The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-22
THEIR WELCOME HOME.

THEIR WELCOME HOME.
New York Gives Returning BAstleships
Royal Greeting,
New York, August 20.-Hundreds of
thousands of people along the banks of
the Hudson and thousands of all styles of
river craft today blended their shouts in
q royal welcome to the returning North
Atlantic squadron under command Of
Rear Admiral Sampson; and as fine an
August day as could be desired was
nature's tribute to the return of the
yiotors. For almost three solid hours
steam whistles OF all sizes, steam sirens
and small guns along the shores, shrieked
and doomed in the effort to display the
heartfelt enthusiasm for the homecoming
of the naval heroes with their battle
SCARED ships.
Early in the morning the seven big
ships, the New York, the Iowa, tne IN
diana, the Brooklyn, the Massachusetts,
the Oregon, and the Texas lay in the new
York bay just off Topkinsville, .. l.
There was no idea with Admiral oamp-
son that New York was prepared Tor r.
rousing reception, but the news was
brought shortly by tug FROM the navy
yard and all of the ships Of the squadron
were Immediately put under preparations
for dress reviews. By nine O'Clock the
big, dull looking fighting ships, looming
high above the picturesque confusion of
the smaller craft, which had come down
to get glimpse of the ships, were ready
for movement.
Strung out along their decks, in long
regular lines, were ths
WHITE UNIFORMED JACKIES,
with here and there blue coated officer;
all strongly contrasted against the
sombro lead-oolored armor of the ships.
When the hour for the start came it
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 beats whistles all Joined in the
shout of welcome. Suddenly there was
movement on the flagship New York, as
the big ship started forward at slow,
stately pace She WAS Immediately fol-
lowed by the other six vessels In the fol-
lowing order: The Iowa, the Indiana.
the Brooklyn, the Massachusetts,, the
before the ships 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 ID
regular line.
The start was made, accompanied by
tremendous cheering, screening OF.
whistles and booming OF cannon. From
ships headed into the river on the way to
General Grants tomb.
All along the line, on piers, on sheds,
houses and every possible point OF
vantage, people were packed. The river
craft, crowding the warships close, were
damned with passengers, sinking the
sides OF the vessels nearest the fleet almost
TO the waters edge The width of the
Hudson river was struggling, futtering.
darting mass of
COLOR, CONFUSION AND CHEERS.
AS the vessels moved further 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 dampened the passengers on the
lower decks of the larger steamers. As
the grim looking battleships moved ug
the river, the crowds became denser ana
the enthusiasm more marked. At River
side Drive, with its steep, grassy slope,
the scene was like vast amph1theatre.
Tens of thousands of persons covered the
slope aud as the battleships approached, q
mighty cheer arose that reverberated back
and forth across the Hudson.
At the bottom of the slope an observa.
ton train crawled along, Keeping even
with the ships; above this was the vast
sea of humanity, and browning this Gen.
Grants tomb; which was to mark the
beginning of the return of the squadron,
where national salute of 81 guns WA
fired. For the first time in the parade,
o battleships now drew together. just
at the point of return there was
sides and turrets of the battleships there
was a vivid flash, following this ire
mendous roar. announcing the first gun
of the national salute The heavy smoke
curled and tum bled down towards the
water and up into the air until the ships
were almost hidden, but the roar, coming
again and again, seemed to rock the
waters themselves. 1t was
AN IMPOSING SPECTACLE.
The salute ended, the return OF the
squadron along the line of the review
was begun. 1t was repetition OF the
enthusiastic scenes on the way up the
river. Every whistle that could be brought
into use played its part, every band joined
in honoring the fleet and above all were
the resounding echoes of the shouts from
on water and on land.
The parade of the ships from the time it
passed on it's way up the river to the time
it repassed the battery on its way to
anchorage off Tompkinsville. S. L., occu-
pied Just two hours and thirty five min
utes Admiral Sampson went to his home
in Glen Ridge. N. j., tonight. He was
accompanied by Mrs. Sampson and the
other mem ers OF his family. He was
enthusiastically received.
ON THE FLAGSHIP.