The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-09-02
NAYY'S HOME COMING
THE VICTORIOUS AMERICAN
BATTLE SHIPS.
With laundering Cheers and
Booming Cannons Ships Fire
National Salute Over Grants
Tomb.

e'yieo VI river cidII blended their
shouts in a royal welcome to the re-
turned North American squadron, un-
der command of Rear Admiral Samp-
son, and as fine IN August day, Sat-
urday, as could be desired was natures
tribute to the return of the victors.
For almost three solid hours whistles
of all sizes, steam sirens and small guns
along he shores shriekeu and doomed
from he efforts to display the .heartiest
enthusiasm for the hcme coming of he
naval heroes with their battle-scarred
ships.
Early in the morning the seven big
ships, the New York, Iowa, Indiana,
Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Oregon and
Texas, lay in New York harbor, just
off Tompkinsville, S.. I. There was no
idea with Admiral Sampson that New
York was prepared for a rousing recep-
ton, but the news was brought shortly
by a navy tug and all the ships of
the squadron were Immediately put I'M
der preparations for dress review. BY
9 o'clock the Zig, dull looking fighting
SIllpS, lOO111l11S !1lSu dUOVS I11c plClulSS-
u confusion of smaller craft which
had come down to get a glimpse of
the ships, were ready for movement.
Strung out along in their decks in long,
regular lines, we're the white uniformed
jackies, with here and there a blue
coated officer, all strongly c~ontrasted
against the sombre, 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 way
through the perfect jam of river craft.
Vessels of all descriptions, from the
smallest steam launch to the greatest
ocean liner, were banked around the
squadron. Cheers and shouts Of well
come rose from every deck and the
boats whistles all joined in the shouts
of welcome. Suddenly there was a
movement On the flagship New York
as the big ship started quickly for
ward followed by the other six vessels
in the following order: Iowa, Indiana,
Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Oregon and
Texas.
1t was some time before the ships
could get into review formation, but
by 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 by
tremendous cheering, screening voices
and 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 vas heard. Then came
the roar across the waters, the ships
headed right in the river on the a
to General Grants tomb.
All along the line of piers, on sheds,
houses and every possible point of van-
tage, people were packed. The rive
craft, crowding the warships close, were
damned with passengers, sinking The
sides of the vessels almost to the guard
rails on one side, giving the impression
that even the ships themselves bowed
in unconscious salute to the returning
naval heroes. The width of the Hudson
river was a struggling, 1uttering, dart
ing mass of color, confusion and cheers.
AS the vessels moved further up the
river, the water, which had been calm
at the battery, was churned by the
action of hundreds of steamers and
waves dashed over the small boats and
sheets of spray dampened the passen-
gers on h lower decks of the larger
steamers.
AS the grim-looking battleships
moved up the river the crowds became
denser and the enthusiasm was more
marked. At Riverside drive with it's
steep grassy slope, the scene was like
an amphitheater. Tens of thousands
of persons covered the green slope and
as the battleships approached a mighty
cheer arose that reverberated back and
forth across the Hudson.
From the bottom of the slope an OBJ
servation train crawled lazily along,
keeping even with the ships, above the
vast sea of humanity and GROWING this
General Grants tomb, which was to
mark the beginning of the return of the
squadron where a national salute of
twenty-one guns was fired. The tomb,
standing high, white and solemn, was
far above the waters of the river, looked
to be built upon a foundation of faces.
For the first time in the parade the
battleships drew together. Just at the
point of return tehre vas a mOmentary
lull, as if expecting a climax.
Suddenly from the sides and turrets
of the battleships there vas a vivid
flash, following his a tremendous