Evening star., 1923-06-05
HISTORY Of SEAS
/ TOLD IN BRILLIANT
! PAGEANT ON RIVER
Thousands Line Potomac
Banks to Witness CoIorful
Water Parade.

History acted over hundreds of
for posterity was f1oated down the
Potomac river this afternoon, Vis-
ualizing before the eyes of thousands
of people who lined the banks OF the
historic watercourse, with all the
realism that pageantry could make
II, the events that stand out in the
making of the world and the growth
of nation in particular.
1t was the convenng of the con-
tribute to the later-day makers of
history at sea, that the Navy was
chosen to lead through safe waters
this superbest of all water pageants,
In whose line, not far behind a rep
lica of the giant pyramids of Egypt,
which, contrasted to the silence of
those on the desert, belched forth
camels, rags, frogs, birds, Shriners
and what not as il floated down the
stream announcing that the congress
had assembled and was coming, was
the nation united in the welcome
foat.' followed by Neptune. who con-
trolls the seas: Cleopatra: Chinese
Junk. the ship Of the Vikings; Co
Iqmnus on the Santa Maria. Hendrix
HUDSON, John Smith on the Sarah
constant. the Mayfower and Fulton's
Clermont.
Headed by Admiral.
Rear Admiral John H. Dayton.
United States Navy. commandant of
the Washington navy yard and gun
factory, grand marshal of the con-
sress OF the seas, in his snow-white
barge, with bright ornaments gilt
tering in the bright sunlight, and
snow-white clad jackies, furnishing
hitting contrast to the two-starred
rag OF rear admiral of the United
states Navy, led the procession. Here
We're the sea history makers of to-
aaE in their modern equipment lay
ing before the eyes of thousands the
modern equipment for comparison
with that which pageantry had de-
Eeloped to display-that of the early
days OF the world and nation.
Behind him. cruising slowly, was
the United States subchaser No. 21O,
training snip of the United States
naval reserves of the District of Co.
lumbia. in her somber coat of gray.
the only touch of color existing in
the bright steel and shining trim
mings of her guns and the gold chew
ron which she won for service against
submarines overseas during the late
war. She was commanded by Com
mander John A. Schofield. comman-
dant of reserves. and manned by men
or the naval reserve on active duty
for the occasion, all in snow-white
uniforms
Then followed the United States
coast guard ship Apache. maker of
history in war and peace, for service
against the enemy and service in
saving thousands of lives and mil
lions of dollars in property in rescue
at sea without all the glory usually
associated with accomplishments in
time of war.
Modern ships Shown.
Floated down then the vessels of
ancient and more modern history,
drawn slowly through the water on
colored work boats of the United
States Navy. the tugs.
The nation from all its corners
was represented in the Welcome
Float tribute of the city to the
visiting Shriners from all parts Of
the country. There were on this $50
maidens. representing the north. the
south, the east and the west, bear
Ing greetings and gifts to the temple
members They were clad in the
cold blues, representing the north: ::
the yellow of the rising sun of the
east; the lovely pink from the south
and the shaded greens from the west
They wore turbans and scarfs in the
colorS of the sections they repre-
sented. and were entwined in and
bore garlands of flowers and baskets
of fruits of their representative sec
tions.
Majestically riding the sea horses
and surrounded by beautiful mer-
maids was the hoary-headed Nep-
tune, bearing his scepter of power
u. 4 L.:
his power was exemplified in the
calm waters of the Potomac and the
gentle Zephyrs that but slightly
moved his flowing locks and those
of the maidens who looked up at him
in worshipful praise.
Cleopatra Rides in Glory.
Having passed along ahead the
modern controllers of the seas, Nep-
tune in all his majesty took COM
mand and called behind him the ves-
sells closer to his time. There came
then Cleopatra, proceeding with all
the pomp and ceremony given her in
her ancient day on her way from
Alexandria. Egypt, to meet Mark
Antony. She was attended by ten
maids of honor and ten flower girls
The barge itself was done with all
the effect of the pageant producers
art to all the realism as handed
ground, with gold and green reliefs,
with dias and shields of gold.
Then came Chinese junk of an
cient times. controlled by a manda-
rim of ancient China. striking terror
with the great dragons, and num-
berless Chinese coolies moving about
the decks. The mandarin was at
tended by four Chinese princes, all
arrayed in blue, orange, purple and
yellow.
Passed in review then ship of
the Vikings, displaying to civiliza-
ton what those Of ancient times had
to contend with.
1t was symbolic of the force and
power that the Viking loved and wor-
SHIPPED, bearing fifty sturdy Morse
men in cleaning shield and breast
plate, with bows and arrows. spears
and battle axes, and with their he'll
NETS glittering in the sun, present
ing an appearance truly splendid.
1t was the barge of Lief Ericsson
most mighty Norseman, who. wear
ing the horned helmet of command
his two lieutenants at his side, sur
rounded by his kinsmen. ruthless
rovers of the sea, had ventured far
and landed on the coast of Greenland
awaw back in the year 1000. before
Columbus time.
At the vessels sturdy PROV rose g
stunning figurehead, the symbol OF
his family god, a veritable fetish
among the clan, like the totem pole
of the Indian and as reverently Wor.
SHIPPED. and at the vessels sides the
oarsmen pulled.
Getting down to the days in history
which marked the beginning of America
and the United States of today, came
the Santa Maria, with Christie
pher Columbus aboard. He was ac'
companied by a crew of gay Spanish
courtiers, with pirate crew and con