual ceremo-
nies, the band of the flagship New
York playing the ''Star Spangled Ban
ner."
Shortly after the announcement at
0 o'clock that the st. Louis was sighted
east of Fire Island throngs of people
Travelled across the ferries, or by other
routes, to Fort Wadsworth, Fort Hamil-
ton, Tompknsville and other points
from which the arrival and greeting
of the distinguished guest of the nation
could be witnessed to the best advan-
tage. Other crowds fiocSed to the Bat
terry and still others stationed them
selves at an early hour in the vicinity
of the American Line dock, where the
traveller was to land.
1t is doubtful if New York bay ever
presented a grander sight than it did
this morning, for, anchored there in n
stately strength, were eleven of the
warships of the new navy of the United
States, the embodiment of grace and
strength, of speed and offensive power.
At the American Line pier were sta-
y
u. S. A., and detachment of the naval
reserves. The former were detailed
to escort the great Chinaman up Broad
way to the Waldorf Hotel, and the lat
ter acting as a guard of honor at the
dock, which was appropriately decora-
ted for the occasion, the United States
flag and the yellow standard of China
with it's black dragon rampant, pre-
dominating.
II was originally intended to take Ii
Hung Chang off the St. Louis at Quar-
antine, and convey him TO some pier
uptown and nearer the Waldorf than
the American Line pier, which is down.
town, but the Chinese Minister repre-
sented TO Gen. Ruger that the age of
the Chinese statesman precluded any
such feat of strength and agility as
clambering from the st. Louis to the
Dolphin, and so this feature of the
programme was abandoned.
On board the Dolphin with General
Ruger were the Chinese Minister,
Ruger were the Chinese Minister
and few specially invited guests.
A GRAND NAVAL DISPLAY.
Also securing about the bay was a
fleet of sail and steam yachts, excur-
sion boats and tugs loaded with pas
sengers which were probably more
interested in seeing the ships of the
so-called white squadron" fire their
twenty-one guns salute than in
witnessing the arrival in American wa
ters of the Chinese envoy,
The latter, by the way, has so many
titles that the officials here were, for
time, in somewhat of quandary
as to how to address him. Some of his
titles are: Chief of the Chinese Mis-
sion at the Coronation at Moscow, Ann
bassador, Envoy Extraordinary, Special
Envoy, Senior Guardian of the Heir
Apparent, Prime Minister of State, Earl
of the First Rank, First Secretary ii,
Licompte Iii Hung Chang, and so on.
Eventually, however, it was decided
to address the Chinese statesman as
'Your EXcellency," and so he will be
officially termed during his stay in the
United States.
The St. Louis arrived off Quarantine
at 1890 and was Immediately boarded
by the government welcoming Of
ficers from the cruiser Dolphin, who
extended to the Chinese statesman,
in behalf of President Cleveland, a
welcome to the United States.
The ST. Louis slowly moved up the
~
decorated craft, and with the Dolphin
quite near her, to the music of tre-
mendous chorus of steam whistles and
a continued fusillade of giant firecrack-
ers.
FIRING OF THE SALUTE.
As the st. Louis neared the Ameri-
can fleet the first salute in honor of the
Chinese visitor was fired from the flag
oh Xn1slv "a
the only warship to fire salute but
the other ships dipped their colors as
the St. Louis passed They presented
a magnificent appearance and were
watched with the greatest interest by
the Chinese ambassador and his suite
from the position which they occupied
on the port side of the upper deck
of the American liner. At Quarantine
it was learned that Ii Hung Chang
stood the voyage remarkably well, and
had not been at all seasick.
, The ST. Louis moved up the harbor
in a sort of triumphal procession greet
ed on all sides with the footing of
steam whistles and other salutes, and
eventually reached her dock at 1870
p. IN. But the party was not able to
land until some time later, owing to
the necessity for delay in warping the
ship alongside of her wharf.
The vicinity of the dock was about
as lively as the finish line on a yacht
race day and with the Americas cup
at stake. All kinds of craft were dash
ing here and there in everybody's way.
but escaping accident by a series of
miracles. The yellow standard Of
China was loudly cheered by the
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