The times., 1898-07-05
WITH WILD ENTHUSIASM
The News of Admiral Simpsons S
Victory at the Department.
AMID sALVOS OF CHEERS
Navy Building the Scene of the Most
Remarkable Incident on Record
Cheering Crowds Take Possession
for an Hour-PafriotiesD o 4 monstra-
tions.

All day long there had been unwonted
enthusiasm in and around the State, War
and Navy Departments. Partly because
1t was holiday and partly because it was
in the air that news of vast Importance
might be momentarily expected the cor
ridors of the big building were thronged
with unusual crush of people from va
rious official and professional walks Of
life, principally naval, military and news
paper men. They surged back and forth
between the official bulletin boards in
search of some new bit Of intelligence
and exchanged vociferous congratulations
over what Independence Day Of 1888 had
already brought forth, and what might
be expected to happen before night.
The early dispatches from Gen. Shat
ter and Gen. Anderson, and particularly
that part of Skaters message about "A
Hot Time in the Old Town" evoked spon-
taneous enthusiasm; but somehow a pre-
monition of something yet to come seemed
to permeate the throng.
Suddenly there came sounds of mighty
cheering and hurrying feet. The messen-
ger boys downstairs and the people out
side picked up the echoes and cheered
Justify, not knowing why, but just because
it was in the air.
:. The center of commotion was on the
second floor on the Navy side. Lieut.
Whittlesey, of the navigation bureau, had
emerged from his office with bulletin
and was forcing his way to the bulletin
board through an excited throng.
Looking over his shoulder some one
ma da hot h. hull in a Il
miral Sampson and related the complete
destruction of Ceryera's S flee..
Then the crowd went wild.
When the lieutenant had at last reached
the bulletin board he was surrounded by
perhaps fifty newspaper men. each anx-
ious to secure the first copy.
Read it 10 us somebody yelled.
The suggestion was acted. upon.
There was not enough room att the press
table 10 accommodate the sudden and
unexpected demand for writing space
The correspondents leaned against the
walls, used the tops of their straw hats
and even messenger boys, backs were i'm
pressed into service. So
The bulletin had been handed over to
a man with loud voice, and he began
Ito read.
Precious as were the minutes. the read
ing was repeatedly Interrupted by the
newspaper men themselves. who paused
TO cheer the most salient sentences of the
brief message.
When the reader announced Il, 800 pris-
oners. including Ceryera,' there was a
burst of applause that would have drown
ed the report of one of SIMPSONS own
l3-inGh guns.
Now l wonder if we've got prisoner
the Spaniards VIII exchange HBbson for, -
yelled some one.
That's right: wen trade EN- their ad-
miral for Hobsea,' shouted another en-
thusiast.
When the reading of the message had
been concluded the space surrounding the
Navy Department bulletin .oooard was
.jammed with aaXious listeners.
Attracted by the noise a delegation Of
young Americans eluded the vigilance of
the doorkeeperS below long enough 10
set off several giant firecrackeTB just in
side the entrance.
Even the guards had npt the heart TO
be gFuff with the offenders and they went
on their way undisturbed. Il
The excitement occasioned by the re-
( ceipt of Admiral Sampson 5 message con-
4 tinued for nearly an hour, and was with
! difficulty subdued.
/ Eventually the big building regained its
I usual appearance of staid= dignity. The
( various offices began to chase up for the
! day. and at night quiet reigned in the
/ department. Only the adjutant generals
] office was kept open.