The herald., 1897-06-27

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Queen The Victoria and Albert af-
ferwari anchored between the Renowu
ana the foreign war vessels and imme-
diately the steam launches Of the for
eign commanders left the sides of the
big ships and made for the Victoria and
Albert, on the quarter deck Of which the
commanding officers were received by
the Prince of Wales.
The review itself did not add very
much to the picture framed for the
spectator this morning. saving always
the battle-like roar Of the great guns.
which was enough to wake the dead.
One of the prettiest sights of the day
was when the royal yacht had come to
anchor. The various foreign admirals,
with their staffs, put off to pay their re-
spects to the prince of Wales. AS they
passed the different warships, the bugles
sounded, the bands played and the ma
rines presented arms. All the admirals,
with the exception of Rear Admiral Mil
Ter went in their steam launches. The
admiral went In his barge, the seamen
of the Brooklyn rowing so finely that
they provoked approving comments on
all sides for their skill and sailor like
appearance The prince of Wales re-
ceived Admiral Miller and his staff with
special cordiality and complimented him
upon the appearance of the Brooklyn.
The Prince of Wales received Admiral
Miller and his staff with special cordial
ity, and complimented him upon the
appearance Of the Brooklyn. The prince
presented each of the admirals with a
medal as a souvenir of the Jubilee.
On board. the Brooklyn during the re-
view there was a number of prominent
Americans, the guests Of Admiral Mil
Ter and the other officers of the United
States cruiser They included Mrs. Levi
P. Morton and her daughter, Mr. and
Mrs. John Meigs and their daughter
Miss Grace, and Mr.. and Mrs. Watson
Blair of Chicago.
1t Is genrally admitted that the Brook
lynn presented the smartest appearance
OF any of the foreign ships.
The illuminations of the Brooklyn to-
night reflect the greatest credit upon
all concerned. Along her rail was
row Of electric lights. while between
her tunnels were large letters "V. r"
and the dates "1S37-1s97,'' showing up
conspicuously. But the most striking
feature was Old Glory flying from u
~
time the rays Of a searchlight were
thrown, all the other lights Of the cruiser
in the meanwhile being extinguished,
thus giving the flag the appearance Of
floating in the air. The Prince and
Princess of Wales passed the lines on
board the Alberta and returned to the
harbor at midnight. The fleet then fired
q royal salute.
GHOSTLY SHIPS
RYDE, Isle Of Wight, June 26, 10 p. m.
The illumination of the fleet at Spit
head was one of the most charming
sights of a week Of delightful spectacles.
The night was dark, and the waters of
the Solent were quiet. 1t was ghostly,
fantastic. suggestive Of fairyland and
the world of magic. The brutal grim
ness OF all the enginery of destruction
eagave looking guns. venomous tor
pedoes, the veritable teeth of war-were
lost in peaceful shadow and softening
gloom.
One minute before o'clock the waters
showed only such lights as are usually
associated with shipping, reds and greens
on port and starboard. while lights at
mastheads, CLEANS that, like tiny rows
of diamonds, showed the ports of pas
senger craft, with here and there some
parti-colored lights that had been
lighted in private vessels before the time.
At o'clock there was flash, rocket
from the Renown rushed into the dark
blue, and, bursting into a shower of
splendid stars, signalled the lighting up
of the fleet. The stick of the rocket had
not turned toward the water ere the
a 4 i ,Ix,- -. -, \
brilliant yellow light, hulls, smoke
stacks, spars and cordage being thrown
into strong relief. Light lines ran in
graceful curves along the sweep of the
monsters, now ghostly gray in the sud-
den glare, and from bow to stern, over
the mastheads, were garlands of incan-
descent light like "jeweled necklaces
hung upon the horns of night"
A few minutes later they vanished
with the suddenness of their appearance,
leaving the spectators peering at the
place where they had been. Then the
darkness was broken again.. This time,
by numberless searchlights, which, with
uncanny glare, like the eyes of hun
dred cyclops, patterned the heavens as a
checkerboard with radiant bands.
Later these "eyes' slowly swept the
gathered craft and the shores beyond,
as if seeking something to devour. Then
they were all shut off, leaving the dark
ness more visible than ever.
A pause, and the darkness was pierced
by hundreds of signal rockets, soaring
into the blue with messages of jubila-
ton.
The purpose of this naval exhibition
was not to be overlooked, however and
the might of Britain, its ever prepared
strength. was again to be impressed
upon the staring thousands.
A signal rocket leaped from the Re-
nown, and now there was provided an
exhibition of what war would be like if
ever an immense fleet of battleships and
cruisers should engage at night. A
royal salute of sixty guns was fired
from every ship capable of firing it.
Great guns and small guns answered
each other in one prolonged roar, rising
and falling in intensity as more or less
of them fired together. 1t was truly
awful. Even the certain knowledge
that there were no deadly missiles in
the guns did not prevent a chill feeling
from creeping over many of the civilian
spectators.
The foreign warships, moored opposite
the British lines, Joined the cannonade,
and to the superstitious there was from
the deep-throated guns of the United
States, Russia, France and Germany a
note of defiance, resonant salute an
swering gun for gun. Yet all was in