The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-04
THE FLEET OUTLINED IN FIRE.
Brilliant Display Of PSrOtechnIcs winds Up
Great show IN the Sound.

Great SHOW on the SOUND.
OYSTER BAY, Sept. st was a record
breaking crowd that swept down on the
Presidents village to-day. They came in
every known sort Of vehicle from farmers
cart to the most expensive Of motor cars.
The Long Island Railroad sent in four
special trains in addition to the regular
schedule. Oyser Pay tried for a while
to maintain its identity, but threw up its
hands early in the fight. Last night had
tried the hotel accommodations severely
and after an attempt at lunch this morning
tn e principal hotel closed its dining room
and hung out the nothing doing sign. Every
thing eatablc in the place had been sold out
and the crowd had a chance Of going hungry
or moving on to the next village, where re-
port had IL that conditions were much the
same.
Most Of the strangers had come down
with the idea that the warships were lying
out in the bay and could easily be seen
from the shore. When they discovered that
the ships lay in tho Sound, some six miles
from the Oyster Bay wharves, there was
a great scramble TO get boats. Every boat
owner along the shore had his craft ready
for the occasion and the local watermen
have reaped quite a golden harvest from
the sightseers. Those who could not get
boats walked or drove to Bayville or Lloyd's
Neck and lined the beaches to look at the
ships.
The crowd was for the most part very
good natured, but one disyruntled motor
ist drew hearty applause when he remsrked:
Il don't see why the President had this
review in Oyster Bay backyard Oyster
Bay itself took but little interest in the re-
view. No attempt was made to decorate
the village, and only two or three citizens
thought the occasion worthy Of a flag dis
play. The reason was doubtless, that the
ships lay 40 far out that the villagers didn't
feel that their town was connected with
the review. Street fakirs were busy all day
hawking their wares and nearly every Wis.,
the President. Thu favorite purchase was a
small Presidents flag. Few Of the Wis
tOrs had ever seen one, and 1t excited
much curiosity.
By night fall most Of the visitors had
left town or zone out in launches to see the
illumination Of the fleet. The townspeople
gathered on Capitol Hill to watch the show.
At exactly z o'clock there came the flashes
Of a signal light from the flagship Maine,
and instantly, as il by magic, the feet
leaped into view outlined in white fire.
At the same instant one white light shone
out from the top of Sycamore Hill. In
the harbor the clustered yachts were all
ablaze and a myriad Of launches darted
about like hrefiies. All suggestion OF war
faded from the mind and the grim battle
ships took on the aspect OF a fairy feet.
from the far end Of the line the May
flower, with the President on board, slipped
her moorings and ran down among the
feet. No boom Of great guns broke the
stiffness as the President passed in silent
review. Suddenly a rocket shot up from
the bridge Of the flagship and then a great
shaft Of light leaped up into the night.
Seorchlight Answered searchlight in a riot
OF binding flashes. At one moment a huge
battIeship would stand out in bold relief
with her frowning broadside Of great guns,
and then in an instant the light would
wing away leaving the peacefnl outlines OF
a fairy ship.
Another signal from the Maine and the
searchliRhts winked out. Then from each
ship came the bngle call Of taps, lights out;
and suddenly the fairy fleet was gone.
Only The riding lights remained to mark
where the ships swung at anchor. The
raviauv uraa Ovar