The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-21
GREAT OVATION TO
THE VICTORS
Continued from Page ~

made by Commodore Watson that the
nShters OF the navy, the big warships,
mad been ordered home, and would sail
Tor New York as soon as possible.
Admiral Sampson, ON the New York,
was absent when the news came, but
the Brookly8 which for "A hours had
been on a mudbank, had been towed
oil by the Oregon and prepared for
home. Saturday morning Admiral
Sampson returned, and, after consulta-
ton with the navy department by
wire, ordered that the ships prepare to
go to sea at 10 o'clock Sunday morn
ing.
So o-ce more Sunday became the
navy day. The Brooklyn was unin-
Jured by her mishap in the mud The
circumstances under which she ran
aground were very eXcusable The ST.
Paul had anchored almost across the
entrance to the bay, and the Brooklyn,
while passing her stern on Thursday
night, had so suddenly steered away
TO avoid ramming a transport which,
without warning, had backed away
from alongside the big scout The
channel buoy was not in position, and
the cruiser stuck her nose lightly in
the mud The efforts of the tug Wam-
patuck to take her off at night failed,
but on Friday she was pulled off by the
Oregon, after the crews had removed
some of her heavy ammunition.
THE START HOME
Promptly at 10 o'clock on Sunday
morning the New York signaled TO go
to sea, and the Oregon, nearest the en-
trance, moved out. The Brooklyn fol-
lowed, and as she passed the Badger,
the Vixen, the Massachusetts and the
Oregon, the men of these ships lined
UP on deck and cheered vociferously.
When the New York passed the col
umn on her way out, to take the Lead.
her band was playing "Ain't Glad to
Get Out of the Wilderness" and as the
ships caught the air there was great
applause. 1t was decided to run at
eight knots an hour, the Indiana being
incapable of sustaining a greater speed,
and with the New York leading the big
ships headed eastward.
AT o'clock Cape MaySi, on the eX-
IRENE coast of Cuba, was sighted, aid
at Z o'clock the column of ships headed
to the north. At 1880 the land for whose
freedom American bravery had been
tested and American blood shed, faded
from view. and it was a singularly sig
nificant fact that on the gundeck of the
Brooklyn, at the big engines of de-
structioH that a few weeks ago had
dealt death to an enemy, a peaceful
multitude raised it's voice in the third
verse OK America"
Let the music swell the breeze.
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedoms song.
Let all mortal tongues awake,
Let all that breathe partake,
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong."
So the fleet that for 10 long weeks
had aided and watched the progress of
freedom, took a last leave of the Cuban
shores.
Monday morning found the fleet in
sight of some of the smaller islands, but
away from Cuba, and in the Windward
passage. The Indiana had developed
9-knot speed, and greater progress
than expected had been made.
Tuesday the fleet passed in view of
the island where Columbus made his
first landing.
INDIANAiS ACCIDENT.
The Indiana early in the day signalled
that she had broken her starboard con-
denSer, and after she had spent three
hours fixing it, she had to go to work
for a. similar length OF time on the port
condenser. Despite the delay, one-half
of the distance had been made on Wed.
neSday noon, the rate of zoe miles a day
having been accomplished. With the
have made II knots an hour, the max
imum speed of the Iowa and tIassa-
chusetts. The Oregon, New York and
could have made 13 knots, but
Sampson decided to keep them
together.
Wednesday afternoon the Indiana
got a speed of nine knots, and from
that time until Sandy Hook was sighted
the men at her engine rooms did splen-
did work.
The trip was by no means a simple
excursion home. Besides the daily
routine there were fire and collision
drills on all the ships, and active work
done in painting and repairing. The
weather was fine. and, rounding Cape
Hatteras, usually SO stormy. there was
a calm, hot day. Thursday and Friday
were uneventfuI but very pleasant
days.
Saturday at a. m, running by Scot
land Light, the navy yard tug brought
an order for the fleet to proceed up the
North river to Grants tomb, fire a sa-
lutte and return TO TomDkinsville at
anchorage.