The Meeker herald., 1898-08-27
OVATION TO THE NAVY.
sampson's Big ships Given y Warm Greet
Ing by New Yorkers.


Ing by New Workers.
New York, Aug. 2l.-Hundrcds OF
thousands of people along the banks
of the Hudson, and thousands ON all
styles of river crafts. yesterday blend
cd their shouts in Il royal welcome to
the returned North Atlantic squadron
under command of Rear Admiral
Sampson, and as fine an August day
as could he desired YVES natures trib-
ute to the return Of the yictors.
For almost three solid hours steam
whistles of all sizes, steam sirens ana
small guns along the shore shrieked
and doomed from the effort to display
the heartlest enthusiasm for the home
coming of the naval heroes with their
battle SCARED ships.
Early in the morning the seven big
ships-the New York, Iowa, Indiana.
Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Oregon and
Texas-lay in New York bay, just Off
Tompknsville, s. l. There was no idea
with Admiral Sampson that New York
city was prepared for rousing recep-
ton, but the news was brought shortly
by tug from the navy yard, and all
the ships of the squadron We're imme-
dlatcly put under preparations for
dress review.
1t was some time 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 In n regu
lar line.
The start was made, accompanied
by tremendous cheering, screech-
ing voices and booming cannon.
From Castle William came the first
salute. 1t was merely fash of bright
red, which was Immediately smOth-
cred in sheet of smoke before the de
notation was heard. Then came the
roar across the waters, and the ships
headed right in 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 jammed with passengers, sinking
the sides of the vessels almost to their
guard rails on one side, giving the i'm
preston that even the ships them
selves bowed in unconscious salute To
the returning naval heroes. The width
of the Hudson river was a struggling.
tluttcring, darting mass of color and
confusion and cheers. AS the vessels
moved further up the river, the water,
which had been calm mt the Battery,
was churned by the action of the hun
dreds 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 up the river the crowds became
dcnscr and the enthusiasm was more
marked. At Riverside Drive, with its
steep, grassy slope, the scene was Ike
an amphitheater. Tens of thousands of
persons covered the green slope, and
as the battleships approached,
mighty cheer arose that reverberated
back and forth across the Hudson.
From the bottom of the slope an OBJ
servation train crawled lnzily along,
keeping even with the ships, above
this the vast sea of humanity crowded
General Grants tomb, which was to
mark the beginning Of the return OF
the squadron, where national salute
of twenty-one guns was fired. Inc
tomb, standing high. white and SOL
emn, was far above the waters OF the
river, looked to be built upon foun-
dation of faces.
The salute ended, the return Of the
squadron along the line of review was
begun. 1t was n repetition of the en-
thusiastic scenes on the way up the
river. Every whistle that could be
brought into use played its part; ev-
cry bell, every band Joined in honoring
the fleet and above all were the re-
sounding echoes of the shouts from on
water and on land.
The parade of the ships, from the
time it passed the Battery on its way
up the river, to the time 1t repassed on
It's way to anchorage off Tompkins-
vile, s. l.. occupied just two hours
and thirty-iiyc minutes.