The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-20

/ was on the beach and clustered the tops
of tho batteries of Fort Hancock, shout
ing and swinging their hats and caps
Flags and bunting was in sight every.
where, The men on board the vessels
crowded the decks all looking neat. dress
| ed in white duck or blue clothing, signals
were made frequently from the flagship
to the following souaorons.
Since leaving Guantanamo on Sunday
morning no incidents of an unusual ma
ture, except a temporary breakdow or
| the part of the Indiana have marred the
homeward progress of SIMPSONS feet
Few ships were passed. Smooth seas and
| fair winds made the passage pleasant
There was occasional change Of forlna-
ton. Heading out from Cuba the arrnor-
clad ships came in single column, the
New York leading, the Iowa next then
the Indiana, Brooklyn. Massachusetts
and Oregon.
The Oregon and Massachusetts in the
rear looked, from the head of the col-
umn, like black mitres moving over the
mer more like an armored cruiser than
the uSuailN uuSIstCS1ut UtltttSi1fp, lOiiuCo
sharp contrast to their darker fellows
AT night the fleet shone with light side
lights, running lights, port holes lit up
by electric lights from within blazed out
on the waters as the ships passed through
the windward passages.
1t is months since such an illumination
has been seen IN Cuban waters. where
warships, blockade runners, transports
and all sorts and conditions of Graf. have
been treading their way with all lights
screened great shadows that passed si-
lently. The second day out, when passing
Crooked Island. double column formation
was signalled from the flagship.
The Brooklyn took her position on the
port hand of the New York, at four hun
dreds yards distance, followed by the
Oregon and Massachusetts. The battle
ships led by the two armored cruisers,
the feet made its way homeward at aobut
the speed of nine knots.
On Tuesday the single column formation
was resumed, but later double column
was again adopted the Brooklyn going On
the starboard hand of SIMPSONS flag
ship. Last night there was another
change to the original column, and trail
ing behind the gallant New York the saips
that have stood the brunt of the war
passed Sandy Hook this morning. Il lid
not require the strains of the flagship
band to make all hands glad. for before
Its Jubiiant airs We're heard eager eyes
had seen that low gray stretch of land
which they knew was home
At six O'Clock this morning a Navy Yard
tug with the dispatches came alongside
the New York. Newspaper boats gather
ed around men on fishing Schooners pilot
boats and other craft waved their hats
and cheered with such welcomes the con-
querors of Cervera and ever watehful
DlockadeTs of Cuba steamed into the bay.
The accident to the Indiana was break
down to her condensers, twice on the
trip from Guantanmo, she has Jagged be-
hindn to make repairs and the other
ships have reduced their speed so that
the Indiana could catch up with them.
On Tuesday night the Harvard was sight
ed bound south, by means of colored
light signals her Identity was made out
and the New York asked her where she
was bound; but the Harvard failed TO get
the signal and proceeded on her course.
as the air got cooler the spirits of three
thousand men and officers aboard the six
ships rose correspondingly.
The relief from the perpetual heat of
CUBA was indeed appreciated. From Adj
miral Sampson down, everybody talked
and thought of home. and all hearts beat
quicker with delight when Jerseys coast
was seen this morning. the coast that
many thought the chances of war would
never permit them 10 see again. 40
miral sampson. looking far better than
when war commenced Is very glad to get
home. Speaking of his crews and. espe-
cially the crews of the Indiana, Iowa and
New York who have had no shore lib
erty for seven months, he said-'They
have borne their privations in manner
beyond all praise.
And summing UP what has been one of
the most successful and important naval
campaigns in the history of the world,
Sampson says
..The Navy has been very fortunate. We
have, 1 think, made no mistakes"
How much Sampson contributed to the
success of the war, the eff1eicacy of his
advice and the splendid nanenr nhe d.
rected the largest fleet ever under the
command of one man in the history of
the United Statesh win not probably be
known or fully appreciated until the his
tory of this war is written.
The health of the fleet is excellent.
The ships need docking sadly The Indi-
first named will probably require
thorough oyerhauling of her machinery.
In no way did the big ships as they
swung to anchor show the hard usage to
which they had been subjected. The
Brooklyn's twenty-seven holes, with the
exception of those through the smoke
stack, had been patched and the big ship
repainted and polished till she shone. On
the starpoard side could be seen great
steel patch over the whole where one Of
the Vizcaya's. shots went through ana on
-
the deck had ben torn up.
The armor belt still holds the print of
large shell and a critical eye can see
the dents made by several more, even
through the gauze of new gray paint
The Iowa has a patch over her bow where
she was hit by six-inch shell and the
Indiana had patched up the hole in her
deck All the ships have been painted
and their peace trappings arranged, so
that as reminders of one of the greatest
Eaval battles ever fought they are rather
disappointing.
The one word Peace written in let
ters of diamonds and rIloies at the mast
head of the Oregon in Guantanamo Bay
was the signal for wild applause from the
ships on Friday night, August u, but the
applause became vociferous when the
announcement was made by Commodore
Watson that the fighters of the navy, the
big warships, had been ordered home, and
were to sail for New York as soon as
possible.
Admiral Sampson on the New York was
absent when the news came, but the
Brooklyn, which for twenty-four hours
had been on a Tndu bank had been towed
off by the Oregon and prepared for home
Saturday morning. Admiral Sampson re-
turned and after consulting the Navy
Department by wire ordered that the
ships prepare to go to sea at ten O'Clock
on Sunday morning So once more Sun
day became the American Navy Day.
The Brooklyn, it was found was unin-
Jured by her mishap in the mud beyond
the aggravation of officers and crew. Tho
circumstances under which she Tln
aground were very excusable. The st.
Paul had anchored almost across the en-
trance to the bay and the Brooklyn, which
passing her stern on Thursday night
suddenly had to sheer away to avoid
ra mining n a+rauenoYf which with ont