The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-12
Chicago Record.)

All the officers and men are on deck
to salute the colors at Il. IN. Three
fourishes of the bugle ring out. ana as
the last dies away the quartermasscr,
stationed there, gives a sharp jerk TO The
signal halyards and the huge wad of
bunting at the main masthead seems to
be growing into life: it slowly enlarges
it twists and turns, the breeze catches
the free end and the great 'homeward-
bound pennant" of the Raleigh blows out
straight astern to the full limit of its
300 feet length. Pleasure and admira-
ton is depicted on the face of all that
see it.. But no cheering now. This IS
TO come later. and besides ut the forlna-
ton of ''colors" it would not he secmly
The sight of the pennant made each
m.n realize that we were "homeWard
hound even though months must
elapse and thousands of miles be sailed
over before we sighted the shores of
Gods country. One must have sailed
on deep water and been years away
from his land to fully understand the
sailors feelings at the words home
ward bound" The Raleigh's cruise had
been most eventful one. Lc1ying Ntw
York ON May ;, 1885, she had joined
the Mediterranean squadron under Al
niral Seltrige. While in those waters
sha had been occupied in pto-ecring
American interest in Turkey, Mexico
and other semi-civilized countries where
calls for one of Uncle Sans fighting
ships go up at the first sign Of trouble
Suddenly ordered by cable from Wash
ington, in Decembe<s 1897. she lad
made the long trip to Hong Kong to re-
enforce our ASiatic fleet The farslght-
ednfss Of the navy department. was
A.. n ltsY
relations with Spain had been strained,
hut none of us dreamed of war as we
steamed into Hong Kong harhor on
Feb. Is and thersl learned of the DE-
struction Of the Maine three days he
fore. Soon all was active preparation
for hostilities, and, as the world knows.
the good ship Raleigh was the third
ship in the line of bait e Of Dewey's
fleet ON May j and contributed MOI a
little, with her powerful battery of
rapid-fire guns, to the destruction Of the
Spanish feet ON that memorable Sun
day. As ona Spanish officer expressed
It: "Her sides were like a sheet of flame
each time she passed down our line
An her guns, save a long six-inch ride
on her forecastla, are of the rapil,tsre
pattern, and with fifteen of them, each
one shooting several times a iainIl1e, an
idea can be gained Of the rain Of SHELLS
from her broadsids. Her battery. next
to that of the Olympia, was considered
the most effective in the fleet.
At last Admiral Dewey had thought
he could spare the Raleigh. He no long
"a. needed her guns and she is totally I'M
fit for tropical cruising, and besides is
an extravaganza coal consumer Dee.
orders had come from Washington to
send her hcme via the Suez canal to
New York. Marvellous luck for lis 70 be
fret Of Dpwey's original fest of May
] fighting ships to be ordered home. A
week had been passed in preparing for
the voyage. Stores and ammunition
were transferred to other ships leeding
them, some changes among the crew
were made, being necessitated ny the
requirements of this fleet, coal was TAX
en- in. and on Wednesday afternoon all
was in readiness for sailing next morn
ing
That evening the officers of the ship
had issued cards for a farewell ''at
honsr' The admiral sent his band and
each ship of the fleet furnished its quota
of friends to say good-by and wish us a
pleasant passage" With music and
good bowl OF punch two hours slipped
away. Just before breaking up the
Chareston's officers surprised the as
selnbage with some new lines 10 the
tune of you're Beaut from Butte,
Montana Here is one verse and the
chorus:
Now a shout we'll shout to you about
the Rally tRaleigh,)
Which is going to leave us soon to go
TO Parie Paris,
Loaded down with loot and stuff-all
she can carry
She's the envy Of the gang that stops
behind.
In the dim and distant east, with free
doms banner,
People sit and watch the ssa with anx-
ious manner,
When the Raleigh heaves in sight they'll
shout Hosannah!
And the grinder Of the organ he will
grind.
Oh. you're a rooster from the Raleigh
and you talks away our breath;
You turned Manila upside down and
frightened it TO death.
Be gentle with the Bowery if you want
to take a walk,
And for Gods sake leave the lining
when you rip New York
IT was the morning of sailing now.
At O'Clock TIL pennant had been
thrown to the winds. Shortly after the
chief engineer reports that steam is up.
and the executive officer. taking last
look around, reports to the captain that
all is prepared TO get under way at the
word. The gig is called away and Capt.
Coghlan goes aboard the Olympia to
report that his ship is ready for sea"
and to take official leave Of Admiral
Dewey. A few minutes before 10 he is
hack, and the signal Request permits
sion to get under way is answered in
the affirmative by the flagship. 'Al
hands up anchor is roared by the boats
vain. and his mates. officers and men
tumble ON deck to their stations. We
can see crews lining the rails of the
other ships in the fleet. Our anchor
comes in sight and is swung into its
cradle and ''ahead slow" signaled to the
engine room. Slowly we pass under the
stern Of the Baltimore Her band plays
''El Captain march. and her crew
leaping ON the rail gives three rousing
cheers and a tiger for the Raleigh"
taft s1ar. i.