The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-21
Thousands of Whistles Screech a
Welcome to the Squadron.
ALL THE BIG GUNS ROAR
Bands Play and Vast Multitudes Cheer
and Cheer - The Great warships
Steam to Grant Tomb. Where
They Fire Mighty Salute.

the Hudson and thousands in all styles
of river craft blended their shouts in a
royal welcome to the returned North
Atlantic squadron under command of
Rear Admiral Sampson, and as fine an
August day as could be desired was
natures tribute to the returning VIC
tors.
For almost three solid hours steam
whistles of all sizes, steam sirens and
small guns along the shore cracked
and doomed in the effort to display the
heartiest enthusiasm for the home-com-
ing of the naval heroes with their bat
tle-scarred ships.
Early in the morning the seven big
ships, the New York, Iowa, Indiana,
Brooklyn, Massachusetts,, Texas and
Oregon, lay in New York bay off Tomp-
kinsville There was no idea with Ad-
miral Sampson that New York was pre-
pared for a reception, but the news
was brought shortly by tug from the
navy yard, and all the ships of the
squadron were Immediately put under
preparation for dress review. By
o'clock the big, dull-looking fighting
ships, looming high above the pictur-
esque confusion of the 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
jackies, with here and there a blue
coated official. all strongly contraste1
against the somber lead-covered ar
NOR of the ships. When the hour for
the start came ii looked 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 well
come arose from every deck, and the
boats whistles all Joined in. Suddenly
there was a movement on the flagship
New York, as the big ship started for
ward with a slow. stealthy glide. She
was quickly followed by the other six
vessels in the following order: Iowa,
| Indiana, Brooklyn. Massachusetts, Or
| egon and Texas. 1t was some time be-
fore the ships could get into review for
nation, but by the time the New York. s
prov came in line with Governors ISL
| and the other ships had formed in reg
ular line. The start was accompanied
by tremendous cheering, screeching of
whistles and booming of cannon.
From Castle William came the first
salute. 1t was merely a flash of bright
red, which was Immediately smothered
in a cloud of smoke before the detona-
tion was heard. Then came the roar
across the waters, and the ships head
ed right in the river on the way to
General Grants tomb. All along the
line, on piers, on sheds, houses and
every available point of vantage, people
were packed. The river craft, crossing
Z hn w TGh R1 "a mn cd Wi In
! passengers, sinking the sides of the
| vessels almost to their guard rails on
| one side, giving the impression that
| even the ships themselves were bowling
| in unconscious salute to the returning
naval heroes. The width of the Hud-
/ son river was a struggling, fluttering,
darting mass of color and confusion
| and cheers. AS the vessels moved fur
! ther up the river the water, which had
| been calm at the Battery, was churned
! by the action of the hundreds of
steamers, and waves dashed over the
| small boats and sheets of spray damp
ened the passengers on the lower decks
of the barge steamers.
AS the grim looking battleship moved
up the river the crowds became denser
and the enthusiasm was more marked.
! At Riverside drive with it's steep, gras-
| sy slope the scene was like an amphi-
/ theater Tens of thousands of persons
| covered lut green Slope anu as the Ddl-
| tleships approached a mighty cheer
arose that reverberated back and forth
across the Hudson. From the bottom
/ of the slope an observation train
crawled lazily along, keeping even with
/ the ships. Above this was the vast sea
/ of humanity crowding General Grants
/ tomb, which was to mark the begin
/ ming of the return of the squadron,
| where a national salute of 21 guns was
no SrandinU high whit q
and solemn, far above the waters
/ of the river looked to be built on a
/ foundation of faces. For the first time
/ in the parade the battleships drew to-
/ gether. Just at the point of return
/ there was a momentary lull, as If eX-
! pecting a climax. Suddenly from the
/ sides and turrets of the battleships
there was a vivid flash, following this
a tremendous roar announcing the first
| gun of the national salute. The heavy
| smoke curled and travelled down to-
| wards 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 was an imposing spectacle
as the big battleships doomed a sa-
| lutte 10 the nation, as the warships sa-
| luted the final resting place of General
Grant and the guns that sounded the
/ knell of Admiral Cervera's ships at
| Santiago doomed a reverent obeisance
| to the dead hero. The salute ended, the
| return of the squadron along the line
| of review was begun. 1t was a repe;i-
| tion of the enthusiastic scenes on the
way up the river. Every whistle that
could be brought into use played its
part; every bell. every band Joined in
honoring the fleet. and above all were
the resounding echoes of the shouts
from on water and on land. The pa
rade of the ships from the time 1t
passed the battery on its way up the
river to the time il passed down to an
chorage off Tompkinsville occupied just
hours and 30 minutes.