Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-25
NO RECEIvERSHIP? s
Imposing Naval Display in New York
Harbor Under the Gold Standard

Imposing Naval Display in New York
Harbor Under the Gold Standard.
New York, Oct 24--The most unique
marine spectacle ever seen In the waters
of this harbor took place tonight. 1t was
a magnificent display, participated in by
200 different craft and witnessed by an
immense crowd of people. The event was
the nautical grand fireworks display,
illumination and marine parade" of the
Shipping and Industrial Sound Money as
sociation in honor of Mckinley and Ho-
bart, and was the first demonstration of
its character ever held hereabouts.
From One Hundred and Thirtieth
street, on the North river, just above
Grants tomb, to Governors island, off
the battery, the f1otilla steamed, every
vessel in gala attire. For an hour or
more the air was filled with flood of
brilliant lights and dazzling colors, show
ers of burning stars, torrents or golden
sprays, batteries of colored candles and
bombs, and, for the time, night seemed
to have turned into day. The pyrotechnlc
feature of the evening was carried out
on an elaborate scale. 1t began with a
salute of 101 aerial guns, followed by an
illumination of the harbor with 800 col
ored lights, the ascension of twenty-four
balloons, with powerful magnesium
pictures of Mckinley and Hobart; UNI
brellas of fire, illuminated kites, floating
festoons of fire, a magical illumination
of the harbor with chemical compounds;
American flag unfurled in the sky In fire
colors; submarine explosions, grand nre
bouquets and innumerable other devices,
which made the spectacle inspiring and
seemingly magical In character.
The night was clear and cold when the
parade began formation at O'Clock.
Steam craft only participated. The Meet
was in four divisions, the first In COM
mand of Rear Admiral Staples, the sec
ond Rear Admiral DalZell, the third Rear
Admiral Moore and the fourth Rear Ad-
miral Valentine, and the whole under
command of Admiral J. w Miller. These
titles of course, were political, conferred
for the occasion. The four divisions were
composed of four squadrons in each, and
each squadron In command or a commo-
dore. The admirals staff was composed
of representatives of navigation In this
city, and Commodore Michael Moran,
we'll known vessel owner, was In charge
of the flying squadron of seven speedy
tugs. The fleet was formed at the lower
end of the palisades, above One Hundred
and Thirtieth street, the first and third
divisions on the west side ana the second
and fourth on the east side of the river.
All divisions formed in column OF vesseis
heading down stream.
The preparatory signal was fired from
the flagship at p. M, and Immediately
the admiral's flagship and the nying
squadron proceeded to midstream. After
a short delay, amid the blowing of whis-
ties and flood of pyrotechnics, the
parade started. ~
The speed was six knots an hour, and
to facilitate navigation and prevent acci-
dent there was distance of 300 yards be-
tween divisions and 200 yards between
squadrons.
When the head of the column was
abreast of Grants tomb the fireworks
programme was begun by a salute OF 10l
guns. followed by bombs, rockets. etc.
The display was continued as the YES
sells fell into line, and as they sped down
the river there were more fireworks from
the anchored fiatboats at Weehawken,
Stevens Point, Fourteenth street, Hobo
ken and the battery.
Every boat had its own supply OF pyro-
technics, too, and kept up continual
bombardment along the route, which was
over eight miles IN length.
The biggest display was at the battery.
where the most distinguished guests and
the reviewing party were assembled.
Following the reviewing vessel the
large craft passed around Governor's Is
land, proceeded through Butter Milk
channel and up the river, keeping near
the Brooklyn shore as far as East Thirty
fourth street, the squadrons dismissing
after passing the reviewing boat.