The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-27
NORFOLK vIRGINIAN: SUNDAY JUNE 81 1897.

bers Of the House OF Lords the Cam.
pania with the members of the House
or Commons and the Fire Queen. The
yacht or the Commandsr-in-chi ut
Portsmouth.
as the Albert and Victoria was seen
approaching. the fleet. led by the RE-
nown and echoed by the foreign YES.
sells present, fired a deafcnlng royal sa-
lute OF twenty-onc guns simultanc-
ously the blue Jackets and p,arines
Smanned ship" standing on the irons
cladS In solid lines round their outer
edges and filling their tops, while OF,
vessels of the old type, the yards were
quickly dotted. 1t was very theatrical
and interesting. The Victoria and AL
pert followed by the other yachts then
steamed through the lines. the sailors
heartily cheering. the band playing
God save the Queen" The Victoria and
Albert afterwards anchored between
the Renown and the foreign war YES.
sels. Immediately the steam launches
OK the foreign commanders left the
sides OF their big ships and made for
the Victoria and Albert on the quarter
u.un 49,. ~ ' when the commanding officers
were received by the Prince OF Wales
GHOS'rLY SHIPS!
HYDE, Isle OF Wight, 10p. m, June 26
-Ihe eVolutions OF the fleet at Spithead
was one OF the most charming sights of
q week OF delighting spectacles. The
nisnt was pleasantly dark, no moon
di1nmed the effect of mortal creation. tho
waters Of the Solent were Ireposefully
quiet, everything contributsd to en-
nance the success Of the progra fnme. 1t
was all ghostly, fantastic, Suggestive Of
lairSland and the world of magic-a
n.t'ns ~, tefmination TO a day Of impos-
ing realities and iron facts.
a minute before . the miles OF waters
showed only such lights as are usually
associated with shipping reds and green's
or port and .stHrboard. Willie lights at
masterheads sframs that. like tiny rows
senger craft. with here and there some
parti-colored lights that had been lit on
private vessels before the time.
AT y there was 4 flesh, srockat$irom
me RenoWn.' ripped into thetdark blue
and. bursting with Il shower&of isplen-
did stars, slgnalled the lighting 1lpt Of the
fleet. The stick Of the rocket had not
turned towards the water ereStfe Nigh
ty fleet suddenly .skeletonesatkl S,ri!liant
YellpW light. Thu -sla par s
and cordage being thrown into strong
rellef. Light lines run In graceful curves
along the sweep Of the monsters, now
ghostly grey in the sudden glare, and
from bow to stem over the mastheads
We're garlands Of lncandescene light like
"iewelled necklaces hung upon the horns
Of night"
A few minutes later they vanished
Ce,
leaving the spectator staring at the place
where they had been Then the dark
ness was broken again, this timo by
numberless search lights which, with
uncanny glare, like the eyes of q hun
dred cyclops, patterned the heavens az
checquer board with radiant bands
Later these ''eyes" slowly swept the
gathered craft and the shores beyond.
as If seeking something to discover or
deVour. Then they were all shut off,
leaving the darkness more visible than
ever
a pause and the darkness was
pierced by hundreds Of signal rockets,
ambitiously soaring into the blue with
messages OF jubiation. not disaster, de-
livering them and falling burnt out and
useless into the waste Of waters.
For the purpose Of this naval eXhibi.
tion was not to he overlooked, however,
the might Of Britain. It's ever prepar-
ed strength. was again to be impressed
upon the staring thousands. a signal
rocket leaped from the Renown and
now there was provided an exhibition Of
what war would be like if ever an i'm
mense fleet Of bnttleships and
cruisers should engage at night A
royal salute Of sixty guns was fired from
every ship capable Of firing 1t.
The foreign Warships moored oppo-
site the British lines Joined the cannon
;ade and to the superstitious there was
from the decp-throated guns OF the
United States, Russia. France. Ger
many a note Of defiance. a reasonant
resolute answer, gun for gun. Yet all
was in honor OF Victoria. Then the an
cry roaring ceased much to the relief
Of thousands who were stopping their
ears and as the panoply OF unpleasant
smoke slowly drifted away the fleet
again stood revealed in fairy lines Of
lightness. The signs Of war were
dimmed and disappearing in the shad-
ows. and the gentle side of things was
again put to the front to instil into the
minds Of departing thousands. that
while the dogs Of war We're Ready, aye
Ready" that after all what the people
came out to see was the trump Of peace
peace, and the glory OF the Queen"
Elk Beer.