The Kinsley Graphic

THE SQUADRONS.
The Fleets of Warships Anchor in New York Harbor.
ALL ACCORDING TO PROGRAMME.
The Belated Russian Cruiser Arrives-
The Scene Marred by Rain-All Ready for the Grand Review.
QUARANTINE, N. Y., April 26.—Promptly on time, with every prearranged detail carried out with marvelous exactness, the combined naval squadrons of the old and new world took possession of the lower bay of New York harbor yesterday afternoon.
Shortly before 1 o'clock the lookout in the "crow's nest" of the vicious-looking double turreted monitor Miantonomah, which was lying anchored midway between Sandy Hook point and the Scotland lightship, signaled the fleet in sight.
The big white flagship of Adm. Gherardi, the Philadelphia, headed the port column, the huge black British cruiser, Blake, Adm. Hopkins' flagship, led the starboard column, all according to the programme, the other vessels following in regular order.
On the port side the flagship Newark (Adm. Bunham), followed by the Atlanta, San Francisco, Bancroft, Bennington and Baltimore. Then the flagship Chicago (Adm. Walker), followed by the Yorktown, Charleston, Vesuvius and Concord; after them and bringing up the rear of the column, the Dutch warship, Van Speyk, and the German cruisers Kaiserin, Augusta and Seeadler. The Blake was followed on the starboard column by the other vessels of the British squadron, the Australia, Magicienne and Tartar, and by the Russian vessels General Admiral and Rynda. The belated flagship of the Russian squadron, the Dmitri Donskoi, with the Russian admiral, Koznakof, on board, awaited at anchor off quarantine. Next came the Italian vessels, Etna and Bausan, and the Brazilian squadron, Aquidaban, Tiradentes and Republica.
As the Philadelphia in the lead neared the Sandy Hook lightship at 1:50 p. m., the fog whistle of the lightship gave a series of welcoming toots, but the big white flagship swung around in majestic silence and crossing the bar and entering Gedney's channel, set the pace at a good ten and a half knots an hour, the Newark following close in her wake and the Atlanta the regulation distance behind. Once fairly in the channel, the Philadelphia signaled the fleet to proceed without reference to formation. The vessels of the starboard column slowed down and allowed the American fleet to round the lightship first. Then the Blake and the other British ships followed, safely crossing the bar before the flood tide, the squadrons of each column alternating until all had safely rounded and entered the channel. The big guns of the Miantonomah boomed a welcome, but the Hook was passed in silence.
The leading vessels of the fleet turned to the southwest spit about 2:45 and entered the main ship channel. It was still raining, but the weather was not so thick as to seriously impede the movements of the fleet. Once in the channel the Philadelphia slackened speed to about eight knots so as to allow the other vessels to catch up and the entire fleet proceeded in single file and impressive silence up the bay to the anchorage grounds, which Capt. Rogers and his aides had selected. Despite the obscurity of the weather the procession was exceedingly beautiful. Gravesend bay was reached at 3:50 and the Philadelphia opened the salutes—firing fifteen guns in honor of the Russian admiral and his flagship, the band on board the Philadelphia playing the Russian national air.
The Russian promptly acknowledged the salute. At 3:30 the Philadelphia fired one gun as a signal to come to anchor and the Newark passed the signal to the other vessels of the squadron, which instantly hove to. A fleet of guard boats under Capt. Rogers kept the anchorage ground clear, while numberless yachts and tug boats and crowded excursion steamers circled around as close as permitted. It was exactly 3:47 when the Philadelphia let go her anchor right off Craven shoal buoy and swung around with the strong flood tide with her nose pointing for Sandy Hook.