Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-30
NAVAL PARADE
Continued from page ~

ried small dark roll of bunting to the
main hand over first. 1t hung there
while the bugle sounded the call to
quarters and the marines were must
cred aft. Then just as the signal to
weigh was given a pun on the halyards
opened the roll and spread out the four
starred flag which Farragut flew as he
ran the forts at New Orleans, and
which has been presented to Admiral
Dewey. AS it broke sailors at their
stations and the marines on the quar-
ter dack greeted it with cheers. The
flag floated proudly all through the
pageant, today. 1t is the most precious
possession of Farragut's pupil. and
when it is struck, Monday. it will prob
ably he forever. as it is altogether un-
likely that Admiral Dewey will ever
command another fleet.
1t was exactly / o'clock. the hour
fixed for the start. when the feet, with
anchors short hore. began to move. The
ships had swung to the flood 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
the civic parade. When the ships had
Strengthened out for their journey
across the upper bay, the spectacle
they made will ever be treasured in the
memory of those who saw it, In adj
vance Of the Olympia was
double line of patrol and fire
boats which cleared the way of
unofficial trcspassers. on the port beam
of the Olympia was the escorting
shin Sandy Hook with h. =, NJ
other dignitaries aboard, and in her
wake at intervals Of 400 yards stretch
ed out for mile were the armOreQ
cruiser New York the battlcships In
diana and Massachusetts, the cruiser
Brooklyn, second-claSs battleship
Texas. the old wooden frigatc Lancas-
ter, the gunboat Marietta ana the Chi
cage. the flagship of the South Allan
tic squadron. old Glory nuttcrcd from
each masthead ANA tlffrIH. ON each
quarter of the New York were the
black Iow-lincd torpedo boats. three
on each flank. The rest ~ The pro-
ccssion tailed out for miles Slowly
and majcstically the procession moved
across the Swinging waters.
Admiral Dewey went up on the after
bridge as son as the start was made
ana itl1ltIIfI tHltt luIbN5 lllul lttt'
parade. heroic figure outlined
against the skies for the thousands
afloat and ashore. With him on tn"
bridge most Of the time was Col. Bart
lett. to whom he talked pleasantly
when he WAS not acknowledging the
salvos of salutos or personally direct
ing the movements of his immediate"
fleet and the admiral gave close attcn-
ton throughout the journey to every
thing which TRANSFERRED aboard the yes
sci. BY his direction the ensign was
courtesicd to vessels which Salut"d and
several times ne ordered the crew to
stand by ana cheer in answer to some
extraordinary demonstration. TIL"
guns Of tho olympia spoke but once
until Grants tomb was reached. That
was when they hurk"d in answer to
the deep hayinE of the guns of old
Fort William on Governors Island.
Before the Battery was reached hun
dreds Of tugs and excursion boats had
crowded in behind tn" patron boats
aud stretched away rank upon rank
toward either shore from The quarter
of the Olympia. Their whistles Wera
going continuously throughout tho
journey.
The untold thousands who thronErd
the whnrvc8 ANA piers. Who loaned
from III" windows ANA balconies and
looked down from the dizzy heights of
sky scrupurs must have impressed tho
admiral greatly. but his modcsty would
not permit him to view it all as Il per
sonal ovation "Astor ishing. astonish-
ing" he repeated several times to COZ
Bartlett. but he said nothing Of himself
AS he looked behind him the steam
from the Whistles ana the smoke from
the stacks blowing across the river
blending with the grey atmosphere
softencd the scene ana made the din
viStaS through which the oncomin9
ships seem rs if stretched out for ever
Tho waving Of hundreds of thousands
along the shore could b. distinctly seer
from the deck of the olympia hut II
ly occasionally were the sound 0f cheers
waited from the crowds ashore. The
whistles were forever going ana Wher
the fleet swept around the stakehoa'
above Grants Tomb on Riverside driV,
ana each ship let 90 its Looming salute
the concert that followed was soul
maddening. mad fantastic. nerve a.
stroying roar that continued FOR almost
10 minutes. So much steam was wasted
that the boats themselves were lost il
their own Vapo~.
The parade at this poin; began 10 be
come discrganizcd, many pleasure Graf
leaving the line below ana croWding $,
fiercely about the Olympia that sh,
was manouevering with great difficulty
The excursion boats. loaded to TIL,
guards with people We're almost crimi
nally reckless as they passed along
The admiral was sometimes anroye,
by the, crowding Of these craft, but II
retained his equanimity through it al
bowling and removing his cap to til
exulting ana cheering crowds
1t was not until all the warships ha
passed in review before the Olympia q
anchor below beautiful floats repre-
senting peace ana victory. that tha On
incident of the day occurred whic
showed that with all his ccaialit;
the hero Of Manila could a1>a D..
very stern sailor. In less jalu
minute after the Chicago had Va-s.
the Olympia. by the admirars order
stream Of signal flags ordered tic ",
sels OF the fleet to dress ship ana IL