La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-08-27
OVATION TO THE NAVY.
sampsoa's Zig ship. Given . Warm Greet
Ing by New Workers.

New York, Aug. 2l.-Hundreds OF
thousands Of people along the banks
Of the Hudson, and thousands on all
styles OF river crafts, yesterday blend
ed their shouts in royal welcome To
the returned North Atlantic squadron
under command OF Rear Admiral
Sampson, aud as fine an August day
as could be desired was natures trib-
ute TO the return OF the yictors.
For almost three solid hours steam
whistles OF all sizes, steam sirens and
small guns along the shore shrieked
and doomed from the effort TO display
the heariIcst enthusiasm for the home
coming OF the naval heroes with their
battle-scarred ships.
Early in the morning the seven big
ships-thc New York, Iowa. Indiana.
Brooklyn, Massachusetts. Oregon and
TeNas-lay In New York bay, just of
TonplSinsyiile. :. /. There was no idea
with Admiral Sampson that New York
city was prepared for n rousing recep-
tion. but the news was brought shortly
by n tug from the navy yard. and al!
the ships OF the squadron were imine-
diately put under preparations for
dress review.
II 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 regu-
lar line.
The start was made. accompanied
by tremendous cheering. screech.
Ing voices and booming cannon.
From Castle William came the first
salute. IL was merely lash OF bright
red. which WAS Immediately smoth-
cred In a sheet OF smoke before the de
notation was heard. Then came the
rom across the waters, and the ships
headed right In the river on the way
TO General Grants tomb.
All along the line. on piers. on sheds,
houses and every possible point OF
vantage. people were packed. The river
craft, crowding the warships close,
We're jammcd with passengers. sinking
the sides OF the vessels almost to their
guard rails on one side. giving the I'M
preston that even the ships them
selves bowed In unconscious salute TO
the returning naval heroes. The width
of the Hudson river WAS struggling.
hutter>lg. darting mass of color and
confusion and cheers. AS the vessels
moved further up the river. the water,
which had been calm nj the Battery.
was churDed by the action Of the hun
ireds OF steamers and waves dashed
over the small boats and sheets OF
spray dampcned the passengers on the
lower decks OF the larger steamers.
As the grim looking battlcships
moved up the river the crowds became
denser and the enthusiasm was more
marked. At Riverside Drive. with its
steep, grassy slope. the scene was Ike
an amphitheater. Tens of thousands OF
persons covered the green slope, and
as the battlcships approached,
mighty cheer arose that reyerberated
back and fAth across the Hudson.
From the bottom Of the slope an OBJ
servation train crawled nZily along,
keeping even with the ships, above
this the vast sea of humanity crowded
General Grants tomb, which was to
mark the beginning OF the return OF
the squadron, where n national salute
OF twcnty-one guns WIS fired. The
tomb. standing high, white and sol
emn, was far above the waters of the
river. looked to be built upon a foun-
dation OF faces.
The salute ended. the return Of the
squadron along the lire OF review was
begun. 1t was a repetition of the en-
thusiastic scenes on the way up the
river. Every whistle that could be
brought Into use played its part; ev-
cry bell. every band joined IN honoring
the fleet and above all were the re-
sounding echoes of the shouts from on
water and on land.
The parade OF the ships, from the
time 1t passed the Battery on its WHY
up the river, To the time 1t repasscd on
it's way to anchorage on Tomphins-
VILE. s. l.. occupied just two hours
and thir;y-five minutes.