The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-29
SERENADE FOR THE FLEET.
CHORAL UNIONS ORCHESTRA AND
1900 TOICES WELCOME DEWEY.

They Went Down the Bay Two Steam
boats and Sent the Jackies Into Ecstacies
-Csmmittee Took n Boatful of Roses to
the Admiral and Everybody Chsered.
New York sang II. welcome TO Admiral Dewey
and the feet last night Fifteen hundred
members Of the Peoples Choral Union on two
steamboats, went down'the Bay to serenade the
Olympia, and while they were about
1t ttey ssrenaded the New York aud
the Chicago. too. and everywhere they were
received with an enthusiasm that moved their
hearts. Moreover. the Olympia not only re-
ceived and Acknowledged the serenade. but
returned It with band and voice and the two
excursion boats and the warship almost
touching noses in the darkness. sent up a
triple voice OF patriotism and gen.
eral glorihcation In the notes OF "A
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight"
II the Admiral himself sang. nobody on the
excursion boats could make 1t out. but he did
all and morethan was expected OF him for he
not only received. on his own motion. q COM
mittee from the singers. but he came out on the
forward deck where all could see him and
waved his cop in greeting.
Before the Warwick was ready to leave tho
pier at the foot OF Beekman street 1t was
evident that she was going to be overcrowded
About 1900 OF the Choral Unionists were
aboard with their leader Frank Dam
rosch and an orchestra under Mr.. Damrosch's
assistant. Piaton Brunoff. This number would
not have crowded the boat uucomfortably. but
there were great many other persons
aboard concerning whose presence nobody
seemed to know much. Tho Mount Hope.
which also lay at the pier. took aboard
three hundred singers who couldn't get
aboard the Warwick and at a quarter be-
fore = the two boats started down the
bay and straightway struck o head wind
that made life on the upper decks a
matter OF clinging to the nearest stationary
object Camp chairs tipped over and went
careering down the decks and the truant
hat. and occasionally the truant supper. few
blthsly over the lee rail. Once out In the bay.
however. those who braved the winds saw
marvellous spectacle OF light and darkness.
Astern the great Welcome Dewey" on the
Brooklyn Bridge had sprung out radiant letter
by letter and out from 1t stretched golden
path through the tossing blackness OF
the river. Far ahead on the BROOKLYN
shore an answering Welcome" in rure
white lights shone dazzlingly. on the
other bow tho shores OF Staten Island
glittered and flashed with set lights ana
fireworks. and steep hill rising above glowed
with drely splendid fires OF deep red. like a
volcano about to burst into eruption and toss
living ruin to the stars. Above and
through all the patterns OF brllianco and
gloom the piercing searchlights OF the war
ships swept the glare Of their restless eyes.
while far over all the stars winked and binked
in pale aud diminished glory.
Through the choppy waves the War
wick and her companion boat made straight
for the long row Of lights that abound where
a. ln, ~ ~, -
about half past eight when the Warwick slowed
up and waited for another boat to get
out from between her and the Olympia. She
approached the Olympia from tho NORTH COM
ing bow on toward the warship's bow,
and there was Immediately a great rush
forward. In vain did the officers OF
the Choral Union run about trying
to form the singers into Rome sort Of order
Except couple OF hundred who had gathered
near tho orchestra and had been loosen
ing up their voices by singing. every
body was on deck and staring with
all his or her eyes at the ship which
Is to-day the most famous vessel In the
Navy. and hoping most fervently to get
famous parsonage in the nation. The
Mount Hope lay Off a little to port, but
the Warwick's captain brought her close in
to the Olympia's bow and then let her drift I'M
til there seemed some reason for apprehension
that he had designs upon the cruiser. There
was nothing bashful about him.
Up to this time nobody on the Olympia had
noticed the approaching vessel apparently.
but now in the play ofthe lights some OF the
officers and msn could be seen looking
at her curlously. Worry probably they
wondered what she was doing there at
night While they were still wondering
the orchestra struck up. the choristers
rushed together and the harmonies OF
the national hymn were borne across the
water to the warAhip. 1t was not the
best singing that the Choral Union has
ever done. by a considerable margin. They
were too badly scattered and despite their ef-
forts TO get together. half Of them Jagged and
there was no little confusion. Moreover. the
time was inopportune, for. as they were finish
ing the first stanza. there came flash OF
light from near the Olympia's bow and the
crash OF ono Of her saluting guns Another
followed. and another and another: and an
impudent little tug In the offing appro-
priated the salute to itself and fu-
riously blew q whistle entirely dispropor-
tionate to it's size. and not at all
In harmony with the music The guns flashed
and doomed until those on board the Warwick
had counted seventeen OF them and the wise
u
or the Governor OF State had come aboard
tho flagship. Tho rest thought the salute was
in their honor and were happier than the wise
ones.
At the conclusion OF the salute the
steamboat had drfted away a short distance.
and now she and the Mount Hope adj
vanced together, the union singing See.
the Conqusring Hero Comes" This
time the voices were better together
and the singing was spirited. 1t woke up the
Olympia to a realization that something
was going on. The searchlIghts flashed
upon theBarenading steamers to the binding
discomfort Of the passengers who were
doing their best to sec y there was
to be seen on the Olympia. and there was a
general stir on board tho wAr1hip. Close
knots OF men crowded the star
board rail. Aft there was movement
among the officers. and at the end OF
the first stanza applause came from them
This gave the cue to the crowding jackies and
when the song was over there was such a
bandclaI ihing aS would have done credit to a
star WorshppinG opera audience.
Your Uncle Sans naval nephew Jacky has
large. hard hands. and when he hits them to-
gsther 1t makes no doubtful noise In the