The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-05
THOUSANDS GREET RALEIGH.
FAMOUS CRUISER HAS ARRIVED AT
SOUTHPORT, y. {.

Reception at Wilmington Had to he
Postponed on Account of Her Late
ArrivaI-Crowd Boats Went
Down to Meet her, and Many
saIutes We're FIred-The Cruiser
Drawing Too sTnch Water to ca
TO Wilmington.
Wilmington. v. c., May 4.-Thousands
Of people filled with patriotic fervor gath
cred on the river front and in adjacent
streets this afternoon, to witness the ex-
Pected arrival of the cruiser Raleigh and
to extend North Carolina greeting 20
its officers and to the men behind the
guns"
But about 4;SO o'clock the Disappointing
news was wired from Southport that the
ship had not been sighted off Cape Fear
bar aud that Il would therefore, be I'M
possible for her to reach Wilmington he-
fore tomorrow.
AT 5:45 o'clock news came that the
cruiser had besn sighted off the bar and
al SO O'Clock her arrival at Southport
was announced.
Elaborate preparations had been made
here for three different receptions to the
officers tonight, ali Of which were post
poned.
A special from Southport TO the Morn
Inc Star says:
The United States cruiser Raleigh arriv-
ed from Philadelphia and anchored in the
harbor at $50 O'Clock this evening.
This has been gala afternoon for the
lower Cape Fear, for Wilmington sent her
beauty and her chlvasry' down the river
to give the cruiser Raleigh a rousing
Southern welcome to the waters of the
Old North State. Southports water front
was alive with flags in the Raleigh's hon
or, and the steamer Marion, gaily decked
with flags came down The river about y
O'Clock with the navigation committee on
board, and a little later came the steam
els Compton, Hornet and Wilmington COW
cred with bunting and crowded with peo-
pie anxious to give their cheer of welcome
TO The cruiser.
The afternoon passed slowly to waiting
crowds, but at sis O'Clock the oak Island
life saving crew signalled that the Ra.eigh
was in sight Tne steamers Immediately
passed out and with cheers and whistles,
met the cruiser Just OH the par AS the
Hornet came abreast she fired the national
salute of twenly-one guns with her Hotch-
kiss
The Raleigh, followed by the Hornet,
Wilmington, Marion and Compton and
Cape Fear, then came in over the bar at
6:10 o'clock, and as she came opposite
Fort Caswell the fort welcomed her with
the national salute from its rapid-fre
gun, and the Raleigh responded with
twenty-one guns, making a slight picture
of how she must have looked entering
Manila harbor on the memorable first of
May.
The Raleigh then steamed on and an
chored in front of the town at ESQ o'clock.
The Raleigh is drawing twenty feet and
six inches, and Capt. Coghan and his
officers much regret that on account OF
this draft it Is not advisable to take the
ship ON up the river TO Wilmington
The entertainment committee from Will
m.ngton is arranging to send a steamer
tomorrow to take Capt. Coghlan and his
officers 10 WILMINGTON to give them the
cordial reception for which they have
planned and also TO arrange for the pres
entation Of the gun captured at Manila
Southport is arranging to give the Raj
eigh's crew a pleasant day ashore to-mor-
row.
The Raleigh still has her war paint on,
but Otherwise looks the same as when she
was here about two years ago