The Red Cloud chief., 1898-08-26
THE FLEET is WELCOMED.
New York Gives sampson's Squadron .
Splendid Greeting.

| been received with salute OF gun and
of flag, and the ovation from shore and
from the great fotillas of all sorts OF
craft on the water has given to the re-
turning sailors an idea of the esteem
and admiration in which they are re.
garded by the people.
Long before the sunrise guns were
fred at Castle William, Governors
island, and people were astir. Crowds
were hurrying to the river to be early
upon the scene. Tho New York and
New Jersey shores were crowded with
the people. The river and bay were
alive with craft and the craft alive
with people, all cheering and good ma
turcd. As the flags were raised on
the forts and ships the bands of the
forts and on the hagships played the
Star Spanglcd Banner" and the
shores rang with patriotic cheers.
There was little friction in carrying
out the program and no more delay
than was to be exposed. The citi.
zens' committee left the foot of Cort-
landt street upon the steamer Glen
Island and proceeded down the bay,
followed by long retinue of all sorts
of craft. At Tompkinsville the mayor
and committee of ten debarked and
boarded the police boat Patrol. The
Patrol then headed for the flagship,
with colors flying and bands playing.
Staten Island shores were lined with
people and they joined in the general
acclamation with the people on the
myriads of boats.
The ceremonies over, amid the
shrieking of steam whistles and the
cheers OF the throngs on shore and
water. the mayor and TIE committee
returned to the Glen Island.
Then came the event of the dav.
There was considerable wigwagging
upon the gray battleships, and the po.
lice boats formed in line. Then came
the Glen Island and then the battle.
ships began to slowly move up the bay
The salute of cannon. cheers of people
and the blasts of thousands of whistles
made an indescribable din.
Soon the fleet was in line. First
came Admiral SIMPSONS dagship, the
New York, then Admiral Schley's flag.
ship, the Brooklyn, then the Massa-
/ N'''''ssS' Wv io"as
Texas. and after them moving mass
Of all sizes and descriptions, with flags
waving and people cheering. The great
battleships moved slowly and majestic.
ally. AS governors island was passed
there was tremendous report from
the guns of the ships. The people on
| shore and ahoat went wild. r hey
yelled and screamed, waved flags and
jumped up and down.
The New York was flying Rear Ad-
miral SIMPSONS blue flag with two
white stars: her decks were crowded
with her white clad crew, who lined
up silently. At 9:24 Fort Hamilton
fred the opening gun of the salute,
Fort Wadsworth following. The Iowa
returned the salute.
The Brooklyn did not display the
flag of Rear Admiral Schley. Her cen.
| ter funnel was seen to have shot
through the starbord side. The Brook.
lyD was flying her battle ensigns,
which looked stained and frayed, AS II
they had seen plenty of service.
While the fleet was passing the Mar.
rows two explosions upon the surface
water near Fort Wadsworth, presum.
ably of loose gun cotton or other ex-
plosive, shot up immense columns of
water about a hundred feet high.
The parade was commenced at the
Narrows at 9:30 and at 1890 the Texas,
the last of the seven war vessels, took
her place in line, the full length of
which extended from Governors island
to Tompkinsville.
The shores were crowded with peo.
pie cheering and waving flags, bunting
was flying from every nag staff, innum.
erablc crafts crowded with eager pas
ssngers were cheering and waving
frantically. The soldiers crowded the
embankment Of the forts, cheering
and shouting.
So II was all the way up TO Grants
tomb, where there was final demon.
stration. The review was viewed and
cheered by hundreds of thousands of
people.
Admiral Sampson looks far better
than when war began. Speaking OF
his crews, and especially the crews of
the Indiana, Iowa and New York, who
have had no shore liberty for seven
months, he said: They have borne
their privations in manner beyond
all praise"
Summing up what has been one OF
the most successful and important ma.
val campaigns in the history of the
world, Admiral Sampson said: 1.-The
navy has been very fortunate. We
have, l think, made. nc. mistakes"
How much Sampson contributed to
the success of the war, the efficiency
Of his advice and the splendid manner
in which he directed the largest feet
ever under the command of one man in
the history of the United States, prob.
ably will not be known or fully ap
preciated until the history of this war
is written.
TIE health Of the fleet is excellent.
The ships need docking sadly, the l.:
diana. Iowa and New York especially.
The first named will probably require
u thorough overhauling of her ma
| chinery