The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-29
ANXIOUS TO SEE GROVER.
HIS FIRST QUESTION AS TO THE
WHEREABOUTS OF THE
PRESIDENT
HoNoRs FOR ORIENTAL DIPLOMAT
The White Squadron, Troopers and
Rampant Black Dragons Very
Much I'm Evidence

4
Staten Island, with the usual cere-
| monies, the band of the flagship New
| York playing the Star Spangled Ban
| ner."
| Shortly afterwards the crews Of all
! the ships were busily engaged in pol
ishing and Furnishing, coiling and oil
ing and cleaning, vigorously placing
the finishing touches upon the naval
| finery displayed in all it's glory in
honor of Uncle Sam and preparatory
to welcoming Ii Hung Chang, the
| grand old man. of China, the states
man Of many titles, in an appropriate
| manner.
Shortly after the announcement at
| 9 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 Hamilton, Bay Ridge, Quaran-
tine, Tompkinsville 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 fiocked 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. It is doubtful If
New York bay ever presented a grand
er sight than 1t did this morning, for,
anchored there, in stately strength,
were eleven Of the warships of the
new navy of the United States, the en-
bodiment of grace and strength, of
speed and offensive power.
The Dolphin, which had on board
Gen. Ruger and staff, lay off Cover
ic1o nd 49,
down to meet the st. Louis, as soon
as the later was signaled in the lower
bay.
AT the American line pier were sta
toned four troops Of the Sixth cavalry,
U. s. A, and a detachment Of the
naval reserve The former were de-
tailed to escort the great Chinaman
up Broadway to the Waldorf hotel,
| and the latter acting as a guarH of
honor at the dock, which was appro-
priately decorated for the occasion, the
United States flag and the yellow
standard of China, with it's black dra-
gon rampant, predominating
Chinatown" too, was ready early to-
day to celebrate the day. Red, yellow
and green bunting, disguised the hous-
! es, mean, dingy, gray-brOwn tenements,
into objects of lively, brilliant interest,
while the Chinese of the quarter, dress
ed in their shimmering silks or bright
| hued cotton, stood in the doorways,
or on the fire escapes, watching placidly
the commotion in the street. Then the
Chinese visitors from other parts of
the town and from other towns and
| villages hereaboutS, were Scurrying
hither and thither, seeking lodgings or
restaurants, or paying calls
WELCOME EXTENDED.
The Dolphin steamed down the bay,
with Gen. Ruger and the guests on
| board shortly after 10 o'clock, and at
1880 she dropped anchor off quaran-
tine, awaiting the arrival Of the ST.
| Louis. The st. Louis arrived off quar-
| antine at 1890 and was immediately
boarded by the government welcoming
! officers from the cruiser Dolphin, to ex-
tend to the Chinese statesman, in be-
half of President Cleveland, a welcome
to the United States.
When the st. Louis reached Quar-
antine, Ii Hung Chang was dining,
and he remained in his cabin. The
steamer was surrounded by the fleet
of boats making it impossible to pro-
ceed very fast and as she steamed UP
the bay towards the fleet there was a
continued toot Of steam whistles, and
some boats touched of a Chinese
anthem in the shape of several punches
Of fire crackers. When the dispatch
and a little later. as the fleet was
| reached, the New York's saluting guns
| doomed out the English salute of nine
teen guns for lord high admiral, there
| being no American salute that equals
| that in number.
The party of Americans were ushered
into the aft drawing room and waited
| for some minutes to see the ambassa-
dor, in the meantime meeting the men,
bers of his staff. Ii Hung Chang went
into his cabin, but soon appeared with
his son. He was attired in the histori-
cal yellow jacket, purple silk trousers,
black and white felt shoes and a black
and red hat, with the three-eyed pea
cock plume depending from the back.
Holding the Jacket in front was a large
| diamond, surrounded with pearls. He
wore glasses and leaned a trifle on the
attendants as he stood up to receive
his guests. Gen. Ruger was first in
| tToduced. He shook hands cordially
with the general, who said:
Ambassador, 1 am here on behalf
of the United States government and
President Cleveland to bid you well
come to this country
The translator told the ambassador.
who, however, had showed interest
enough in the statement to show that
he understood. In Chinese he said:
Il am glad to be here, and 1 thank
you for this kindness. 1 am glad to
know YOU"
Then the other members Of the party
were introduced, and received a cor
dial handshake. The welcoming party
had been added to by the presence of
Collector of the Port Kilbreth. Gen.
Wilson. Gen. McCook and Vice Presi-
dent Wright. After he had been in
troduced to the entire party, he said
to Gen. Ruger:
Where will the president preside ?''
evidently wishing to know where he
would be met.
Gen. Ruger replied: 81 will com
municate all the arrangements to you
when I see you this afternoon
The ambassador had heard that Gen.
James H. Wilson had been a friend
and fellow fighter with Gen. Grant;
that he had a record for bravery. and
he could hardly restrain his impa-
tience so anxious was he to talk with
him. He finally sat down and asked
through his interpreter for Gen. Will
son; made him sit down beside him
while he piled him with questions
telling him that he knew of his record
On the way to the American line pier
Castle William fired a salute and in
the meantime the ambassador talked
with various members of the recep-
ton party. He is very quiet in his de-
meanor speaks in a low voice, and
from the description of him by the
passen gers is a cordial and endearing
man. He wears his glasses down far