Evening star., 1898-09-29
Arrival of the Admiral at the Porto
Rican Capital.
SCENES In 4 STROLL THRO' TIE CITY
The Paradise of Dirt and Inac-
ton.
MODES OF CONVEYANCE
correspondence Of The Evening Star.


p PONCE. Porto Rico. September 13. 1895
When the United States steamer Seneca,
with the members of the peace commission,
Admiral Schley and Gen. W. W. Gordon
and the United States postal commission
aboard dropped anchor in the haTbor of
San Juan, Porto Rico. Tuesday forenoon,
September :. there was wild scramble
among the passengers to be among the first
ashore.
Safe within the landlocked harbor lay the
former Brazilian cruiser. now known as the
New Orleans, which was set apart as the
flagship Of Admiral Schley while at San
Juan. Only a few rods away lay the Wasp,
one OF the converted yachts Of Uncle Sam 5
squadron Both these men-of-war were
overlooked by the eager passengers aboard
the Seneca, with the exception of Admiral
Schley and General Gordon, both of whom
had arisen early in the morning and We're
only awaiting news from the warships be
fore completing arrangements to leave the
Seneca.
Shortly after sunrise a dingy was lowered
from the New Orleans, and dapper young
naval officer. with eight stalwart jackies at
the oars. came bounding over the water to
the resting place OF the Seneca and the
peace commissioners. 1t was desired to
know Admiral SChley's wishes, which were
arrangements Were soon made for all the
COUTtesIes permissible by naval etiquette in
such matters Admiral Schley did not take
long' To get ready. and when he entered a
smart cutter TO go TO his own vessel the
shrill piping Of the bOatswains aboard the
New Orleans and Wasp gave due notice of
his coming As the cutter containing Ad-
miral Sch.ey drew alongside the New Or
leans u rear aumiralS penndnt was unfurled
aIOft, and simultaneously the secondary
batteries on the starbOard and port sides
Of the New Orleans began belching forth
the customary salute due officer of this
rank. From this time until he left his
flagship to 20 ashore TO the Hotel Ingla-
terra Admiral SChley was a busy man in
deed He had hardly seated himself on the
quarter deck of his ship before there was d
visitor announced in the person of the naval
CUmmaHdanJ OF the Syaniards left on the
gunbOaJs and torpedo boats at San Juan.
This parsonage in all the glory of gold lace,
buttons and feathers, came to the New Or
leans in d craft very much resembling the
barge Of Cleopatra, but on a similar scale,
and as he danced and cavorted back and
forth before reaching his destination he
was an admirable illustration OF that ruler
OF the Queens Navee,' Sir Joseph Porter
Of PinafOre fame Finally after much bowling
and SCraplng alongside the New Orleans the
Spanish naval commander, accompanied by
the alcaide OF San Juan. scrambled up the
rope ladder and was ushered into the pres
ence of Admiral SChley and General Cor
don There was more bowling and laying
grsindecs. while the American commission
ers sat silent. but evidently amused at the
pOliteness of their demonstrative callers.
But there must come an end to ceremonies.
and finally the dignitaries from San Juan
came down the rope stairway again, and.
entering their barge. We're rowed To their
own guubOat, which began TO bark vicious
ly in honor OF their return.
\ comparison between the reports of the
American and Spanish guns showed that
Uncle Sans weapons made more COM
pact and business-like report, while those
Of the boy king Of Spain sounded like Chi
pese bombs, owing to their scattering ma
tuTe.
Assurance by the Spanish.
During the few moments that elapsed on
account Of the visit of Spain's representa-
tives the assurance was given Admiral
Schley that obstacles would be placed
in the way of a speedy termination of the
details for the evacuation of San Juan and
Porto Rico by the Spanish forces. 1t was
suggested that not over "a week need be
ID in