The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-23
AND SWARMING BOATS
MADE THE WELkI\ RING WITH
TpROARIOTS GREETING.
THE BATTLESHIPS' IMPOSING ARRAY
Magnificent Pageant Accenuated by Booming
Of Cannon and Shrleking of Whistles
Parade Up River and Firing Of Ma
tiona Salute at Grants Tomb

New York. August 2O.-IIundreds of
thousands of people along the banks Of
the hudson and thousands on all styles
Of river craft blended their shouts III 4
royal welcome to the returned North At
lantic squadron under command Of Rear
Admiral Sampson and rs fine an August
day rs could be desired was natures
tribute to the return Of the v1ctorS.
Fer almost three hours whistles Of al
sizes. steam sirens and small guns along
the shores. shrieked and doomed in III.
effort to display the heartfelt enthu-
Sasm for the home coming of the naval
heroes with their battle-Scarrcd ships.
Early in the morning the seven big
ships the New York. Iowa. Indiana.
Brooklyn. Massachusetts. Oregon and
TcXas-lay in New York Bay Just off
'rompkinsvile. s. |. There was 40 idea
with Admiral Sampson that New York
was prepared for 4 rouslns reception.
but the news was brought shortly by
TUG from the navy yard, and All Of the
ships of the squadron We're Immediately
mt under preparations for dress review.
by 8 o'clock the big. dull looking fighting
ships. looming high above the picturesque
confusion Of smaller craft which bad
come down to get 4 glimpse OF them were
ready for movements. Strung out
along their decks. in lon. regular lines
We're the white uniformed iackies. with
here and there 4 bluc-coated officer. all
strongly contraStcd against the sombrc,
lead-colored armor 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 arounr the squad
ron. Cheers and shouts of welcome rose
from every deck. and the boats whis-
ties all joined in the shou, of welcome.
Suddenly there was 4 movement on the
fin @ship New York and the big vessel
started forward under Il slow stately
glide She was Immediately followed
by the other six ships in the following
order: Iowa. Indiana. Brooklyn. Massa
chusctts. Oregon. Texas. 1t was some
time before the vessels 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 lines.
The start was made accompanied by
tremendous cheering. screeching voices
looming Of cannon. From Castle VII
liam came the first salute. 1t was mere
ly Il flash Of bright red. which was i'm
mediatcly Sm0thered in 4 sheet Of smoke
before the dctonation was heard. Then
came the roar across the waters. and
the ships headed right into the river on
the way to General Grant $ tomb.
MI along the shore. on piers. houses.
and every possible point of vantage
people were packed. The river craft.
crowdng the warshipS close. were jam
med with passengers. sinlSin" the sides
of the vessels almost to their guard
rails on one side. giving the impression
that even the ships themselves bowed
in salute to the returned conquerors. IN
the middle Of the Hudson river was 4
struggling. fUttering. dartin@ mass Of
color. confusion and cheers.
As the vessels moved further up the
river the water. which had been calm
1T the battery. was churned by the ac-
ton Of the hundreds Of steamers and
waves dashed over the small boats and
sheets Of spray dampcned the paSsen
gers on the lower decks of the larger
steamers.
As the grm-looking battleships moved
l1p the river the crowds became henser
and the enthusiasm more marked. vt
Riverside drive with its steep. grassy
slope the scene was like 4 vast alnphl
theatre Tens of thousands Of persons
covered the green slope and as the battle
ships approached. mighty cheer arose
that reverberated back and forth across
the Hudson At the bottom Of the
slope an observation train craWied laZl-
ly along keeping even with the ships
above this the vast sea Of humanity. ana
crownin@ this General Grant tomb.
which was to mark the beginning OF the
return Of the squadron. where a ma
ti0nal salute of 21 guns was fired. The
tomb standing high. white. aud solemn
far above the waters of the river. look
ed to be built upon 4 foundation OF
faces.
For the first time in the parade the
hattleships drew together. Just at the
point of return there was 4 mOmentary
lull. as if eXpectant Of the climax. Sud
denly. from the sides and turrets of the
battleships there was a vivid fash fol-