The record-union., 1898-08-21
ALL H0NORS TO
SIMPSONS
FLEET,
New Workers Pay Hand
some Tribute
To the Victorious WarshIps
Vi UuI Navy.
HC1dredS of Thousands of People
Shout a Royal Welcome
To Admiral SAMPSON and Officers of VeS-
To Admiral Sampson and Officers Of Yes.
sells Composing the North Atlantic
Squadron on Their Return From
the West Indies.

NEW YORK, Aug. 20.-Hundreds of
thousands Of people along the banks of
the Hudson, and thousands on all styles
of river craft, blended their shouts in
a royal welcome to the returned North
Atlantic squadron under command OF
Rear admiral Sampson, and as fine an
Aug1ls day as could be desired was
natures tribute to the returning vic
tors. Tor almost three solid hours
steam sstIes of all sizes, steam sirens
and Ill guns along the shores
shs - and doomed from the effort to
disIi the heartiest enthusiasm for
3e re coming of the naval heroes
tn ,heir battle-scarred ships
Fairly in the morning the seven big
shi :. the New York, Iowa, Indiana,
Brooklyn Massachusetts,, Texas and
Oregon, laying off New York, joined off
Tompkinsville. There was no idea
with Admiral Sampson that New York
vas prepared for a rousing reception.
a tug from navy yard, and all the
ships of the squadron were Immediately
nut -nnder preparation for dress rs.
view.
By 8 o'clock the big. dull looking
lighting ships, looming high above the
picturesque confusion of the smaller
craft which had come down to get a
glimpse of the ships, We're ready for
movement. Strung out along their
decks, in long, regular lines. We're the
white-uniformed Jackies, with here and
there blue-coated officer, all strongly
contrasted against the somber, lead
colored armor Of the ships.
When the hour for the start came it
looked as if it would be impossible for
the great ships to make their wav
through the perfect jam of river craft.
Cheers and shouts Of welcome rose
from every deck, and the boats
whistles all joined in the shouts. Sud-
denly there was a movement on the
flagship New York as the big ships
started forward with a slow. stately
glide. She was quickly followed by the
six other vessels in the following order:
Iowa, Indiana, Brooklyn. Massachu-
3etts, Oregon, Texas
1t was some time before the ships
could get into review formation. but nv
the time the New York's PROV came in
line with Governors Island the other
ships had formed in regular line.
The start was made accompanied bv
Il Oh
and booming cannon. From Castle
William came the first salute. 1t was
merely a flash of bright red which was
Immediately smothered in a sheet of
smoke before the detonation was heard
Then came the roar across the waters
and the ships headed right in the river
on the way TO General Grants tomb
All along the line, on piers, on sheds
houses and every possible point of van
tage, people We're packed The river
cFait, erowding the warships close
We're Jammed with passengers. sinlline.
the SIDES of the vessels almost to their
guard rails on one side, giving the
impression that even the ships them
selves bowed in unconscious salute IN
the returning naval heroes. The width
or the Hudson River was a struggling
confusion and cheers
AS the vessels moved further I'm tho
river the water. which had been calm
at the Battery. was churned by the ac-
ton of hundreds of steamers and
waves dashed over the small boats
and sheets of spray dampened the pas
sengers on the lower decks of the large
steamers
AS the battleships moved up the
river the crowds became denser and
the enthusiasm was more marked A.
Riverside drive, with its steep. grassy
slope, the scene was like an ampbi-
theater. Tens of thousands of nersore
civered the green slope. and as the
battleships approached a mighty cheer
arose that reverberated back and forth
across the Hudson. From the hotto,,
OF the slope an observation train
crawled lazily along, keeping even with
the ships above this, the vast sea of
humanity, and crowding General
Grants tomb, which was TO mark the
beginning Of the return Of the eouad
ron, where national salute of twenty
one guns was fired. The tomb. stand
ing high white and solemn. was far
above the waters of the river and
appeared to be built on a foundation
of faces.
For the first time in the parade the
battleships drew together. Just at the
point Of return there was a nomentary
lull, as If expecting a climax Suddenly
from the sides and turrets of the battle
ships there was a vivid flash. following
this a tremendous roar, announcing the