New-York tribune., 1907-05-27
THE DUKE SLIPS AWAY.
Italian admiral Eludes COuntrymen
by Spending Day ashore.

The Duke of the Abruzzi, admiral of the Ital-
ian navy. whose flagship Varese arrived in this
port from jamestown Saturday. took an
afternoon off yesterday, and so we'll did he sue
ceed in evading the reporters that they never
caught up with him. and all they could learn Of
his movements that he left his ship al noon
and returned early in the evening for dinner.
The royal explorer and mountain climber is stay
ing aboard the Varese, and his action yes
terday in going ashore accompanied only by q
member of his staff without leaving word OF
his destination. is characteristic of his dislike Of
official pomp and ceremony. 1t might be taken
also as an indication that he will have leading
part in the arrangements for his entertainment
While here. The programme for to-day includes
a trip to Governors Island and tonight dinner
in his honor the Waldorf-Astoria by several
Of his compatriots.
The officers and crew of the Varese held open
house" on board yesterday. and about fifteen
hundred Italians. men, women and children. ac-
cepted the opportunity of treading again on
their native soil. If it was for only few min
utes. The visitors came from downtown, from
Harlem. from Brooklyn and from Jersey. Every
province and nearly every city was represented
in the crowd. There were NeapoIitans. Sicilians,
CaIabrians and Genoese, with the addition of
natives of Rome. Many of them had
friends aboard. and they didn't seem to mind
bit If they were received by sailors who trod
about the sloppy deck in bare feet. On the port
side of the main deck stood large piano organ
at which members OF the took turns in
playing some of the melodies from home. AS
each boatload of guests departed the sailor at
the companionway would say "Gracia.' which
means thanks.
Not since the Columbian celebration eleven
years ago has the North River been the rendez
cred there to-day.
Notwithstanding the inclement weather the boat
landing and the surrounding wharves were
crowded all day with sghtseers and visitors. 1t
required a force of dozen patrolmen to keep the
former from getting in the way of those who
wanted TO board the ships. half dozen launches
piled back and forth to the different ships and
the boatmen did good business. Then, Of
course the men with the flags of all nations.
ten cents" We're on hand. and they too. made
money Those who had no umbrellas to protect
their stocks of miniature silk emblems stood
under nearby trees and shouted their wares.
1t was a busy scene at S0th street and the
North River, where Casey, the boatman, sells
round trip tickets for his launches, of which
he had several in operation between shore ana
warships The italian had more visitors than
the Austrian cruiser Sankt George. but the sub
jeCts Of Francis Joseph by means few
They included a local military company Of about
sixty men, in brilliant red and blue uniforms
with band With more less precision they
marched TO the boat landing and waited for the
cruiser q hOatS TO take tnem ABOARD. fOr nearly
an hour they waited in the cold, drizzling rain
until launch and a barge were sent from the
Sankt George To bring them out.
Say said OF Casey's assistants "a good
thing the water amt rough. If II dat
barged go and den dey'd be sorry dey
didn't spend half"
Aside from the commercial spirit displayed in
this observation. what he said true for
after the difficulty of getting everybody packed
IN, including several women the barge was
hauled out by the launch. careening dangerously
from side to side. But once on board the Aus
trians were repaid for their trouble by meeting
their Couutrymen. drinking real 'kirschenwein"
with them and exchanging tales of the vater-
land. And the bandsmen from ashore showed
what American education and Second avenue
environment had done for them by playing for
their admiTing Countrymen from over the sea
THE Goulash March and THE PaprIka Ga
Vote" which were written especially for the oc-
cason by Louis. the head omnibus at the Care
Hungary
The Hungarian Literary Society gave an In
formal dinner and reception last night for tho
officers and men at No ODD East 10Th street. the
home Of the society.