The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-30

movement seemed paraiysed BY. the
inextricabls confusion. II was with
great diAsulty that the police boats
could clear passage fer the admiralty
launch when he went of to return the
ofacial visit Of the mayor At noon,
and when he did step into his launch
the patriotic shippers ahoat grabbed
their whistle cords and made the hills
echo with such blast as can only be
heard when YANKEE yacht crosses the
finish first in race with foreign mug
hunters. And that was simply the
prelude to what continued throughout
the day-an almost continuous roar
Of steam whistles.
Meantime the vessels to take part in
the parade were massing over near the
Long Island shore. until that side Of
the harbor became a tangle Of stacks
and flags and framework as far as the
eye could reach. The grassy slopes OF
Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton, and
the wharves and shores of Staten ISL
and were covered with sightssers,
watching the fleet below.
Olynpla's Oncers in Modest Uniform
Aboard the Olympia the marines and
sailors had been seriously inspected
from the toe of the first marine to the
jaunty cap of the last sailer. The
officers of the feet did not wear their
snowy uniform, but were attired In
special undress A." as 1t is tech
nically known in the navy. There
were no gold epaulets, gold bound
beavers and Gathering swords. This
was by the adniral's order, and added
but another to the many evidences of
his unique modesty. A brother and the
widow Of Captain Gridley, who fought
the Olympia in Manila bay, Colonel
Franklin Bartlett. former represents
tive in congress from New York, and
an intimate personal friend of the ad-
nniral, together with the three news
paper men. were the only civilians on
board. One Of the naval guests was
the engineer of the Olympia when it
led the way past Corrisidor Island.
He was given three rousing cheers as
he went forward to see the men.
Just as the aaniral's signal to weigh
anchor was given 4 pull on the hal
yards spread the four starred Tag
which Farragut few as he ran tho
fort In Men Orleans. 1t was the flag
which was, presented to Admiral Dew
ey. As 1t broke, sailors at their sta
tons and the marines on the quarter
deck greeted it with cheers. The flag
foated proudly all through the pa
geant 1t is the most precious posses
sion Of Farragut's pupil, and when it
is struck on Monday 1t will probably
be forever, as it is altogether unlikely
that Admiral Dewey will ever COM
mand another feet.
1t was exactly l O'Clock, the hour
fixed fer the start, when the feet with
anchors shert hove. began to move.
The ships had swung to the food tide
and were pointing down stream, but
with their twin screws they faced
about 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 spec
tacle made will ever be treasured in
the memory of these who saw it. In
advance of the Olympia was a double
line of patrol and fire boats to clear the
way Of unofficial tresspassers.
On the port beam of the Olympia
was the escortins ship Sandy Hook,
with the mayor and other dignitaries
aboard, and in her wake, at intervals
of 400 yards, stretched out mile
long, were the great towering war
ships. The rest Of the procession trail
ed out for miles.
1,unr n3noc%n1 eta rvnn+
Admiral Dewey went upon the after
bridge as soon as the start was made,
and remained there throughout the
parade. With him on the bridge most
Of the time was Colonel Bartlett, to |
whom he talked when he was not &C.
the salutes or personally |
directing the movements of his i'm |
mediate feet. and the admiral gave
close attention throughout the journey
to ever hing which TRANSFERRED on
board the vessel. By his direction the
ensign was courtesled to vessels which
saluted, and several times he ordered
he crew to stand by to cheer in
answer to some extraordinary demon
'tration.
The guns of the Olympia spoke but
,nce until Grants tomb was reached.
That was when they barked in answer
o the deep baying of the guns of old
Fort William. on Governors Island.
Before the Battery was reached hun
lreds of tugs and excursion boats had
rowded in behind the patrol boats
md stretched away rank upon rank
or either shore from the quarter of
hn p,il hDi 1nt hi OF 90 l
ng continuously throughout the jour-
icy.
The untold thousands who throng"
d the wharves and piers, who leaned
rom the windows sud balconies and