New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-31

Tha first stroke of six bells had hard
w ceased TO vibrate along the decks OF
the flagship Connecticut last night when
Lieutenant Commander Yarnen, chiet
engineer officer OF the great heet
lying in the Hudson. pressed q puttoh'
BEFORE one could wink six miles OF war
ships sprank out Of the darkness each
outlined from water to masthead In In
candescent lights. At the same instant
the beams Of a score Of searchlghts cut
across the heavens at an angle of forty
five degrees. 1t was a sight such as
the New World had never seen, and the
Old World had seen but twice at most.
The persons who first saw it along the
r,y,r front last night were strangely
few. All afternon the shore had been
crowded by big and little. young ana
old. gazing and gaping at the much
heralded fleet, at last complete. But
with dusk they had gone home TO tea.
{ lv a few stragglers and few more
early enthusiasts witnessed the miracu-
lous change from darkness to meet
Of fiery vessels.
II was not long, however before
Father Knickerbocker. Mother Knicker-
booker ana all the little Knickerbockers.
with their friends and neighbors, were
down along Riverside Drive and above
and below, taking in the great spectacle.
commenting proudly on this navy OF
theirs, and generously giving a little Of
the credit for it's greatness to the rest
Of the country.
Crowds Pour Into Drive.
The buses snorted and groaned up the
grades OF the drive, one scare buses
length behind the other, until many who
had waited for one on a Fifth avenue
corner some wintry evening wondered
whether they were still in the same city.
The sidewalks of I'D street poured
never ending crowd into the drive and
its park, coming from the neighboring
subway station, and many OF the streets
above were nearly as generous.
Half a hundred patrolmen, under the
command Of Captain Palmer, OF the 2Sth
Precinct, were strung along the drive
10 handle the host of automobiles, car
riages and conveyances OF every descrip-
ton that brought those who were
wealthy enough not to walk TO see the
show. But the less wealthy ones had
the best OF It, on the whole. last night.
for the crests of the hills that form the
park We're the points OF vantage. And
the best point OF all was the Soldiers
and Sailors Monument.
To one standing on the balustrade
around the monument the whole OF the
inspiring line was visible. Not so very
far TO the south the broad hulk OF the
Connecticut spread her lights across the
water.
Awed Coronation Fleet.
Next to her the Michigan lay broad
side TO the shore. mass OF fire, and
nearer still the Delaware glowed-she
who awed the coronation fleet last sum-
mer as the greatest war vessel In a
similar display. Just off the monument
lay the New Hampshire and the South
Carolina. two Of Uncle Sans iiercest
fighters. proudly showing off the wreaths
OF light around their hulls, their super
structures, their wide military masts
10 the admiring multitude.
Then gradually the ships melted away
to the north into the haze that had set
tied over the river. until their outlines
became hopelessly tangled, and what
appeared 10 be the funnel OF vessel OPP
poslte l55th street. perhaps. turned out
on second thought to be only the flag
staff OF the Georgia. abreast OF Grants
tomb. But there was no doubt In the
minds OF those who watched that they
could distinguish the towering form OF
the Florida. the biggest OF all floating
fortresses. outclassing even the Della
ware, away up at the end of the line. of
Fort Washington Point.
one with u leaning toward mathe
Continued on fifth page.