The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-01
THE TEXAS BACK.
A veritable Pandemonium Of a WELCOME
Given the Battleship.

- y
Given the Battleship.
New York. July 31.-Back from the
coast of Cuba, battlescarred and pow
der stained and punctured in spots,
with her formidable guns bristling like
gold in the sunlight and her of1cers
and crew laughing and cheering, ike
boys on a holiday trip. the United
States battleship Texas, Capt. j. w.
Phillips in command, steamed slowly
UP the bay from Sandy Hook this
afternoon on her way to the Brooklyn
navy yard. Salutations of welcome
came from all sides. Every vessel thai
boosted a steam whistle let II shrek
for all 1t was worth. The piping toots
of little ~tugboats mingled with the
deep-toned roars from the ocean and
coastwise steamer m the unusual
calm of the Sabbath was supplanted by
a veritable pandemonium.
The man in charge of the steam siren
on the Texas worked like a beaver re-
plying to the hearty reception. The
cheers of the excursionists and passen-
gers on the numerous ferryboats were
taken up by the people who watched
the black painted warship from New
York and the Brooklyn shores and the
brave sailor responded with waving
caps and handkerchief.
Can't. j. w. Phillip was IN the bridge
directing the course of the Texas, and
by his side stood his executive officer.
| When the Texas reached the nav yard
the dock was crowded with b~luejackets
and marines, who greeted their fellows
with feverish enthusiasm and well
| coined them back with joyous cheers.
The general appearance OF
the big floating fort showed that the
Texas had a rough time of 1t, and a
| close inspection revealed the places
where the shells of the Dons had pene-
trated the port bow and ~starboard su-
perstructure.
On the 22d of June, while the Texas
was bombarding the MORO at the en-
trance of Santiago harbor, a. six-inch
shell tore through the port side about
20 feet from the bow. This shell ex-
ploded on the opposite side of the CUR
deck and on its way instantly killed
Frank Blakeley, first-class apprentice
whose home was in Lawrence, Mass
This was the only fatal missile which
struck the Texas during her fighting
term, as none of the men who were
wounded succumbed to their injuries
A piece of the shell which killed
Blakeley hit John Lively, a landsman
in the leg and inflicted a dangerous and
painful wound Lively was limpinf
around the gun deck to-day and sale
he would soon be all right again. Dur
ing the engagement of July 3, whel
the Texas was chasing Cervera's, YES
sells. a big shell, probably from the AL
mirante OquendO, pierced the starboart
bulkhead, underneath the bridge. |
passed through the ventilator. and afte
carrying away the ash hoist, entere'
the smoke stack, where ii exploded, blu
injured no one.
Several shots took effect on the bridg
and other parts of the superstructure
but nearly all traces of the damag
lone by them were removed on tn
homeward trip. The firing of the por
turret gun across the upper deck shool
the vessel considerably, and she wi
need a general ov~erhauling, as he
decks inc supports have been loosened
If occasion requires, the Texas coul
fight at a moments notice, her bat
teries being in excellent order. All tn
sailors who were seen said the Texa
was a wonderful ship, and her recor
off the Cuban coast had laid at rest tn
stories which had been circulated a
to her being an unlucky vessel. Twen
ty-two sick sailors and marines wer
brought ack from the squadron b
the Texas, and they were all trans
ferred to the laval hospital adjoinin
the navy yard. None of them had bee
injured in the battle. and in 10 case
there fear of fatal results. Dry doc
No. 2 is in readiness for the dockin
of the Texas, which will be done &c
morrow,