The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-11-09
BRITISH FLEET
ARRIVED TODAY
Fine Appearance of the Bats
tie Ships As They Steameds
Up the North Right.
sAluTEs FROM ALL slDEs'
AMERICAN SQUADRON THAT RE-
CEIvED THE VISITORS AND
THE CAPTAINSIN COMMAND.

AmlU tHe sDooulHg OF guns ana paHue-
monium of whistles the British fleet of
six armored cruisers with Prince Louis
of Battenburg, on board. anchored early
this morning in the North river. The
Princes flagship. the Drake, was saluted
by Rear-Admiral Evanss flagship, the
Maine To-day is King Edwards birth-
day and as soon as the Drake anchored,
Admiral Evons began preparations TO so
aboard to congratulate the royal visitor.
The British squadron Went by Cover
nors Island at S.25 o'clock this morning
/ and fired a national salute of twenty -one
guns as it passed. The Governors Is
land guns replied, gun for gun.
As the British squadron passed Cob
| munipaw at $50 o'clock in close forma-
ton in the following order-Drake flag
/ ship, Berwick, Bedford, Cornwall, Es-
sex and Cumberland. the Drake was fly
/ ing the Admirals flag and all the ships
had the Royal George at the peak. As
the Drake steamed by Governors Island
her four tunnels belching black smoke.
the fort saluted. and on board the flag
ship flash after flash came from her
sides, followed by the boom of her guns.
With strong tide running. the British
warships forged up the river at speed
of ten knots Painted dark slate color,
they did not make as pretty marine pac-
ture as our white squadron, but there
was a very businesslike look about the
| Britishers Their decks were crowded
with men, and now and then the strains
of ships band rendering a patriotic air
came briskly across the water.
/ The Jersey Central ferryboat Plain
| field, loaded with passengers, ranged up
alongside the parading squadron, but
gave it the right Of way. The Pennsyi
vania ferryboat Washington, however,
broke through the line, and if the Essex
had not sweryed from her course tine
Washington would have been run down,
and there would have been an appalling
disaster.
The act of the captain of the Wash.
ington was deliberate. He bore straight
across the river at the regulation speed,
although it was clear that if he kept on
the Washington would go through the
| IL. risl RI hnr
passengers. On the Plain6eld there was
a thrill of apprehension as the Washing
ton, with bone in her teeth, made the
attempt to get through
The captain of the Essex saw the dam
ger of the ferryboat andt changed his
course sufficiently to let her through safe
ly. On the Plainfeld former Mayor of
Roselle declared that it was an act Of
discourtesy for the Washington to force
her way through the ships of the visiting
squadron, which were proceeding up the
river by invitation of the American Gov
ernment.
Others suggested that the warships
had the right of way, and that as 1t
would be difficult to handle them in an
emergency with such strong tide rum
| nlng, IL was Only SOUu river IAauASI3
that other vessels plying on the river
should give them plenty of searoom
AAll the floating craft in the harbor
pulled their whistles wide open, and
amid a screeching din the visitors slip
ped past the Battery and headed up the
II New Yorkers had assembled at the Bat
tery. and as the ships passed they waved
their hands ana handkerchiefs frantic
ally The bluejacketss ON board respond
ed
Some of the buildings skirting the Bat
terry also added a welcome BY running up
flags. The building at No. II state
street. where the British consular office
is located. displayed the consular flag and
> | the British flag side by side.
BY 8 O'Clock all the ships were at their
respective berths in the North River.
All of the fleets appeared IN war pa mt,
that is, drab color. The flag ship is in
: command of Capt Mark e. #. Kerr. She
dropped anchor 500 yards south of he
American battleship Maine, and the
: other British ships followed in order,
each 500 feet south Of the other. In this
, manner they stretched as far south as
| Fifty-fourth street.
When the British feet Joined the
American squadron the Drake saluted
| Rear Admiral Evanss flag with thirteen
guns and the Maine returned the salute
with like number. All the river craft
: | Shrleked VOclfefOuSlf al lHe sOiilu anu
, the shores of New Jersey gaze back
| booming echoes.
There will be yisitings all day between
| the commanders and captains Of the two
II fleets Prince Louis and party will
first 90 aboard the Maine and be receiv-
: ed BY Rear Admiral Evans in person.
| To-day's programme, after the visit TO
| the Navy ard and a call on Mayor Nc
Clellan at the City Hall. will consist of
visit by the Prince and his staff to
Governors Island. where they will be re-
ceived by Gen. Grant AT o'clock this
!. afternoon the Mayor will return the
Princes call. and afterward Gen. Grant
: and Rear-Admiral Coqllan, in separate
/ launches, will do likewise.
The American feet, known as the
: / North Atlantic squadron, under command
Of Rear Admiral Robley p. Evans. ar
. rived here yesterday. Amid yociferous
q welcome of harbor craft they steamed up
the North River to their respective loca-
lions aft Rirerside Drive. Their anchor
age is as follows:
The flagship Maine Of Seventy mini
: street and the other battleships 400
yards apart. After he Maine comes
the Missouri. Capt. ". 8. Cowles;