Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-21
A ROYAL WELCOME,
Ovation al New York to Returned
North Atlantic Squadron
OUTPOURING OF THE PEOPLE
Hundreds Of Thousands Cheer the
YiCtOTS Of Santiago de Cuba.
Al IMPOSING MARINE SPECTACLE.
Mig wnrships Make Fine Display fin
Parade Up the Hudson-Sampson
says the Navy "Has Made No Mis-
tnkes."
An IMPOSING MARINE SPECTACLE.

NEW YORK, August 3O-Hundreds Of
thousands OF people along the banks Of
The Hudson and thousands on all styles
~ river craft blended their shouts in a
ROYAL welcome 10 the returned North
Atlantic Squadron. under command oil
Rclr-A0miral Sampson, and as tne an
AUGUST day as could be desired was
NATURES tribute 20 the return OF the
ylctors For almost three hours steam
whistles q ali sizes, steam sirens, ana
small guns along the shores Of the harbor,
sbrieked and doomed in an effort TO dis
play the heartfelt enthusiasm on the
homecoming Of the naval heroes with
their batte-scarred 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 OF
Tomphnsvine. Staten Island. There was
10 idea with Admiral Sampson that New
York was preparing q rousing reception
for him. but the news was brought by
q tug from the navy-yard, ana all the
ships Of the squadron were Immediately
put under preparation for dress review.
Hy 9 o'clock the big, dull-looking fighting
ships. looming high above the pictur-
esque confusion of smaller craft, which
had come down 10 get glimpse Of them,
were ready for movement. Strung out
along their decks, in long, regular lines.
were the white-uniformed 1aeKIes, with
here and there a blue-coated officer; all
strongly coutrasted against the sombre,
lead-colored armor of the ships.
JAM OF RIVER CRAFT.
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 welcome rose from
every deck, and the boats whistles all
ioineI in the shout of welcome. Sud
denly there was a movement on the
flagship New York. and the big
vessel started forward, with a slow,
stately glide. She was immed-
ately followed by the other six ships, in
the following order: Iowa, Indiana,
Brooklyn. Massachusetts. oregon, Texas.
II was some time before the vessels could
get into review formation, but by the
time the New York's prov came into line
with Governors Island the other ships
had formed in q regular line
TREMENDOUS CHEERING
The start was made accompanied by
Tremendous cheering, screeching of voices,
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 sheet or
smoke before the defamation was heard.
Then came the roar across the waters
and the ships headed right up the river
on the way 10 General Grants tomb. All
along the line. on piers. sheds, houses,
and every possible point of vantage. peo-
pie We're packed. The river craft, crowd
ing the warships close, were jammed
with passengers, sinking the sides of the
vessels almost 10 their guard-rails on one
side, giving the impression that even the
ships themselves bowed in union salute
10 the returned naval heroes. The width
Of the Hudson river was a struggling
Huttering, darting mass of color, confu-
sion. and cheers.
As the vessels moved further up the
yer the water. which had been calm at
.he Battery. was churned by the action
o. the hundreds of steamers, and waves
dashed over the small boats and sheets
OF spray dampened the passengers on the
lower decks of the larger steamers.
SEA OF HUMANITY.
As the grim-lool1ing battleships moved
up the river the crowds became denser
and the enthusiasm more marked. AT
Riverside Drive. with its steep, grassy
slope. the scene was like vast amphi-
theatre. Tens Of thousands Of persons
covered the green slope, and as the bat
teships approached a mighty cheering
arose that reverberated back and forth
scross the HudSon. At the bot
tom OF the slope an observauon-train
crawled lazily along, keeping even
with the ships. Above this was vast
Pea Of humanity, and browning this, Gen
eral Grants tomb. which was 10 marx
the beginning Of the return Of the sqad- |
ron. where a national salute Of twenty-one |
guns was fired The tomb, standing |
high. white and solemn. far above the |
waters OF the river. looked TO be built |
upon a foundation OF faces.
For the first time I'm the parade the /
drew together. Just at the |
.flA OF AtNUfH lsltlt was q tii'AANAAN''-' /
ul as n expectant Of the climax Sud
lenly, from the sides and the turrets OF
ne battleships there was a vivid flash;
blowing this a tremendous roar, an
louncing the first gun OF the national sa-
ute The heavy smoke curled and tum-
bed down towards the water and up
MO the air until the ships had been al
most hidden, but the roar coming again
md again. seemed to rock the waters
themselves. IL was an imposing spectacle
s the big battleships doomed a salute 10
he nation: as the warship saluted the
inal rcsting-pace Of General Grant and
he guns that sounded the knell OF Ad-
niral Cervera's ships at Santiago doomed
rcyerential Obeisance 20 the dead hero.
The salute ended. the return OF the
quadron along the line Of review was be-
'un. II was repetition Of the enthusia5-
&c scenes on the way up the river Every
Whistle that could be brought into use
ayed It's part: every bell. every band
oncd in hOnoring the feet. and above all,
we're the resembling echoes OF the shouts
rom on water and on land. The parade
Z the ships from the time II passed the
iattery on It's way up the river, 10 the
ine II repassed on its way 10 the anchor