Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-17
THE RALEIGH'S RECEPTION.
Continued from page 10

fall heavily and it continued through
out the ceremonies. AS the morning
hours passed the Raleigh began to be
surrounded by excursion steamers and
small craft and the scene atloat was a
lively one.
Shortly before noon all hands Of the
cruiser were called to quarters ana
Mayor Van Wyck and the other COM
mttecmen were received with naval
focmality. capt Coghlan escorted the
visitors To- his cabin. where brief cere-
monies were held. The mayor vel
coined the Raleigh to New York, ex-
tended the freedom Of the city 10 the
officers and men, apologized for the dis
Agreeable weather and assured Capt
coghlan OF 4 hearty welcome.
Capt. Coghlan replied briefly. thank
ing the mayor for the expression of
New York's hospitality and declaring
the satisfaction of himself and the
other officers ana crew of the Raleigh
in having been able to serve their
country in Manila and their happiness
in their return 10 their native land.
The committee did not stop aboard a
moment after the formalities We're over
and as Mayor Van Wyck left the side
Of the Raleigh he received from her a
salute Of u guns.
Preparations were made then to get
unGer way for the parade. The Raleigh
was headed down the stream at the
time and when she raised her anchor
and swung around the whistles Of all
the craft near her shrieked a salute.
A reception committees steamer led
tho nrnrpSGiDn Af vessels and rho
Raleigh followed just astern Of her.
The Alvarado and Sandoval took posi-
tons off either bow of the cruiser and
police boats. tugs and excursion boats
followed in a double column.
Notwithstanding the heavy rain the
weather was not thick and the Liberty
statute was in plain view from the
point Of departure. There was no
special demonstration until Governors
island was passed. when national sa-
lutte was fired. Here the coast survey
steamer Pathfinder. with Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy Allen on board,
| joined the procession. following just in
| the wake of the Raleigh.
| From the time the Raleigh left the
Battery until she reached Grants
| tomb her whistle and fog siren were
| bI'Nt us constantly III lNoP'llH' ~ 80
lutes from vessels lying at their docks
| or moving up or down the river.
The ferry boats We're crowded with
people ana several of them ran along
side the Raleigh for a short distance.
! Capt. Ccghlan was on the bridge nearly
all the way up the river. The captain
was obliged to bare his head to the
rain great deal of the time in answer
| to the salutcs.
Just before arriving off Grants tomb
the cruiser slowed down preparatory
| to turning and while the cheering and
| whistle blowing We're at their height
| two 6-pOunderS on the Raleigh com
menced their salute of u guns The
last shot had hardly died away when
! the AlVarado and Sandoval opened
with the national salute and a battery
on shore joined in the tribute to the
dead President. When the salutes
We're concluded the Raleigh turned
! slowly and headed down the river
The run back to anchorage off saith
street was made slowly and the same
enthusiasm was displayed as on the
run up the river.
When the Raleigh finally anchored
she was surrounded Immediately by a
| littl VI tACui-lDll DbdlS ana dS last as
| these could reach her gangway the
people aboard them climbed on the
cruiser and extended personal welcome
to the officers and crew. Many rela-
tives and personal friends of the Off
GERS and men went aboard and the
days celebration concluded with gen
eral and Individual receptions.
Of l,n Do inh
time she left this port, nearly two
years ago. until her return home has
been a remarkable one. The accounts
of her participation in the fight at Ma
Mia are intensely interesting.
The following sketch of the firing Of
the first shot in that battle is told by
an officer on the Raleigh. the time dat
ing from the hour when the cruiser
was stripped for action:
About s P. NJ. Saturday, April 80.
the commanding officers of the fleet re-
paired on board the Olympia for final
. consultation with the commodore
Capt. Coghlan returned with a type
written. document and ordered all
hands called to muster" on the quarter
deck. Amid a dead silence he mounted
. one of the poop ladders and said: L
want to read the proclamation of the
governor general of Manila to let YOU
see what he thinks of you.
Consul Gen. Williams had brought
a translation of this remarkable dOcu-
ment which had been published in all
the papers and placarded over the
town on the Esd. the day he left Ma
Mia. The captain then read it. In
amazement we listened to its language.