The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-03
ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON.
Welcome Of Admiral Dewey to His
Future Home.


his home-was made the occasion for
the greatest tribute ever paid by Wash
ington 10 any individual.
The citizens had made every prepar-
alton to make the occasion worthy OF
their hero. The decorations were elab-
crate Pennsylvania avenue was one
mass of c0lOred bunting along the en-
tire line Of march from the station TO
the White House. and not content with
this, few private citizens failed to make
display OF color on their residence
Unique designs in fairy lamps dotted
the horizon; great Search1ghts threw
broad beams of bright light across the
blue sky and the stately ca piCOl stood
revealed in its queenly beauty in the
powerful rays Of many concentrated
lights The same device was used ef-
fectfvely in the case OF other public
buildings which stood within the range
Of vision of Admiral Dewey and the
president as they reviewed the thrOng
OF people from the Prov of the white
erected Just south of the treasury
building at the head OF Pennsylvania
avenue.
on the facade of the newly completed
government pOsIOffice building famed
forth two Inscriptions set in electric
points, the one reciting the famous
message of the president directing
Dewey then thousands Of miles away
in the far east, to go forth TO destroy
the Spanish fleet, and the other set
ting out the famous admiraPs direction
to the lamented Gridley. You may fire
when you are ready, Grld4ey, Wnlch
marked an epoch in the history of the
United States. Twelve thousand mem
bers OF civic organizations paraded be-
fore him. besides tens OF thousands OF
nOn-OrganiZed citizens, and IN a roar
of cannon rockets and the blaze of red
fire and the thunderous cheering OF the
pOpuIaCe and the warm greeting OF the
head of the nation, Dewey came to the
national capital to a welcome such as
has not been known here hitherto.
His journey from New York had been
one continuous ovation, limited in lis
intensity only by the density Of pOpuIa-
ton. The decorated special train which
left the Pennsylvania railway ferry slip
in jersey City at 1850 o'clock in the at
ternoon, was fully in keeping with its
distinguished passenger It was made
up of five cars, the Pennsylvania s prize
special. the Atlanta, a dining car, a
combination smoker and three parIOr
cars for the accommodation OF the
Washington reception committee The
special was given a clear track and the
run to Washington was made without
a stop except at Gray's Ferry, on the
outskirts OF Philadelphia were en-
gines were changed and a new train
crew came aboard.
The train as it reached the line Of the
District of Columbia stopped for a few
minutes at the little station of Dean
wood while the reception committee
went through the fOrmality of present
ing the nations guest the freedom of
formed by District Commissioner
Wight in the presence Of the admiral's
fleet captains. and military and naval
members of the party and as many of
the reception committee as could be
crowded into the admfraPs car. John
Addison Porter, secretary to the pres
ident, first extended President AIcKfn-
ley's greetings to which the admiral re-
turned his thanks very briefly.
Commissioner Wight then said:
Admiral Dewey, you are now in the
District of Columbia. and representing
the commissioners of the District 1 have
the honor OF rendering you the freedom
of the nations capital and in behalf OF
the people of the District from the most
exalted to the humblest citizen, I give
you sincere and cordial welcome
home. We feel gratided that Washing
ton is to be your future home. 1t is the
best place in the world in which TO
have a home and it is fitting that you
having done so much for the nation and
having done such an important part for
the nation should make your future
home in the nations capital The peO-
pie of Washington viii esteem it not
only pleasure. but an honor to do all
in their power to make your stay with
US as pleasant as your services have
been successful at Manila
AmiraI DeWey's reply was brief and
chara Cteristic.
I want to thank you very much. my
friends" said he. for this testimonial
of your regard. 1t is true that as long
as live, and hope to live a long time
Cheers intend to live in Washington.
thank You again for this expression
Then dropping the tone Of formality
in which this had been uttered, he ex-
tended his hands and said heartily:
Now want to see my friends Charlie,
| old boy. how are you" and he gTasped
/ Q. C Glover by the hand and went
/ through the party shaking the hands
/ of all who were within reach.
In a few minutes the train was in the
| brilliantly lighted depot The middle
Il ILL., l.
| clear to the carriage entrance. The
| committeeman and the lighting line"
as the brilliantly uniformed officers
| were termed, all alighted, while ". H.
| Noses. the chairman Of the reception
| committee. Theodore NOyes, of the
| Evening Star, Commissioner Ross and
Archibald GreeuleeS went into the ad-
| miraPs car and after a few words of
| formal greeting brought him out. TAX
| ing the arm of Mr.. Moses, he headed
| the procession down the station, while
| the officers and committeeman fell in
| at the rear It was a procession as
| brilliant as a diplomatic reception
| The thrOng about the railway station
| chOked the streets for blocks about
| The marine band gave the four -four
! lSheS which naval etiquette requires
] and then played Under the Double
/ Eagle" by Wagner, which is said to
| be d special favorite with the admiral
/ and which at his request the Olympia 8
! band played as the feet sailed out of
| the harbor of Hong Kong to give battle
/ to the Spaniards at Manila and again
\ when the famous ship started on her
/ homeward voyage
AS the admiraTs carriage swung
! around the treasury toward the White
! House. a brilliant spectacle was spread
/ out before him To the right LAFAYETTE
/ square was ablaze with electric lights,
| the great trees and fioWerbeds spark
/ ling with many hued lights, while in
| the midst shone out in huge electric
| letters, Welcome. Admiral
| The navy department beyond was
/ ablaze with lights, as were the White
/ House grounds A mighty roar went I'D
/ from the crowd as the admiral alighted
! at the porticO of the executive mansion.
/ AS he stepped from the carriage. Col