The age-herald., 1898-08-21
WELCOME ID
 SAMPSON $ FLEET Grand Naval Parade of Squadron
 Up Hudson River.
 THE HEARTlEST ENTHUSIASM For Home Coming Heroes With Their BattIe-Scarred Ships. VESSELS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS Loaded With Cheering Thousand Ac-
 companied the Grim DestroYere. GRANTS TOMB WAS SALUTED
Loaded With Cheering Thousand Ac- companied the Grim DestroYere.
GRANTS TOMB WAS sALUTED
When the Big Guns Doomed Forth, a Mighty Cheer Arose Which Rever- berated Back and Forth Across
 the Lordly Hudson.

New York, Aug. 20.-Hundreds of thous- ands of people along the banks of the Hud- son, and thousands on all styles of river come to the returned North Atlantic squadron under command of Rear Admiral Sampson and as fine an August day as could be desired was natures trEute to the return of the victors. For almost three solid hours steam whistles of all sizes, steam sirens and small guns along the shores shrieked and boomed in the effort to display the heartiest enthusiasm for the homecoming of the naval heroes with their battle-scarred ships.
 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 Tompkinsvlle, s. l. There was no idea with Admiral Samp- son that New York city was prepared for a rousing reception, but the news was brought shortly by tug from the navy yard, and all the ships of the squadron were immediately put under preparations for dress review. By o'clock the big, dul-looking fighting ships looming high above the picturesque confusion of smaller craft, which had come down to get a glimpse of the ships, were ready for move ment Strung out along their decks in long, regular, lines were white uniform tackles, with here and there a blue-coated officer, all strongly contrasted against the sombre, lead-colored armor of the ships.
 Jam of River Craft
 When the hour for the start came it look ed as if it would be impossible for the great ships to make their way through the perfect jam of river craft. Vessels of all descriptions from the smallest steam launch to the great ocean liner, were 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 a movement on the flagship New York and the big ship started forward with a slow, steady glide. She was immediately follow ed by the other vessels in the following order: Iowa, Indiana, Brooklyn, Massa- chusetts, Oregon and Texas.
 It 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 regular line.
 The start was made, accompanied by Tremendous cheering. screeching voices and booming cannon. From Castle William came the first salute. It was merely A flash of bright red, which was immediately smothered fin sheet of smoke before the detonation was heard. Then came the roar across the waters and the ships headed right in the river to General Grants tomb.
 All along the line on piers, sheds. houses ana on every possible point of vantage people were packed The river craft crowding the warships close, were damned with passengers. sinking the sides of the vessels almost to their guard rails on one side, giving the impression that even tbe ships themselves bowed in unconscious sa- ute to the returning heroes The width of the Hudson was struggling, flutterinp darting mass of color, confusion and cheers.
 Crowds Became Denser
 AS the vessels moved further up the river the water, which had been calm at the battery, was churned by the action of the huhoreds or steamers and waves dashed all over the small boats and sheets of spray dampened the passengers on the lower
 
 decks of the larger steamers. As the grim looking battleships 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 like an amphitheater Tens of thousands of persons covered tbe green slopes, and as the battleships ap- preached a mighty cheer arose that re. verberated back and forth across the Hud- son.
 At the bottom of the slope an observation train crawled lazily along, keeping even with the ships, above this the vast sea of humanity and crowning this Gen. Grants tomb, which was to mark the beginning of the return of the squadron after a national salute of twenty-one guns was fired. The tomb, standing high, white and solemn far