The Portland daily press., 1898-09-15

the Men-Crowd Cheers ON Arrival OF
Steamer and Line the Sidewallks-Mayor
Randall Welcomes the Crew ana 1t.
Bige1ow Replies.
The Portland contingent of the Mon
tauks crew are home again, their term
of service in the United States navy
having expired, and each man has re-
ceived his honorable discharge. A warm
welcome they received at the hands of
their fellow citizens. 1t is true that they
have not been subjected to the heat of the
tropics, neither have they been exposed to
the danger of Spanish bullets. But the
officers and men when they enlisted to
serve their country did not know where
the fortunes of war might carry them.
and they stood ready to bear any exposure
or any danger to which they might be
subjected. They have all done their duty
faithfully and we'll and their fellow citl-
zens know it, and it was for that reason
that they gave them such hearty well
come home last evening.
1t was about 4.3O p. m. when the
steamer Manhattan of the Maine Steam.
ship company was first sighted from the
Observatory, and the announcement made
that she would reach her dock by six
O'Clock. How accurately she was timed
is proven by the fact that she reached the
end of Franklin wharf just as the clock
struck six. Prior to that time the crowd
had begun to gather at the company's
pier and would have invaded the great
shed if the strong force of police had not
kept the doors closed and allowed no one
inside except thoss who had business
there, SO that the company's employees
might not be disturbed.
The High School Cadets in the mean
time had assembled in the High school
yard, force OF forty-fiye men in uniform
under Lieut.. Harris of Co. c., assisted by
Lieuts. Watson of B and Guptill OF q,
while detail from Co. A, (the battery
marched in the ranks Ex-Major Boyd,
in citizens dress, had general super
vision. The command, headed by the
American Cadet band playing lively airs
marched to the wharf and there awaited
the steamer. LII was poau-
tiful sight when the great steam
ship poked her nose beyond the Portland
company's wharf. The daylight had
about disappeared, the electric lights had
been turned ON in the shed on the wharf,
and in the uncertain light could be seen
the faint tracery of the vessels spars
against the sky, with the lanterns giving
out strong clear light from her tops,
while all over the rigging were the gal
LIANT Montauk tars eager to take in all
that was going. As the snip swung into
her dock the Cadets marched into the
shed and took up position opposite the
gang plank, with the band on their right
and then the great doors were flung open
and the crowd, that lined the pier, was
allowed to enter by the police. 1t was
very well behaved crowd. 1t didn't jostle
or push, but it was eager to see and well
come its friends. The committee from the
city government. Messrs. Cloudy and
Waidron of the Council, and Assessor
Lefavor, was present.
AS soon as the steamers gang plank
was thrown aboard the crowd gave three
rousing cheers for the Montauk's men,
which was taken up and reiterated by the
people on the adjoining piers and was
heartily responded to by the crew Of the
iron clad, while the band played ''Home,
Sweet Home" AS soon as the passengers
had landed the MontauH men marched
ashore under Lieut.. H. M. Bigelow and
Ensign Walter Camp the band playing
Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean, and the
crowd hand-clapping every man.
The line of march was quickly taken
up, the Cadets leading. followed by the
city committee and DR.. Smith of the
Montauk in a barouche, followed by the
crew of the monitor, sixty-seven strong
without counting the officers. How we'll
the tars looked. Their regular life, and
the exposure to sun and wind had
bronzed them, and gave them the appear
ance of perfect health, while the naval
dress gave them most dashing and at
traotive appearance. They showed by
their marching that they had paid good
attention to drill even if they had been
confined on shipboard. Mothers and
sisters. cousins and brothers and fathers,
pressed about them, but did not interfere
with their movements.
To the strains of Hail Columbia the
colump marched up the wharf the great
crowd dividing to let them through and
then following after. The procession passed
through Commercial to India, up India
to Congress and thence to City hall. All
along the route the sidewalks were
crowded with people, and red fire blazed
constantly. In front of the City building
in addition to the red fire rockets and
Roman candles, made the scene most
effective, the great crowd standing out in
bold relief in the background.
At the City building the column halted
and Mayor Randall advancing to the foot
of the STAINS made n hrief but cordial aQ-