Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-01
RETURNS SAFELY,
Battleship Texas Arrives
New York from Cuba.
She Shows Signs of the Hard Fight
ing in Southern Waters.
Crowds Witness Her Arrival and Give Officers
and Men Perfect Ovation

New York. July 3l.-Back from the
coast of Cuba. battle SCARED ana pow
der stained and punctured in spots.
with her formidable guns bristling in
The sunlight ana her officers and creav
laughing and cheering like school boys
on a holiday "trip. the United States
h1ttleship Texas. Capt. j w. Philip in
command. steamed slowly up the lower
bay from Sandy Hook For a brief
period she remained at anchor. off
Tnmpkinsville. to receive the mail ana
dispatches, and as soon as these were
got on board the vessel slowly pro-
ceeded 70 her destination amid a salvo
of greetings from thousands Of men.
women and children who crowded the
decks Of the excursion boats that were
outward bound
Salutations If welcome came from
all sides, Every vessel hat boosted II
steam whistle let K shrek for all ii
was worth.
When the Texas reached the navy
yard the dock was crowded with blue
jae kets and marines, who greeted their
fellows with feverish enthusiasm ANA
welcomed them back with joyous
cheers. Hundreds of relatives Of the
men aboard rushed to embrace the
heroes who had ought So nobly ana
successfully in the cause Of humanity.
The general outward appearance
rough time of it since she left the
yard bound for Southern waters. five
months ago. and close inspection re-
Vcaled the places where the shells of
the Dons had penetrated the port bow
and starboard superstructure. on the
22d Of June. while the Texas was bonn
harding the MORO at the entrance of
Santiago harbor, a 6-inch shell tore
through the port side under the anchor
about 20 feet from the bow. This shell
exploded in the opposite side of the gun
deck and on it's way instantly killed
Frank Blakeley, a first class apprentice
whose home was in Lawrence. Mass
This was the only death dealing missile
which struck the Texas during hef
fighting term as none Of the other men
who We're wounded succumbed to their
injuries.
During the engagement of July g.
when the Texas was chasing Cervera's
vessels, a big shell, probably from tn
Almirante oquendo, pierced the star
board bulkhcad underneath the bridge
Ii passed through the ventilator ana
after carrying away the ash hoist en-
tered the smokestack. where it explod-
cd. but injured no one.
Several shots took effect on The
bridge and other parts OF the super
structure, but nearly all traces of tha
damage done by them We're removed by
the mechanics aboard who patched up
the splntered iron work while the yes
sci was steaming North on the home
ward trip.
Tho firing of the port turret, during
the run. across the upper decks. shook
the vessel very considerably and she
will need a general overhauling as her
decks and supports have been loosened.
If occasion required, however, the
Texas could fight at a moments notice
as effectively as ever, her batteries be-
ing in excellent order. All the sailors
who were seen. today, said that the
Texas was a wonderful ship and her
record off the Cuban coast had laid at
rest the stories which had been circu-
lated as TO her being an unlucky vessel
Twenty-Five sick sailors and marines
were brought back from the squadron
by the Texas ana they were all trans
ferred to the Naval hospital. adjoining
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