The Irish standard., 1898-08-27

sampson, ana us me an august uay az
could be desired was natures tribute
to the return Of the victors. For al
most three solid hours steam whistles
Of all sizes, steam sirens and small
guns along the shores shriekcd and
doomed in the effort to display the
heartiest enthusiasm for the home
coming of the naval heroes with their
battle-scarred ships.
Seven Big Ships I'm Line.
Early in the morning the seven big
ships, the New York, Iowa, Indiana,
Brooklyn, Massachusetts,, Oregon and
Texas, lay in New York bay just off
Tompkinsville, S. l. There was no idea
with Admiral Sampson that New York
city was prepared for rousng reccp-
ton. but the news was brought shortly
by tug from the navy yard, and all
the ships of the squadron were imme-
diately put under preparation for
dress review. BY nine o'clock the big,
dull-looking fighting ships, looming
high above the picturesque confusion
OF smaller craft which had come down
to get glimpse Of the ships, were
readyto movement. Strung out along
their decks in long, regular lines were
the white-uniformcd juckies. with here
and there a bluccoated officer, all
strongly ccntrasted against the SOM
ber, leadcolorcd armor of the ships.
The start.
When the hour for the start came 1t
looked as if it would be impossible for
the ships to make their way through
the perfect jam of river craft. Vessels
CT all descriptions. from the smallest
steam launch to the great ocean liner.
wern banked around the squadron.
Cheers and shouts of welcome rose
from every deck and the boats
whistles all Joined in the shouts of
welcome. Suddenly there was move
ment on the flagship New York us the
big ship started forward with n slow,
stately glide. She was Immediately
followed by the other six vessels in
the following order: Iowa, Indiana,
Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Oregon, Tex
as. 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 a regular
line.
Great Guns Boom.
The start was accompanied by trc-
mendous cheering. screeching voices
and booming cannon. From Castle
William came the first salute. 1t was
merely flash of bright red. which
was Immediately smothered in sheet
of smoke before any detonation wns
heard. Then came the roar across the
waters, and the ships headed right in
the river on the way to Gen. Grant's
tomb.
All along the line, on piers, on sheds,
houses and every possible point of van.
tage people were packed. The river
craft, crowding the wnrships close,
were jammcd with passengers, sinking
the sides of the vessels almost to their
guard rails on one side. giving the
impression that even the ships them
selves bowed in unconscious salute to
the returned naval heroes. The width
of the Hudson river wus struggling,
f1utterng. darting mass of color, con-
fusion and cheers. AS the grin-look-
ing battleships moved up the river tho
crowds became denser, and the en-
thnsiusm was more marked. At Riv-
ersde drive. with its steep. grassy
slope, the scene was like vast amphi-
theater. Tens of thousands of per-
sons covered the green slopes. and as
the battleships approached, mighty
cheer arose that reverberated buck
and forth across the Hudson.
At Grants Tomb.
At the bottom of the slope an obser-
vation train crawled lazily along, keep
ing even with the ships. above this the
vast sea ofhumanity,andc crowning this
Gen. Grants tomb, which was to mark
the beginning of the return of the
squadron, where a national salute of
81 guns was fired. The tomb, stnnding
high, white and solemn, far above the
waters of the river. looked to be built
upon a foundation of faces. For the
first time in the parade the bnttlcships
drew together. just at the point OF
return there was II momentary lull, az
II expectant of the climax.
salute 10 Dead Hero.
Suddenly. from the sides and turrets
of the bnttleships there was a vivid
AhSh, IoIO"IhS tuI9 LIc"CnuOuS
roar announcing the first gun of the
national salute. The heavy smoke
curled and tumbled 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 themselves. 1t wns
al imposing spectacle as the big bat
tleships doomed salute to the ma
tion; as the warships salutcd the final
resting place of Gen. Grant, and the
guns that sounded the kncll of Admiral
Ccrvera's ships ut Santiago doomed d
rcverential obeisance to tho dead
hero.
The salute ended. the return of tho
squadron along the line Of review was
begun. IT was repetition of the en-
thus;astic scenes on the way up the
river. Every whistle that cou!i. be
brought into its use played its part;
every bell. every band joined in honor
ing the feet. and above all were the re-