Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-08-24
New York special:

Nv" AVAA SPtNAAAs
New York and the nation on Saturday
fifty signalized the appreciation of the re-
public of her victorious fleet An impos-
ing pageant of warships was received in
the harbor Of the largest city of the coun-
try with acclams tiOns of delight and ad-
miration and the ovaticn from shore and
from the great flOtillas of all sorts of
craft on the water significantly gave to
the returning heroes some idea of the es-
TEEN and admiration in which they are
regarded by the people.
Long before sunrise gun was fired at
Castle William. Governors Island the
people were astir and abroad. Crowds
were hurrying to the river to be early on
the scene. The New York and New Jer-
sey shores were crowded with people. The
river and bay were literally alive with
craft and the craft alive with people, all
cheering and good-natured An impress
sive scene was when the flags were rails
ed on the forts and fiagships. AS the
starry banners were raised aloft the bands
of the forts and on the flagships played
the Star-Spangled Banner" and the
shores rang with patriotic cheers
There was very little friction in carrying
out the program and no more delay than
was to be expected. There was eonsid-
erable wigwagging on the gray. battle
ships, and the police boats formed in line
Then came the Glen Island, and then the
battleships began to slowly move up the
bay. There was a salvo OF lannon's and
cheers of people. and the toots of thou
sands Of xVbiCfIac ;Y.V, l,,I L.,
din.
Soon after the monster pageant was in
line. First came Admiral Simpsons flag
ship, New York. then Admiral Schley's
flagship, Brooklyn, then the Massachu-
setts, Oregon, Iowa. Indiana and Texas,
and after them moving mass of all sizes
and descriptions, with flags waving and
people cheering. The great hattleships
moved slowly and majestically.
AS Governors Island was passed there
was a tremendous report from the guns
that did so much execution at Guanta-
namo and Santiago. The people on shore
and atloat went wild. They yelled and
screamed, waved flags, and jumped up
and down in patriotic fervor. And so it
was all the way ny 10 CRAFTS tomb where
there was a final demonstration Of patri-
otic feryOr such as New York has never
witnessed before. The pageant was view
cd and cheered by hundreds of thousands
of people. 1t was Il magnificent and in
describable scene and one never to be
forgotten.
Since leaving Guantanamo no incidents
Of an unusua! nature except a temporary
breakdown on the part of the Indiana had
marred the homeward progress of Samp-
sons fleet. Few ships were passed.
Smooth seas and fair winds made the pas
sage pleasant There was occasional
change of formation. Heading out from
Cuba, the armor-clad ships came in single
column. the New York leading, the Iowa
next, then the Indiana, Brooklyn, Massa-
chusetts and Oregon.
Al night the feet shone with side lights
coming lights, portfolios lit up by electric
lights from within blazed out on the wat
erS as the ships passed through the Wind
ward passage. 1t is months since such
an illumination has been seen in Cuban
waters, where warships, blockade run
ners, transports and all sorts and condi-
tions of craft have been threading their
way with all lights screened, great shad-
ows, that passed silently. On the trip
from Guantanamo. as the air got cooler
the spirits of the 1900 men and officers
aboard the six ships rose correspondingly.
The relief from the perpetual heat of
Cuba was indeed appre ciated.
Saturdays celebration was the first OPP
portunity the American people have had
Of demonstrating in n public way their
gratitude for the great achievements of
the Santiago squadron, and throughout a
long day of greeting there was no stint
in the welcome, no pause in the shouts
and cheers, no cessation of the spirit of
rejoicing at the sight of the vessels and
over the return of the nations defenders
at sea. Enthusiasm knew no limit, and
the sentiment of gratitude and rejoicing
dominated land and sea and people. The
hearts of our naval heroes were gladdened
by the royal welcome extended by n mill
ion patriotic Americans Such an out
burst of enthusiasm was never before wit
messed on the banks of the Hudson or any
nt ri