The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-29
A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY.
REPRESENTING ALL THE NAVIES
OF THE WORLD.
The Close of the Diamond Jubilee With
the Spithead Display-England's Inn
mense Gathering of Warships-The
American Flagship Brooklyn Strongest
and Swiftest Of the Cruisers I'm Line-The
American Liner New York the Center OF
Admiration.

Portsmouth, England June 2G.-The
most magnificent display Of naval
strength ever witnessed occurred off Spit
head today, the occasion being the grand
naval review held in honor Of the com
pIetion Of the sixtieth year of the reign
Of Queen Victoria. The prince of Wales,
representing her majesty, reviewed Il fine
fleet Of foreign warships, representing all
the maritime nations Of the world, proud
est, strongest and sWiftest Of these craft
being the United States armored cruiser
Brooklyn, flying the flag OF Rear Ad-
niral Miller, and the heir apparent also
inspected about thirty miles Of British
warships. in which were L. fighting ships
of different classes, carrying about 800
heavy guns, manned by over $4,000 men,
and of about 10000 tons in all. Each
maritime nation sent an admiral in his
flagship to witness the review. They
formed q line abreast of the British bat
tleships, where they were favorably plac-
ed to compare their own naval archi-
lecture with that of other nations Each
nation sent its best available ship, and a
magnificent display resulted.
After threatening morning the
weather frightened and promised a brill
liant day for the great naval review. The
early hour, and on all sides were to be
seen bewildering masses of glittering uni
forms, gay multitudeS Of civilians. mill
tary bands and sailors Of all ranks and
natiOnalities.
The colonial troops arrived at o'clock
ana were met at the railroad station by
4 military guard of honor. Then, headed
by a military band, they marched to the
town hall, where the lord mayor and
corporation of Portsmouth, in fun robes
Of office, welcomed the visitors. The
colonies received
great popular ovation. Their march from
the station to the town hall ana from the
town hall to the point of embarkatiOn
was nothing less than trlumphal pro-
grcSS.
The American Line steamship New York
with large party of sightseers on board
left SOut hampton at > o clock yesterday
evening and took up the position assigned
to her in the line OF special merchant
vessels off Ryde As the American grey
hound traVcrScd the line of British war
ships with the stars and stripes flying
proudly and a fine band playing national
airs, each warship dipped her flag and she
was greeted with hearty cheers from the
many thousands of blue Jackets manning
the feet. As the New York passed the
German warship KOnig Wilhelm the lat
ter's band played Hail Columbia.
one of the prettiest sights of the day
was when the royal yacht had come to
an 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 Mill
Ter. went in their steam pinnaceS. ADJ
mral Miller went in his barge, the seamen
Of the Brooklyn rowing so timely that
jhcv provoked comments on all sides tor
their skill and sailor like appearance. Ihe
prince of Wales received Admiral Miller
ana his staff with special COrdiality and
complimentcd him upon the appearance
of the brooklyn.
The prince presented each of the ad-
rnirals with a medal as a souvenir OF the
jubilee.
ON board the Brooklyn during the re
view there were a number OF prominent
Americans. the guests of Admiral Miller
and the other officers OF the United
States cruiser.