The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-24
FRANCE And RUSSIA.
THE REPUBLICS PRESID ENT
VISITS THE CZAR.
Escorted to Cropstadt by a French Squad.
ron-Met by the Gar on the Royal Yacht
The Meeting Most COrdial-The Presf
dent in Petersh Off Palace-Pays a Visit to
the Czarnia in Alexandria Palace-Im-
mense Crowds Witness the Ceremonies,

dent in Petersh off Palace-Pays q Visit to
the Czarnia in Alexandria Palace-Im-
mense Crowds Witness the Ceremonies,
st. Petersburg, August 23.-From
early this morning there has been
scene of great animation here and a
steady fow of people toward the quays
where they embarked on profusely
decorated steamers to meet President
Faure at Cronstadt. The final prepa-
rations a Peterhof were completed this
morning. The magnificent park be-
tween the palace and the sea was glo-
riously decorated with the flags Of Rus
sia and France. The latter were to be
seen flying everywhere, presenting
fine picture from the sea, with the cas-
cade falling in front of the palace COM
bined with the beautiful marble ter
races and ornamented gilt statutes.
The streets of PeterhOf were crowded
from early morning and We're gay with
court equipages, which were constant
ly dashing through them with richly
attired personages who were on their
way to the landing stage, which was
gorgeously decorated for the occasion.
Contrary to Russian custom. the people
were allowed to enter the park to line
the route followed by President Faure
and the other high personages- The
scene was rendered more animated by
the fact that among the crowds were
countless men and women wearing tfl-
color cockades and thousands OF child
rem waving little French and Russian
flags.
At 9 o'clock in the morning semi
phore message announced that the
French squadron was thirteen miles
distant and a Cossack was Immediate
ly dispatched at gallop to convey the
news to the cZar at the Peterhof pal
ace. Another and similar dispatches
soon followed from Cronstadt and then
the czar emerged from the palace, en-
tered a carriage drawn by two gray
horses, and drove to the landing stage.
His majesty wore the uniform of a cap
tain in the Russian navy, with the rib
bon Of the Legion of Honor on Ais
breast.
Grouped at the landing stage were
the high court dignitaries and the
Russian minister for foreign affairs,
Count Muravieff; the French ambas-
sador to Russia, Count Lannos de Mon
tebello; General Boisdoffre, chief of the
French general staff, who is to replace
the Count de Montebello at st. Pc
tersburg, and Baron Won MOrenheim,
the Russian ambassador to France.
The czar conversed in French with
various personages for a few min
utes and then the imperial party en-
barked on board the Alexandria. The
Grand Duke Alexis, the high admiral
of Russia and uncle of the czar, on
board the Hiss TrOlla, went ahead. The
Grand Duke Alexis went along side the
POthuau, on board Of which was the
French president and welcomed the
latter to Russia in the name Of the
cZar.
A large fleet of pleasure steamers had
by that time assembled in the roads
and the most intense enthusiasm was
manifested when the Grand Duke
Alexis and President Faure left the
Pothuau and proceeded to the Alexan-
dria- The cZar awaited the president
at the top Of the Alexandria's gangway
and the moment M. Faure set foot on
the deck of the imperial yacht, warm
embraces were exchanged between the
cZar and the president which were the
signal for storm of cheering, waving
Of handkerchiefs and other marks of
popular and enthusiastic delight. The
sailors manned the ship at the same
time and gave the regulation cheers for
the czar and his guest.
His majesty, when the exchange of
salutations had been ended, invited the
president to the aft deck of the Alex
andria and offered him cigars. There
upon they both lighted cigars and en-
gagged in cordial conversation. The
czar questioned the president about his
voyage, asking him whether he had
enjoyed it and the president replied
that he had an excellent passage, with
fine weather and no hitch of any kind,
the only inconvenience being the fog,
which the French ships encountered on
the Baltic coast of Finland. NJ. Faure
added that at 10 o'clock yesterday
evening, Russian squadron, under
Admiral Nazinoff, consisting of two
cruisers, four torpedo boats and three
torpedo catcherS, were signaled and
at sun rise this morning, this squadron
saluted President Faure with twenty
one guns, whic salute was returned by
the French warship, Dupuy de LONE.
When President Faure had finished
telling the story Of his voyage to the
car, the Alexandria arrived at the
landing stage where the high court dig
n1taries were again grouped to receive
the cZar and his guest President
Faure was dressed in a frock coat and
wore the insignia of the grand collar
of the order Of st. Andrew, which dec
Grafton was presented to him by the
to his guest, the czar also wore the
same order.
When the imperial yacht was safely
moored along side the jetty, the
French president was the first to land
and the band of the Imperial guard
struck up the "Marseillaise" The czar
followed NJ. Faure ashore and imme-
diately presented his guest to the
Grand Dukes Vladimir, Cyril, Boris,
Andrew, Paul, Constantine, Nicholas,
Peter, Michael, George and Sergius.
A detachment Of marines with colors
flying, then marched past the czar and
I the president, who afterward reviewed
them, the marines cheering heartily as
they went by.
A procession Of twelve victorias and
four landaus was then formed The
route to the palace was lined with
troops and behind the soldiers were
massed enthusiastic crowds of people
who were frantic in their acclamations.
which were redoubled when the process