The age-herald., 1898-08-02
TEXAS RETURNS
 TO NEW YORK The Stanch Ship, Battle Scared and Powder Stained, HAS HAD A ROUGH TIME The Vessel Came. to Go In Dry Do,k- Received a Glorious Welcome as She Steamed Into Lower Bay
 From Sandy Hook.

New York, Aug. 1.-Back from the coast | of Cuba, battle-scarred and powder stained and punctured in spots, with her formida- l ble guns bristling in the sunlight and her | officers and crew laughing and cheering
 like schoolboys on a holiday trip, the | United States battleship Texas, Captain J. l w. Philip in command steamed slowly up | the lower bay from Sandy Hook yesterday l forenoon on her way to the Brooklyn navy | yard.
 For brief period she remained at an- | chor off Tompkinsville. Staten Island, to receive the mail and dispatches, and as soon as these were got on board the ves- sel proceeded slowly from her destination amid salvos of greet from the thousands of people who crowded the decks of the outward bound excursion boats. Salutations of welcome came from all | sides. Every vessel that boasted a steam | whistle let 1t shriek for all it was worth. I The piping of little tug boats mingled with the deep-toned of the ocean and coastwise steamers, and the usual calm of the Sabbath was supplanted by a veritable pandemonium The sailing ves- sels were also in evidence; and the silent dipping of the colors aboard the pleasure yachts, whie not so demonstrative as the shril notes from the steamers. was equally
 
 steam siren the Texas worked like a
 beaver replying to the hearty reception.
 Cheers of Excursionists The cheers of the excursionists and pas sengers on the numerous ferry boats was taken up by the people who watched the black-painted warship from the New York and Brooklyn shores, and the brave sail cars responded with waving caps and handkerchiefs as they stood on the main deck dressed in white duck suts which stood out in bold relief against the super structure which still wore that dark color which is known as Uncle Sans war paint
 Captain J. w. Philip was on the bridge directing the course of the Texas, and by his side stood his executive officer, Leuten-- ant-Commander c. E. SHr-oer. -.;Ec.ig the -5sa5ce~ss swho~vese- -Songregated on the quar- terdeek was one by whose inventive genius the two 12-inch guns in the turerts was the death-dealing and destructive power of increased three-fold-Lieut. F. J. Haesler. of whom Captain Philip made special men,
 ton in his report of the destruction of
 Admiral Cervera's fleet off Santiago. When the Texas reached the navy yard the dock was crowded with blue jackets and marines, who greeted their fellows with feverish enthusiasm and welcomed them back with joyous cheers.
 . Secured to the MoOring e4 Willing hands did the work of securing the vessel to her moorings at the dock, and as soon as the gangways were placed in position, hundreds of the relatives of the men aboard rushed to embrace the heroes who had fought so noby and successfully in
 the cause of humanity
 The general outward appearance Of the
 big floating fort showed that the Texas had
 a rought time of it, and a close inspection revealed the places where the shells of the Dons had penetrated the bow and the starboard superstructure.
 On the 22d of June, while the Texas was bombarding the Moro at the enrance of Santiago harbor, a 6-!nch shell tore through the port side under the anchor about twenty feet from the bow. This shell exploded on the opposite side of the gun deck and on its way instantly killed Frank Blakely, frst-class apprentice, whose nome was III Lawrence Mass. This was the only 1atal missile which struck the Texas during her fighting term, as none Of the other men wounded succumbed to their injuries niece of the shell which killed Blakely hlt John Lively, landsman, In the ieg' anu inflicted a dangerous and palnfui wound. Lively was limping around the gun oecn yesterday and said he would soon be all right again.
 Shell From the Oquendo During the engagement of July 3, when .be rreyas was chasing Cervera's vessels, a big she'll probably from the Amirante Oouendo pierced the starboard puikheau und6rneath the bridge. It passed through the yentilator and after carrying away the ash hoists, entered the smokestack' where 1t exploded, but injured no one.
 Several shots took effect on the priuse and other parts of the superstructure' put nearly all traces of the damage done py them were removed on the homeward trlp.
 The firing of the port turret gun across the upper deck shook the vessel considera- bly. and she will need a general overnanl- ing as her decks and supports have been Ioosened If occasion required, however the Texas could fight at a moments notice' her batteries being in excellent order.
 All the sailors who were seen today saio that the Texas wassa wonderful ship, ana her record off theStCuban coast had laio at rest the stories which had been circu- lated as to her being an unlucky Vessei. On the way up from Cuba the Texas maoe onlv about nine knots an hour but .ths was caused by bad coal.
 Twenty-two sick sailors and marines were brought back from the squadron py inc Texas, and they were all transferred to the naval hospital adjoining the navy ward None of them had been In patue, and in no case is there any fear or fatal results. Dry dock No. is in readiness for the docking of the Texas, which Will De done today. A, crEN rHRnJGH MONOCLE.