(Published in The Daily News)
Queen Christina and the little King embarked at Cadiz to-day amidst loyal demonstrations and even more enthusiastic than those at Seville. Cadiz bay was the scene of a splendid naval demonstration, in which fifteen Spanish War vessels and the vessels of twelve foreign powers took part. when the dark purple flag of Castile was hoisted on board the cruiser Conde de Venadito to indicate the presence of royalty on board, the assembled war vessels thundered forth salutes, and all the yards were manned.
The illumination in the harbour and the town of Cadiz last night were magnificent. The Minister of Marine, Admiral Berenger, and a large number of foreign naval officers attended a ball in the town Hall.
The Royal squadron, escorted by the foreign war vessels in two lines, led by the American man-of-war Newark and the Italian Vesuvius, subsequently left Cadiz for Huelva.
Only fourteen Spanish and foreign vessels were able to entre the Huelva river, including the English gunboat Scout. The remainder returned to Cadiz. The Queen and the Royal family disembarked at La Rabida, on a quay built on the spot from where Columbus started in 1592, and their majesties visited the monastery with the architect Velasco, the author of the work of restoration. The queen expressed great satisfaction at the progress being made with the monument.
The approaches to the Huelva River by sea affordable the tames scenery possible. The low marshy banks are studded with poor vegetation, stunted pines, and reeds, and fishermen’s cabins with thatched roofs. In the distance Huelva resembles an Oriental city standing out on the horizon with its white-washed wall against the small hills and the river, with its dark yellowish waters. Away on the left bank of the Rio Tinto is rising and undulated ground, upon which stand Moguer, Palos and La Rabida Monastery, recently resorted with much ability, and surrounded by grounds carefully laid out with tropical plants and trees. Here also is the monument, 230ft high, in honour of Columbus and Queen Isabella, “la Catolica”. Great crowds collected on this historic spot to witness the arrival of the King and Queen, who will pass the night on their yacht, only entering Huelva city to-morrow.
Queen Christina can boast of having had “Queen’s weather” for her passage from Cadiz to the Huelva River. Only a slight breeze ruffled the surface of the water. As she approached the mouth of the river a number of steamers, gunboats and pleasure boats awaited her arrival, with the Prime Minister and many native and foreign personages who had gone out on purpose to see the naval demonstration outside the bar of the river. It was a grand sight when the man-of-war saluted, passing the Royal yacht. The Conde De Venadito and a host of boats and steamers pressed in her wake towards the mouth of the river. The Queen and the little King and his sisters for the passage remarkably well, taking keen interest in the naval pageant marking the sympathies of the European and American Powers.
