The sun., 1899-05-29
SIMPSONS SQUADRON OFF.
WHITE SHIPS VANISH TO THE EAST
As THE sun GOES down.

Made Pretty Spectacle In tho Bay
Watched by Swarms of Holiday Makers
from the Green Shores-ProRramme.
Four vessels of the North Atlantic squadron.
the cruiser New York and the battleships In
diana. Massachusetts and Texas. In the shin
ing white Of peace. sailed yesterday afternoon
on u three months cruise along the New Eng
land coast. throng OF bicyclists and null
tItude afoot on grassy heights and on bulk
heads and piers watched the great white war
craft rs they got up anchor of Tompklnsvil!e.
swung gracefully and slowly to starboard, and
headed down the bay.
Originally. the squadron had been scheduled
to sail yesterday morning. II was intended
that the battleship Texas should stay here
several days longer and to- morrow go up the
Hudson River and fire salute opposite Grants
tomb. This duty has been delegated to the
cruiser Brooklyn. now at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard. She will Join the squadron later. Ad-
mira Sampson did not get down TO the Tomp-
kinsville landing from his home in New Jersey
until about o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The New lork's steam launch was wait
ing for him. Half an hour later his arrival
aboard the flagship was indicated to the
men Of the other ships by the hoistng Of the
blue, white; starred flag Of Rear Admiral
at the signal yard. Then black smoke began
signals flew from the flagship. The Massachu-
set,s was anchored north Of Tomgkinsville; ;
inshore. on her port bow, was the Texas; the
landing and the Indiana was further down.
about OF clifton twas not Visiting day rs SO
warshipa inonopolized the vision, and fine
they looked in the sunshine. dividing with
their heckless prows twin ripples OF the out
Following the, first string OF signals. which
the EXPERTS ashore said meant get under
shore folk at various distances. The other
ships tiew red aud white answering pennants.
cables esSs we're hove short While 6luejackets WITH
hose washed the bay bottom mud of them as
they ratified through the hawse pipes. At 5
The New York steamed down, past the Mas
Massachusetts cut in ahead 81 the Texas.
which brought up the rear. Thus In single
odb about mile o, .ssa sea oe
at sandy Hook The New York clear red the bar
at D:oS and the other vessels followed at inter-
walls of about ten minutes
morning st NewSHort. Which will be 1t its head,
Admiral sampson has said: I" War problems
viii be the first and only Gonsideration De ,s n OF The The
legs has mapped out u lot Of hard work for the
with Spain. Tomorrow companies OF blue
port tt from NJ the New YORK. Massachu-
sctts. Indiana and Texas and take part
m Il parhus lhcluthtal 10 tne inauguration q
Rhode Islands Governor The squadron will
he augmented by the cruiser New Orleans. 1t
will then go to Boston and help to celebrate
Bunker Hill day June II. Sailors and marines
will parade ashore and the ships will fire 50.
lutes The squadron may stay at Boston until
July t. 1t will then return to Newport. drilling
y. H. staying few days: thence to Portland.
Me. and thence back to Newport. About Aug
l it will get under way for Bar Tarbor After
IA weeks stay there the ships will return direct
To Newport. The itinerary, for the rest Of the
cruise has not been decided on. There will he
special landing drills and target practice with
the big guns at sea and with small arms on
shore