The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-08-26
BIG BATTLESHIPS IN REVIEW
NEW WORKERS ROYALTY WELCOME
SIMPSONS SQUADRON.
SALUTE OYER GEN. GRANTS TOMB
shores Of Hudson damned with Cheering
ThronEs, While Small Craft AZ
most Blocked the Way.

tho victorious squadron Of Rear Admit |
raj William T. Sampson Saturday |
Hundreds Of thousands Of people along |
the banks Of the Hudson, and thous- |
ands on all styles Of river craft blended |
their shouts aud for almost three solid !
hours steam whistles Of all sizes, steam
sirens and small guns along the shores
shrieked and doomed in the effort 10
display the heartiest enthusiasm for
the homecoming Of the naval heroes
with their battle SCARED 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 of
Tompkinsville, s. 1.
Admiral Sampson was unaware that
New York city was prepared for q
rousing reception, but the news was
brought shortly by q tug from the
navy yard, and all the ships of the
squadron were Immediately put under
preparations for dress review.
By 9 o'clock the big, dull-looking
fighting machines, looming high above
the picturesque confusion Of smaller
craft, which had come down to get a
glimpse Of the ships, were ready for
movement. Strung out along their
decks in long, regular lines were the
white-uniformed iackies, with here
and there blue-coated officer, all
strongly contrasted against the somber,
lead-colored armor of the ships
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 Governorss island
the other ships had formed in a regu-
lar line.
The start was made accompanied by
tremendous cheering, screeching voices
and booming cannon. From Castle
William came the first salute. 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 and on every possible point of
vantage people were packed. The
river craft, crowding the warships
close, were jammed with passengers,
sinking the sides of the vessels almost
tostheir guard rails on one side, giving
the impression that even the ships
themselves bowed in unconscious sa-
Lutte to the returning heroes. The
width of the Hudson was a struggling,
fiuttering, darling mass of color, con-
fusion and cheers.
Proceeding up the North river, the
New York, floating Rear Admiral Samp-
sons flag, was in the lead Then
came the mammoth cruiser Brooklyn,
with Rear AID miral Schley's new flag
floating proudly at her fore truck, and,
following the Brooklyn in the order
named, were the Massachusetts,, the
Oregon, the Iowa, the Indiana and the
Texas.
When the feet of cruisers and bat
tleships reached Grants tomb, the
guns that spoke at Santiago and
sounded the knell of Cerveras ships
were again heard in a grand nationa
salute of 81 guns, a reverential obei
sance to the dead hero.
The salute ended, the return of the
I squadron along the line Of review wal
begun. 1t was q repetition of thu
enthusiastic scenes on the way up th,
river.
Previous to the start of the parade
Mayor Van Wyck and the citizens
! committee boarded the New York
! The mayor, in ashort address, hearth,
congratulated Admiral Sampson an(
the officers and men under him OF
5 their heroic work in Cuban waters
and extended the welcome and free
dom of the city to them. Admira
Sampson, looking far better than whel
war commenced responded briefly
stating that he was very glad to &c
f. home. Speaking of his crews, an
r especially the crews of the Indiana
! Iowa and New York, who have had n
shore liberty for seven months, h
said
r They have borne their privation
e in matter beyond all praise"
d Summing up what has been one {
i, the most successful and importan
naval campaigns in the history Of th
+ world, Admiral Sampson said:
s 'The navy has been very fortunate
4 We have, / think, made no mistakes.
HOTELS BURNED SIX DEAD.
T. Many Guests Had Narrow Esoapes-Fi4