Hutchinson gazette., 1899-04-20
.HAD A WET WELCOME.
Cold Rain Fell While Raleigh Pa
raded Up the Hudson. >
CROWDS OUT IN SPITE OF ii.

New YoRK,, April a. The celebra-
tlon attending tho return of the
United States cruiser Raleigh from
Manila, which had to be postponed
Saturday owing TO tho warship's late
arrival, occurred yesterday. The Ra-
leigh, accompanied by two small war
vessels captured from the Spaniards
last summer, and feet OF about
twenty-five excursion steamers and
tugboats, paraded from Tomkinsvllle
TO Grants tomb and from there back
to anchorage In the North river of
Thirty-fourth street
IL would have been difficult TO have
selected moro inclcment or Disagree
able weather than that which pre-.
vailed all the time that the Raleigh
was passing In review before tho
thousands OF enthusiastic people who
lined the river banks and gave her
their hearty cheers OF welcome home.
The cruiser did not leave her anchor
age off Tompknsvile for Che parade
up the bay and tho Hudson river until
shortly before noon, An hour before
that time drzzling rain commenced
to fall, and this soon turned into n
steady downpour which continued the
remainder OF the day.
There were very few people along
tho river front In the lower part OF
the city, owing partly to the weather
and partly TO the fact that the en-
frances to the piers are closed on Sum
days, but great crowds assembled In
Riverside park, overlooking the Hud-
son, and men, women and children
stood there for hours under umbrellas,
watching the vessels on their way up
the river and their return. BY far the
greatest gathering Of people was in
the vicinity of Grants tomb, which
was the turning point Of the parade,
A national salute was fred there by
the Raleigh aud also by the captured
Spanish prizes, and the scene was rem
dored memorable one by tho shriek-
Ing Of hundred steam whistles from
excursion boats and locomotives and
cheers from thousands Of people on
shore and on the vessels In the river
Captain Coghlan was on the bridge
nearly all the way up the river with
the executive and navigating officers.
All were bundled up in rain coats and
received the full force Of the storm in
their faces The officers paid little
attention to tho storm, and waved
their caps constantly, not appearing
to mind the soaking. AS for the sail
ors, they never thought of shelter at
all. A few we're clad in oil skins but
most OF them stood on the exposed
forecastle with nothing but their blue
jackets covering their shoulders and
most of the time with their hats fly
ing in the air.
Officers and men alike expressed the
greatest surprise ut the demonstration
and wondered what they had done to
warrant all the enthusiasm which was
being displayed Many of them were
heard to make remarks TO the effect
that the battle OF Manila bay was
fought so long ago that they had al
most forgotten it, but that It seemed
the American people remembered 1t
still.
When the Raleigh was finally an.
chored she was surrounded imme-
diately by feet Of excursion
boats and as fast as they could
reach her gangway the people
aboard them climbed on the cruiser
and extended personal welcome
to the officers and men, The
crew apparently took great pride in
showing visitors over the ship and
particularly In pointing out the 5.inch
gun on the starboard side Of the poop
deck that fred the first shot in tho
battle of Manila bay,
Many relatives and personal friends
Of the officers and men went aboard
rs soon as they could reach the side of
the vessel, and the days celebration
concluded with these general and in
dividual receptions