The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-28

Nlen the assistant secretary Oh the navy
goes aboard a warship the regulations pre-
scribe that his flag be hoisted to the main
top. Up went the flag. but as soon as the
greetings had been exchanged, at Mr.. AL
lens request. it was hauled down. and Mr..
Allen remained aboard as the private guest
OF the admiral. 1t was the desire of the
Navy Department not to detract in any
way from the honors to be accorded Dewey.
An officer from Fort Hancock shortly aft
came aboard TO convey the formal
welcome of the army. and then, a few min
utes after Q o'clock, Just as the tide turned
flood, the Olympia weighed anchor and be-
gan her journey up the bay.
The tugs and harbor craft. which had
been lowering about since daylight, footing
and shrieking their salutations at every
opportunity, fell into the Olympia's wake
ard pulled proudly Up behind her. Every
vessel she passed gave her a vaporous sa-
lutte. and as the shipping increased the
noisy demonstration became almost c%ontinu-
Gus. TIE figure Of the hero of the day was
in full relief against the sky as he stood
upon the bridge chatting with Assistant
Secretary Allen and the crowd of officers.
He occasionally turned and smiled and
bowed to the noisy escort. The Olympia
was very stately as she came on. Her white
hull, with high freeboard, seemed frail, but
the ugly-looking guns ~frowning from spon-
son and turret, showed where lay the power
that has destroyed SPANS sea power on
the other side of the world. A long PEN
nant of smoke, white as bleached linen,
stood away beautifully toward the shore,
the loose strands at the end disappearing as
they were torn to shreds by the land
breeze. The Olympia's superstructure is
all painted white, and only the yellow
stacks and red-mouthed tunnels gave a touch
OF color to the on-coming cruiser. The adj
miral's flag stood out ~jauntily at the MAIN
mast and the national colors futtered over
the taffrail. She did not seem to be dis
turbing the water as she glided along.
There was little foam at her beak and no
combers at her stern. There was hardly
a suspicion of turning of the screws push
ing 5000 tons OF steel through the water.
THE FORTS SALUTE.
The grassy heights of both wadsworth
and Hamilton were thronged with specta-
tors as she approached the Narrows. Sud-
denly a tongue Of red flame leaped from
the granite side OF Fort Wadsworth, and,
like the recoil. came a streak of fire from
the granite wall on the opposite side. Then
alternately from each side came the deafen-
ing roar of an admiral's salute Of seventeen
guns. Slowly and majestically the Olympia
passed the smoke-wreathed forts, answering
the salute gun for gum, until she became
so en~veloped in her own smoke that 1t
seemed she might have broken her steam
chest. Then she pushed through the smoke
curtain and stood revealed before the adj
miring gaze of the whole Atlantic squadron,
waiting at anchor off Tompkinsville to re-
cafx,a her Ex-aru hit of hracc on1 Gilt On
every ship of the receiving column had been
FURNISHED, every spot on the white hulls
painted over and every marine and
sailor knew he was expected to look his
best. Along the railing of the ships the
jackies stood elbow to elbow. and aft were
the marines, drawn up to salute. A few
of the tars ran up to the fighting top.
Every officer had donned his most SNOWY
uniform and looked splendfdly with their
gold epaulets and belts and clanking swords
gathered in the waist of the ships.
AS the Olympia approached, from the
New York barked the signal gun, a six
FOUNDER IN the starboard bow, and imme-
diately every ship in the squadron belched
forth flame and smoke. Louder and louder
Numbered the guns as the Olympia came
on. She replied with the thirteen guns to
which Rear Admiral Howison's rank en-
titles him. On board the Olympia also the
sides were manned and the band and marine
guard were paraded.
AS the Olympia came abreast of the Chi
cage the guard presented arms, the drums
gave four ruffles. the trumpets four -four
ishes and the band played Home, Sweet
Home" dwelling with swelling cadenza
upon the minor bars. The officers at the
waist raised their gold-bound beavers and
the sailors cheered. Ship after ship took
its turn in doing honor to the admiral as
the Olympia swept grandly up the line of
floating fortresses and tce flood of senti-
ment welled up within their hearts. Adj
miral Dewey from the bridge acknowledged
each salute with a wave Of his cap. He
alone of all the officers of the feet was in
fatigue uniform.
MADDENING CONCERT OF NOISE.
As the Olympia swept by the New York,
the last ship in the column, the full marine
band aboard the Olympia played Sousa's
lei Captain" march and the spectators On
the excursion fleet cheered. The shippers
turned loose their whistles and sirens.
Everything that could make a noise in the
harbor Joined. Farther than ears could
hear the steam jets of the whistles on craft
lying at the Battery and up the North and
East rivers could be seen as they roared
their welcome. 1t was such a soul-mad-
dening concert of steam whistles as Ameri-
can steamDoatmen are famous for.
In a few moments the sharp rattle of the
anchor chain was heard as the Olympia S
anchor Gated from its bed into the water.
Then came the admirals and captains
from all the ships trooping in their wifi
water carriages to pay their respects to
the Nations hero. First Rear Admiral
Howison with his aids. splendid in gold
braids, arrived. AS they came aboard they
were given the honors due their rank.
Admiral Dewey was still in fatigue uniform
when he received his old classmate at the
gangway. There was a cordial smile and a
hearty handshake, with a How are you.
Howison?" that thrilled the spectators. The
official visit to the Olympia lasted for over
an hour.
Meantime scores of rowboats, tugs,
launches and yachts formed about her.
many with relatives or sweethearts OIL
friends aboard. Almost the first 10
make the gangway was the Narkeeta,
with Admlra Dewey's relatives. The party
was given a warm greeting and taken TO
the cabin. One officer was so overjoyed al
the sight of the wife he had not seen for
twenty-three months that he rushed down
the gangway and kissed her in the presence
OF 10000 people. Some Of the visitors had
flowers for the admiral and more good