The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-21

ly "A flash of bright red, which was i'm
mcdiatcly smothercd in Il sheet of smoke
before the detonation was heard. Then
came the roar across the waters and
the ships headed right into the river on
the way to General Grants tomb.
All along the shore, on piers, houses,
and every possible point of vantage
people were packed. The river craft,
cr0wding the warships close. were jam
med with passengers, sinking the sides
Of the vessels almost to their guard
rails on one side, giving the impression
that even the ships themselves bowed
III salute 20 the returned conluerors In
the middle of the Hudson river was Il
struggling. futtering. darting mass OF
color, confusion and cheers.
rs the vessels moved further up the
river, the water. which had been calm
at the battery. was churned by the ac-
tion of the hundreds of steamers and
waves dashed over the small boats and
sheets of spray damrcncd the passen-
gers on the lower decks of the larger
steamers
As the grim-looking hattlcships moved
up the river. the crowds became dcnscr
and the enthusiasm more marked. At
slope. the scene was like vast amphi-
theatre. Tens of thousands of persons
covered the green slope and as the battle
ships approached mighty cheer arose
that rcycrberatcd back and forth across
the Hudson. At the bottom of the
slope an observation train craWled lazi-
ly along. keeping even with the ships,
above this the vast sea of humanity, and
which was to mark the beginning Of the
return of the squadron where Il ma
tioual salute of u guns was fired. The
tomb, standing high, white and solemn,
far above the waters of the river look
cd to be built upon Il foundation Of
faces.
For the first time in the parade the
battcShipS drew together. Just ut the
point of return there was a momcntary
lull as if cXpcctant of the climax. Sud
denly. from the sides and turrets of the
battlcships there was Il vivid flash; fol-
lowing this tremendous roar announc-
ing the first gun of the national salute.
The heavy smoke curlcd and tumblcd
down towards the water and up into
the air until the ships had been almost
hidden. but the roar coming again and
again, seemed TO rock the waters them
selves. 1t was an imposing spectacle
as the big battlcships doomed Il salute to
the nation; as the WarShips salutcd the
final resting place Of General Grant, and
the guns that sounded the llncIl of Adj
mral Cervcra's ships at Santiago boom
cd Il rcvCrCntial Obcisance to the dead
hero.
The salute ended. the return Of the
squadron along the line of review was
begun. 1t was Il repetition of the en-
thuSiastic scenes on the way up the
river. Every whistle that could be
brought into use played its part; every
bell every band joined in honOring the
fleet. and above all were the resounding
echoes Of the shouts of them on water
and on land.
The parade of the ships from the time
il passed the battery on its way up the
river to the time it rc-passed on its way
to anchorage off TOmpkinsville. :. L.,
occupied lust two hours and thirty-tive
minutes. In no way did the big ships
show the hard usage to which they had
been subjected The BrooHyn's twenty
seven holes. with the exception OF those
through the smokestack, had been
patched, and the big ship repainted and
polished till she shone. On the star
board side could be seen a great steel
patch over the hole where one of the
Nizcaya's shots went through. ana on
the quarterback Il wooden patch Wilere
the deck had been torn up.
The armor belt still holds the print OF
Il large shell and II critical eye can see
the dents made by several more. even
through the p1uZp of new gray paint
The Iowa has patch over her bow
KWhere she was hit by a siX-inch shell