A SEA PAGEANT.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6843, 30 August 1887, Page 6

A SEA PAGEANT.

A SPLENDID SPECTACLE AT SPIT HEAD.

The Queen reviewed the home section of the English navy at Spithead on July 23rd, between the Isle of Wight and the Hampshire coast. One hundred and thirty-four pennants were flown in the fleet of the vessels reviewed. There were twenty-six armored ships, nine unarmored snips, three torpedo cruisers, one torpedo gunboot, one gun torpedo vessel, thirty-eight first-class torpedo boats, thirty-eight gunboats, twelve troopships, one paddle frigate, ond six training brigs. There were 20,000 officers and men in the crews of the vessels on exhibition. There were also o number of special vessels for the accommodation of officials and Invited guests. The vessels to be reviewed were placed in line early in the morning. One of them lay along the Isle of Wight, while the others were in a parallel line just off Hampshire. The vessels reviewed were about a quarter of a mile opart. The day was absolutely perfect. Although it was warm, there was a fresh breese blowing all day. There was every form of modern naval architecture, placed in contrast with hulks and ancient vessels of tbe post which were moored in Portsmouth harbor.

Two vessels which attracted more attention, perhaps, than all of the new vessels, were the gigantic four-deckers, Wellington and Victory, the two remaining ships of Nelson's old fleet. The Victory, which was his flagship, is still in good condition. It was thought beet at one time to hove these historical vessels in the parade. There was a marked contrast between these two high-storied wooden vessels and the low-built iron monsters of torpedo boots which doshed about the harbor, running at the speed of eighteen and twenty miles, an hour. These boats ran about the harbor looking for all the world like amphibious creatures, so low did they lie in the water. Any of these vicious, swift-running crafts, small as they ore, would be sufficient to destroy in a few moments any vessel of the character of the Victory. The vessels reviewed were covered with flogs from stem to stern. Back of them, along the Isle of Wight, were innumerable pleasure crafts. Along the Hampshire coast were excursion steamers ond the great vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental line, which brought the people down from London for the sum of off, and gave them a dinner and a night's lodging, remaining for the illuminations. The Queen did not leave Isle of Wight until about three o'clock. There were three royal yachts. There was a little pilot vessel leading the way. Then came the Queen's yacht, that of the Prince of Wales and then the yacht assigned to the German Crown Prince. The royal yachts had two smoke-stacks, pointed yellow, and three masts, oil white. Each were side-wheel steamers. The Queen sat aft under a white awning, with only two or three ladies near her. She was in block, with a block bonnet trimmed with white lace. She wore black gloves, and held in her hand a green sun umbrella. The Prince of Wales on his yacht wore for the first time the uniform of his new office of Admiral. ~. . . _ The Royal yachts were followed by the Euphrates, carrying members of the House of Lords and their families, and the Crocodile, carrying members of the House of Commons. At her heels came two others carrying the Indian Princes and the High Admiralty officers. The yards of all of the fleet in review were manned with sailors half on hoar before the Royal yachts were started. These men stood so still that at tbe immense height ot which they were perched they looked like toy sailors.

It was a splendid spectacle when the rovol yachts turned ana passed down the line of these magnificent worships. All of the ports of the war vessels were open, ond steel-mouthed cannon showed from every opening. The flying flogs and the colors of tbe graceful ships made o naval picture to gladden the heart of o sailor, but of tbe long line reviewed, only one-half are now up to modern requirements. Change is the order of the day. The great Agincourt, with her dlsplocement of 10,000 tons, costing over £VMfIOO, is now considered second class in rank. Interest upon the part of no vol men Is now concentrated on the torpedo boots ond swift steel cruisers. At the close of tbe review the Queen received onher yacht all of the commanders of the vessels of the fleet. This evening Portsmouth is ablaze with illuminations, and gleaming electric lights illuminate ererv stick ond spar of the fleet Tbe day and "evening has mode the brightest ond most interesting picture of the Jubilee ceremonies.