The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-27
ILLUMINATED AT NIGHT.
A Deafening salute of sixty Guns
Fired by the En- tire Fleet.

Flrcu OE the A1nLtfe fleet.
Ryde, Isle Of Wight, June g. 10 p. M
The illumination of the fleet at spithead
was one of the most charming sights of
week of delightful spectacles. The night
was pleasantly dark, no moon dimmed the
effect Of mortal creation. the waters of
the solent were reposefully quiet, every
thing contributed to enhance the success
of the programme. It was all ghostly,
fantastic, suggestive of fairyland and the
world of magic--a fitting termination to
day of imposing realities and iron facts.
The brutal grimness of all the enginery
Of destruction-saWage -look!ng guns, ven
omous torpedoes, the Veritable teeth of
war-was lost in peaceful shadow and
softening gloom. The spectator knew it
was all there; but IL was not reentessly
thrust upon the mind as 1t had been the
day long from every angle of vision. The
mantle of night shut out what was jar
ring to the non-comba tant and revealed
only that which was agreeable.
A minute before the miles Of waters
showed only such lights as are usually as
ISOLATED with shipping, reds and greens
of port and starboard, while lights at
mastheads, CLEANS that, like tiny rows
of diamonds, showed the ports Of passen-
ger craft, with here and there some parti-
colored lights that had been lit on private
vessels before the time
At nine there was FASH a rocket from
the Renown ripped into the dark blue and,
bursting with a shower OF splendid stars,
signalled the lighting up of the feet. The
stick of the rocket had not turned to-
wards the water ere the mighty fleet was
suddenly skeletoued in brilliant yellow
light, hulls, smokestacks, spars and cord
age being thrown into strong relief Light
lines ran in graceful curves along the
sweep of the monsters now ghostly grey
in the sudden glare and from bow to stern
over the mastheads were garlands of in
candescent light like "jeweiled necklaces
hung upon the horns Of night"
A few minutes later they vanished with
the suddenness Of their appearance, leav-
ing the spectator staring at the place
where they had been. Then the darkness
was broken again, this time by numberless
search lights which, with uncanny glare.
like the eyes OF hundred cyclops, patter-
ened the heavens as checquer board with
radiant bands Later these eyes" slowly
swept the gathered craft and the shores
beyond, as If seeking something 10 dis
cover 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
iubllation. not disaster. deliver ng them
and falling. burnt out and useless. into the
waste OF waters.
The purpose OF this naval exhibition was
not to be overlooked, however: the might
OF Britain, its ever prepared strength, vas
again TO be impressed upon the staring
thousands. A signal rocket leaped from
the Renown. and now there was provided
an exhibition Of what w8r would be like
II ever an immense feet OF battleships and
cruisers should engage az night. royal
salute Of sixty guns was fired from every
ship capable OF firing g. Great guns and
small guns answered each other In one
prolonged roar. rising and falling IN In
tensity. as more or less Of them nred to-
gether. IL was truly aWfGli Even the
certain knowledge that there were no
deadly missiles IN the guns ala not pre-
vent a chill feeling from creeping over
many % the civilized spectators.
The foreign warships moOred opposite
the British lines Joined the cannona de
and 70 the superstltlous there was from
the deep-throated guns Of the United
States. Russia, France, Germany. a note OF
defiance, a resonant resoiute answer, gun
for gum Yet all was IN honor OF Victoria
Then the angry roaring ceased much 20
the roilef OF thousands who were stop
pleasant smoke slowly drifted away the
feet again stood revealed IN fairy lines Of
ightncss. The signs OF war were dimming
and disappearing In the shadows. the gen.
tier side Of things was again put 10 the
front 20 ingtil into the minds Of depart
ing thousands, that while the dogs Of