New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-02
NAVAL RESERVES RETURN.
A FORCE OF MEN TO BIZ PROUD OF.
CHEERING CROWDS GREET THE sUN-BURNED
sEA-soLDIERs AS THEY MARCH
THROUGH THE STREETS.

They came back yesterday. Few patriots will
need to ask whom they stands for. There is only
one n. r. S. n. Y There was magniied repro
duction Of the change from the grub to the butter
fly after they landed. The men who marched
aboard the Minnesota were picturesquey dirty.
devl-may-care salts Those who emerged were
spck and span faultlessly dressed business men,
But there WAS another change and good one
Many OF the members OF the Reserve were nervous,
tred-out, and thin from deSk-work in the city
when the start was made They returned with
clear eyes, expanded chests. firm muscles, and
beautiful, blazer-like noses and compleNiors. A
great many of them felt pains in various parts Of
their bodies, but they were healthy pains which
will do them good
The Stonington left New-London at 10 p. m
Saturday, after the crew had enjoyed a mop
which was given in their honor at the Pequot
House. The inhabitants OF New-London turned
out 10 shake hands with them, and common land
lubbers who hadn't ever been 10 sea or fired
big guns were made to feel their insignifcance in
o crushing manner.
During part of the down the Sound, the
Naval Reserve received lessons in night navigrp
ton The veSSe! arrived at Twenty-siXth-st.s
East River. at $50 yesterday morning. At
a. m the men formed in marching order, and
with ConternO's 23d Regiment Band TO show them
the way, they marched up Twenty-siNth-st. 10
Madison Square, then up Fifth-ave 10 Thirty
fourth-st., thence TO Seventh-aye. and from there
to Fiftieth-st. and the North River, to report
aboard the Minnesota. II bad been expected that
Mayor Grant would review the Reserve at Madison
Square. but he was out of town.
In Twenty-sixtb-st. the battalion marched into
an ambuscade Some enemy had stretched a
wire across the street, and one of the members
of the Reserve discovered it with the bridge Of
his nose, with rather unfortunate results to that
sunburned organ He is one of the few who were
wounded in the campaign.
While the men marched, the Stonington steamed
around the Battery, TO Fiftieth-st.. North River,
where the Minnesota is moored. When the he-
serve arrived there the steamship was formally
put ont of commission. The flag OF the Naval
Reserve and the United States colors were hauled
down while the four divisions stood at attention
with arms stacked on the pier The band played
Hail Columbia" the men gave three cheers for
Rear Admiral Walker and for the officers of the
Squadron of Evolution and the Stoninston was
plain excursion steamer once more. Her captain
breathed a sigh of relief to think that he could
venture to call the decks and the staterooms by
their ordinary names again, without bemg
frowned on
Then the Minnesota became bustling place
in an instant and her deck rapidly covered
with muskets, cutlasses, and every variety Of
small arms, as the Reserve began unloading tho
StoningtOn Down came the two howitzers and
the boats, and the pier became alive with men in
white blouses. Running, carrying, hauling, pull
ing on ropes, everything was done quickly, and
as quietly as veteran man-o' ware s-men could have
done it,
When the work was done, the were mus
tered out, the band played Home, Sweet Home
and the wars of the Naval Reserve were things
of the past.
Men who have acquaintances among the Re-
serve would better leave town for few days, IL
they aren't interested in gunnery, until the hum
drum of private life dms the vivid recollectons Of
the heroes somewhat. The applause they receive8
from the crowds who watched them march across
town was well meried. They didn't look neat
as when they marched away, but they had showed
the stuff that was in them, the kind Of StIf that
will make them n Naval Reserve indeed
if any danger should ever menace the
country. When they started, and while the Re
serve was only an experiment, many prophets
shook their heads wisely, and advised enthusi-
asts to wait until the week was over. They eX-
pected that when the men saw il was not play,
but hard and rough work, and stern discipline,
they would weaken and yield. But the Naval
Reserve has proven the contrary by its excellent
work during the entire cOurse, and officers and
men unite in declaring IL a great success;
They are proud of their record and
Ncw-Yorll may we'll be proud of them.
Commander Miller isn't satisfied yet lie has
captured the squadron, alarmed the country peo-
ple around New-IOrk with Search-lights, his men
have shot targets TO pieces, taken Fishers Island,
and now he wants to seize Castle Garden for
for the Reserve. No better place
could he desired, and officers of the Navy also
think it would be good location.