New-York tribune., 1909-09-26

most satisfactory part Of the days proceedings
The big parade began at Governors Island.
Despite the early accident and the slow speed
that had been made by the escort squadron at
frequent intervals of the 10 that point, the
starting place was reached on time and the
parade began its course up the river at the
scheduled hour. But il at Governors ISL
and that the real disappointment of the day
began.
READY FOR THE START.
While the little vessels were circling around
the Narrows and The Bay the parade fleet had
been falling into position. The torpedo boat
destroyers and the submarines. which had been
skylarklng around the bay, had taken up their
places in double column, and all was ready for
the start. The escort squadron came on with
the Half Moon and the Clermont in the lead
The Dutch sailors on the Half Moon sprang
into the rigging and cheeTed Vociferously as the
little vessel passed between the first two de-
stroyers.
on the Governors Island sea wall half dozen
soldiers waved languid hand. The airship
sheds remained closed. and Wilbur Wright
whistled cheerfuIly while he tinkered at his
machine The destroyers Strengthened out in
column formation and quickly disappeared up
the river, followed by the submarines. The
Dutch sailors cheered frantically and the great
mass Of the parade. wallowed in peaceful silence
waiting for the signal TO start only few tugs
responded with their whistles.
Thus the procession passed up the river
When opposite the City Hall the destroyers fred
a salute But they were nearly out of sight b!
that time, and few on the parading vessels IN
derstOod what it was about. The Half. Moon
led in the voyage up the river, and after the
/ Battery was reached constantly increased her
lead over the ClermonL The escort squadron
was following the Clermont. and there was an
| other interval between the squadron and the
fleet This formation divided the parade into
/ three parts.
The Battery was black with spectators. The
people on the Starn Line, the FAN River Line
and the American Line piers made noise
a-plenty. and tugs and ferryboats joined in the
uproar II lasted until steam and lungs gave
/ out Pier after pier was passed. crowded with
I spectators. The Cunard Line and the Hamburg
American and Holland America line piers were
full to capacity the spectators doing their BEST
10 drown out the noise from the river craft.
/ The Half Noon tried 10 make a little diversion
/ 10y almost running her tub shaped bows TO
/ the back of the Pluuger The Plunger had
Jagged behind The other submarines and was
performing evolution that required her be
come partly submerged ANA lie squarely IL front
OF the Half Moon. After her victory over the
Clermont off Staten Island the Half Moon did
not seem to fear anything. and she did not shift
, her course. The Plmger made her escape and
. resumed her proper place i'm the column when il
seemed 10 the spectators as if the Half Moon
were resting squarely on the little divers back.
The speed Of the parade going up the river
was between three and four miles hour
When the end Of the escort squadron passed in
gi3
began 10 steam up the long line TO Spuyten Duy-
vi at a faster pace. The first of the excursion
boats passed the water gate at about the same
time that the Half Moon reached there, half an