The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-10-04
SUMTER. G. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER f. 1899

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spread the four starred flag which
Farragut flew as he ran the fort in
New Orleans Ii was the flag which
was presented to Admiral Dewey.
As it broke, sailors at their stations
and the marines on the quarter deck
greeted it with the hip, hip, hoorah
we got from our ancestors. The flag
foated proudly all through the
pageant today. 1t is, the most pre-.
cious possession of Farragut's pupil.
and when it is struck Monday it will
probably be forever, as it is altogeth.
er unlikely that Admiral Dewey will
ever command another fleet.
1t was exactly l o'clock. the hour
fixed for the start, when the feet. With
anchors short hove. began to move
The ships had swung to the food tide
and were pointing down stream, but
with their twin screws they faced aboas
as on pivots and headed for the Hudson,
followed by the long line of vessels IN
civic parade. When the ships had
Strengthened out for their journey across
the upper bay, the spectacle they made
will ever be treasured 10 the memory Of
those who saw it. In advance Of the
| Olympia was double line of patrol
and FIRE boats, Liliputian feet to clear
the way Of unofficial srespassers. 1t
did not require much persuasion either,
as tse shippers had wholesome respect
for the steel ram Of the mighty sea
monsters. On the port beam of the
Olympia was the escortiug ship Sandy
Hook, with the mayor and other digni-
taries aboard, and in her wake at
intervals of 400 yards. stretched ous
mile long, we're the great towering war.
ships, the srmored cruiser New York,
the battleships Indiana aud Massachu.
setts. the cruiser. Brooklyn, second
class battleship Texas, the old wooden
frigate Lancaster, the gunboat Marietta
and the Chicago, the flagship Of the
South Atlantic squadron. Old Glory
huttered from each masthead and
tafrail On each quarter of the New
York were the black low lioed torpedo
boats, three 90 cash flank. The rest
of the procession moved across the
shiny waters.
Admiral Dewey went up on the after
bridge as scoa as the start vas made
aud remained there throughout the
parade, heroic figure outlined against
the skies. for the thousands ahoat and
ashore. With him on the bridge most
of the time was Col. Bartlett, to whom
be talked when he was not acknoWledg.
ing the salutes or personally directing
the movement Of his feet. and the ad-
miral gave close attention throughout
the journey to everything which trans.
pired on board the vessel. By his
direction the ensign vas courtesied to
vessels which saluted. and several times
ordered the crew to stand by to cheer
in answer to some extraordinary demon.
s,ration.
The guns of the Olympia spoke but
once until Grants tomb was reached.
That was when they barked 10 answer
to the deep bayiDg of the guns OF old
Fort William, On Governors Island
Before the battery was reached hun
dreds of tugs and excursion boats had
crowded 10 behind the patrol boats and
stretched away rank upon rank for
either shore from the quarter of the
Olympia Their whistles were going
continuously throughout the journey
The untold thousands who throngea
the wharves aud piers, who leaned from
the windows and balconies and looked
down from the dizzy heights Of sky
scrapevs must have impressed the
admiral greatly, bus his modesty would
not permit him to view it all as a
personal ovation.
astonishing, astonishing" he re
peated several times to Col Bartlett.
but he said nothing Of himself.
The parade at this point began to be.
come disorgauized. many pleasure
craft leaving the line below and crowd
ing SO dercely about the Olympia that
she was manoeuvred with great diff
Guilty The excursion boats, loaded to
the guards with people, were almost
criminalIy reckless as they passed
along, many Of them listed SO far that
oue wheel was buried deep while the
other scarcely touched the water.
The admiral was sometimes annoyed
by the crowding of these craft, but be
retained his equanimity through it all.
bowiug and removing his cap to the
exultiug and cheering crowd. It was
not until all the warships bad passed 10
review before the Olympia at anchor
below the beautiful floats representing
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