New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-28
MERCHANT VESSELS IN LINE.
| DISPLAY IN WHICH ENTHUSIASM MADE UP

FOR LACK OF NUMBERS
A line OF vessels worthy of the great occasion,
forming the merchant marine division of the naval
parade started from the upper Bay shortly after
O'clock and despite the mighty northwest wind
arrived without mshap and in good order opposite
the tomb in time to take part In the demonstration
attending the trip OF the Dolphin with President
Mckinley on board, down the river Ordinarily
tugboat attracts little attention, and even the
stately river and Sound steamers on their daily
courses without attracting notice. Yesterday. how
ever things were different. and from the first
shrek OF the smallest tugboat to tho deep whistles
OF the bigger craft, from early morning until late
in the day. thousands of enthusiastic people were
watching With rapt attention the evoutions OF
these vessels Of the merchant marine
Every boat decorated and every boat
had on board n merry party OF sighseers.
Perhaps there were not as many vessels in
line as had been expected. owing to the heavy
wind and doubtless the same cause was response
Bile for many vacant seats on tho decks and In the
cabins But there boats enough and people
enough to mako the river parade of exceptional
impressiveness, TO FAY nothing of extreme enthusl-
asm and when the head OF the column reached the
end Of the course and sailed around the Sutana.
which was anchored off MISUNDERSTANDING
third-st the shore became white with waving hand
kerchiefs and the air resounded with noises, all
procla,mng the Joy and patriotism of a happy peo-
pie honoring the memory of Grant, the man and
soldier
Before the merchant marine got under way. the
scene on the river opposite the tomb was one of
mighty beauty. Mighty in the great warships and
beautiful In the varied decorations the vessels,
the rnasts Of every boat fesooned and arched with
flags OF every nation, with steamers bright and
gay. The big yacht Sultana. anchored in midstream
and clothed with flags OF every sort and descrIp-
tion formed pretty picture. and the big warships
in double column. the revenue cutters. the Light
house tenders. saucy tugs and ponderous excursion
all o
wondrous and exciting greatness. And the low.
narrow, rakish-looking torpedO-boat Porter. dash
ing in and out and around the numerous vessels,
caused many question concerning her. This boat
did police work. She kept audacious tugs and
larger vessels in their proper stations and with the
help OF the regular police boat, Patrol, succeeded
in making the whole naval pageant one OF match
less order and regularity.
When the first column OF the land parade reached
the reviewing stand about O'clock the warshps
fred the first salute of the day. each vessel giving
twenty-one guns in honor of the dead hero. When
later the merchant marine reached the end OF the
the land parade about twothirds over,
and from then until o'clock when tho President
ana ms party MADE b Ts 10 eOak On
grew black with people. excursion boats took on
the crowds which had landed to witness the ex-
erclses at the tomb. and every one who possibly
could secured points Of vantage from which to
son. on the return down the river the merchant
marine divisions made no attempt to keep in their
disorder but every vessel did its best without
ing into It's neghbor to secure the honor of being
The end OF the naval display was accomplished
when the President left the Dolphin off Fifty
second-st. At that time barges loaded down with
returning National Guardsmen were going up and
down the river the BEN Mary Powell win he West
nose up the stream n, the tugPoats ana excursion
the river soon settled down to its accustomed
scene of ferryboas and other craft which business
called into action.
NJ r,IN
The vessels taking part in the merchant marine
parade began assembling south OF Governors Isl
and and between Red Hook and Liberty Island soon
after noon, and by o'clock they were ali in their
assigned positions. There four divisions
abreast. the first being the eastery one headed by
the flagship OF the merchant marine feet the Penn
syvania Railroad tugboat America with Rear-Ad-
miral i. c. Osborn board. At 2:30 o'clock the sig
nal for the start was given from the America and
oh proceeded by the Bat cry and up the North River
with the first division following headed by the tug
the first division, Fred b. Dalze. and Flag Lieu
tenant ID: F, Coleman on board The first squadron
Of this division was composed chiefly OF NewYork
Central Railroad tugs, headed by the G. NJ. Depew,
with Commander George Eisman on board. The
headed by the II; H. Moore. tr., with Commander
The second division fell in behind the first. with
ars yaenns IN eSmm IN on the
eGEsf The We ~ hs
PTshng this division T WeIS headed by the ngs
manders John y. Schoonnaker and NJ Il. Mead
Commodore NJ Moran. with his flag lieutenant,
Thomas Morrison. was in command OF the third
division tho tug i. III. Wise. which followed
after the second division The two sauadrops OF
the third division we're commanded by Robert Rog-
ers and George OBrien respectively on the tugs
Municipal and Acme.
The fourth division was under the command OF
Commodore Charles II Boyer, with Flag Lieuten-
r.. r.. Ferry, on the tug Fortuna. Command
ers l.. L. Shorthand. on the tug James Watt, and
H. l.. Joyce. on the tug Howard. were In charge OF
the two squadrens of this division. which was com
posed largely Of excursion steamers
The gayiy decorated fleet. with many women on
board, moved slowly up the North River. the head
OF IL being welcomed by resounding cheers from the
shore and the piers that lined the river-front. II
rfa Ched the lower vessels OF the North Atlantic
Squadron about $50 o'clock passing up TO the east