The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-11
The Olympia Arrived in New
York. City Ahead Of Time
and Surprised Everybody.
ADMIRAL In Fine HEALTH
He Received a Magnificent Welcome
and Said He Was Glad to
Reach Home.

heaCll nOI1lei
Admiral Dewey Was Overcome by the
Gree ting He Rsceived-Saluted by the
Forts as tho Olympia Entered the
Harbor-Anecting Meeting of the Ad-
.nlral and His son-Glad That tho
China,nen on the Cruiser Were Allowed
to Land-Dewey's First Thoughts
Were For His Men-Ofaclally We'll
coined by tho Reception Committee.
NEW YORK CITY Especially cruiser
Olympia with Admiral Dewey and his gal
liant officers and men arrived in port early
Tuesday morning, two days ahead OF the
time she was expected. Admiral Dewey
has the faculty Of surprising people won
derfully developed. He surprised the Span
iards In Manila, and now he surprised the
millions OF Americans who were watching
and waiting for him by sailing into New
York harbor even as he did into that OF
Manila, silently and before only the very
few had become su fticlently awake to make
even the irst turn In their beds.
The unexpected arrival OF the Admiral
made no difference in the cordiallty OF his
welcome, official or otherwise. The Sub
Committee Of the Reception Committee,
which, 1t was planned, would receive the
Admiral on Thursday In the name or the
Mayor Of New York City, carried out these
plans Tuesday morning almost to the letter.
The only important difference was that the
reception took place two days earlier. As
a result Admiral Dewey had been here only
a few hours before he was officially well
coined and made to feel at home.
Notwithstanding their surprise the Re-
ceptiop Committee shook Themselves to-
pether aud infoEpei the Admiral OF the
plans that had been made for his welcome,
and TO learn II he approved them. The
plans met with Dewey's approba-
tion, and accordingly the programme
was carried out as arranged. The COM
mittee sailed down the bay to the Olympia
on the police boat Patrol. Those present
were Chauncey NJ. Depew, william NC
Adoo. ex-Assistant Secretary VI the Navy;
st. Clair McKelway, Warren ". Foster and
Richard Croker. The other two members
of the committee, Levi P. Morton and
William O. Whitney, were unable to be on
hand on such short notice, and IA the ao.
sence OF the latter St. Clair Mchelway
acted as chairman.
Alfred NJ. Downes, private secret ary to
Mayor Van Wyck, was the first to mount
the gangway. Then came ST. Clair Nickel.
way. They were received by Lieutenant
Brumby.
Then St. Clair McKelway, as the spokes.
man, said:
CT have to say that we come as Sub
Committee ,of.the Reception COMMITTEES
with the representative OF the Mayor 20 per-
sonally appraiss you OF the fact that, as
you are now anchored IN our waters, you
are not only legally In our jurisdiction but
q guest OF the city.
"It is our wish to present to you an out
line Of the arrangements made for the cele-
bration on Friday and Saturday, subject Ii
all feasible respects to your own amend
ment and suggestions"
Admiral Dewey explained that he
thought the weather too threatening to
walt out at sea, especially as the Olympia
has one Of her propellers damaged. After
the interviews the members OF the Recep-
tlon Committee proceeded from the flag
ship to the police boat and back to the
city.
Admiral Dewey's first thought when he
was discussing the arrangements for his
reception was for his mea.
"How about the crew OF this ship?" he
asked, when told what had been done for
himself in connection with the land parade.
Chow do they get ashore? I've got 3oJ
men here. They all want to go, and how
will they, get ashore from where We are
anchored?"
There was heavy mist and drizzle OF
Sandy Hook when the marine observer, at
5.45 O'Clock described the white cruiser
bearing up from the southeast. Her pro-
gress into the harbor even at that early
hour was not without suitable greeting.
The steam pilot station boat was the first
to make itself heard, and her steam siren
fairly rent the murky atmosphere with its
the signal halyards Of the pilot boat IL
string OF little code hags, and the signal
officer on the flagship read the word "Wel-
come" The Olympia signaled back
Thanks" Salutes were also exchanged
with the Sandy Hook and Scotland Light
vessels.
It was at IT'S that the Olympia, thread.
ing her way through the channel, had Fort
Hancock, on Sandy Hook, abeam. Then
outspake the bic guns CT the fort with an
Admiral's salute. This is seventeen guns.
It was the first salute to an incoming
vessel ever fred from the fort, and 1t was
the first time In over thirty years that the
flag OF an Admiral had been saluted In this
port. The Olympia returned the salute.
1t was the hr3t time that ner guns, WHICH
spoke so effectively at Manila, mad
awakened the echoes on this coast.
The lower harbor WIS now we'll awake,
and ms the Olympia swung round near the
Southwest Spit to find her anchorage, to
the southwark bevy OF tugs was drawing
near through curiosity and blowing their
whistles with all the fervor that such little
fellows could muster. The Southwest
Spit sweeps into the main ship channel at
the point OF the Hook and here 1t was that
the Olympia anchored, dropping cher big
gest bower in the sandy bottom about one
half mile to the north and west OF where
the cup challenger Shamrock and het
majestic looking consort, the Erin, were
at anchor.
Rear.Admiral Philip, the commandant o.
the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was informed o
the Olympia's arrival while at breakfast
Captain SIgsbee Bereaved.