The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-29

e ieIl dDOdrui ndO hurried down 10 the
Olympia. The Dolphin flew white
flag containing four stars with foul
ed anchor in the field, the flag of the
assistant secretary, and Mr.. Allen per-
sonally was conveying to Admiral
Dewey the greetings and compliments
of President Mckinley. He went aboard
in launch and was received at the
gangwany by the admiral himself The
marine guard at present-arms was
mustered aft and as Mr.. Allen came
over the side, drum ruffies and bugle
nOur1SheS sounded in his honor
When the assistant secretary of the
navy goes aboard a warship the regu-
lations prescribe that his flag be hoist
ed to the main top. Up went the flag,
put as soon as the greetings had been
/ exchanged, at Mr.. Aliens request, liz
was hauled down and Mr.. Allen re-
mained aboard as the private guest of
! the admiral. 1t was the desire OF the
navy department not to detract in any
way from the honors to be accorded
Dewey.
! THE OLYMPIA PASSES UP THE
| BAY.
/ An officer from Fort Hancock short
| ly afterward came aboard to convey
/ the formal welcome of the army, and
then, few minutes after o'clock, just
| as the tide turned flood, the Olympia
weighed anchor and began her journey
! up the bay. The tugs and harbor
| craft, which had been lowering about
since daylight, footing and shrieking
their salutations at every opportunity
fell into her wake and puffed proudly
| up behind her.
Every vessel she passed gave her a
vaporous salute, and as the shipping
increased the noisy demonstration be-
came almost continuous. The figure OF
the hero of the day was il. full relief
against the sky as he stood upon the
bridge chatting with Assistant Secre-
tary Allen and the group Of officers
He occasionally turned and smiled and
bowed to the noisy escort.
The grassy heights of both Wads-
worth and Hamilton were thronged
with spectators as the Olympia ap-
preached the narrows. Suddenly a
tongue of red flame leaped from the
granite side of Fort Wadsworth. and
like the recoil came a streak of fire
from the granite wall on the opposite
side Then alternately, from each side,
came the deafening roar of an ad-
miraPs salute of seventeen guns.
PASSES THE WAITING SQUADRON
Slowly and majesticalIy the Olympia
passed the smokeswreathed forts, an
swering the salute, gun for gun, until
she became so enveloped in her own
broken her steam chest. Then she
pushed through the smoke curtain and
stood revealed before the admiring
gaze Of the whole Atlantic squadron.
waiting at anchor off Tompkinsville to
receive her.
Every bit of brass and gilt on every
snip or the receiving column had been
FURNISHED, every spot on the white
hulls painted over and every marine
and sailor knew he was expected to
look his best. Along the railing of the
shlps the jackies stood show to- elbow
and ait there were maA tnes to salute.
A few Of the tars ran up % the fight
ing top. Every officer hac donned his
most snowy uniform, and splendid they
looked with their gold epaulets and
belts an1 clanking swords, gathered in
the waist of the ships. as the Olympia
approached.
From the New York barked the sig
nal gun. 6-pounder in the startoard
bow, and Immediately every ship I'm
the squadron belched forth fame and
smoke. Louder and louder thundered
the guns az the Olympia came on. She
replied with the thirteen guns to which
Rear Admiral Howison's rank entities
him. On board the Olympia also the
sides were manned and the band and
marine guard were paraded.
HOME, SWEET HOME"
AS the Olympia came abreast of the
Chicago the guard presented arms. the
drums gave four ruffies, the trumpets
four fourishes and the band played
Home, Sweet Home" The officere at
the waist raised their gold-bound beav-
ers and the sailors cheered.
Ship after ship took its turn in doing
honor to the admiral as the Olympia
swept grandly up the line of floating
nrf
bridge. acknowledged each salute with
a wave of his cap. He alone, OF all the
officers ofthe fleet, was In fatigue uni
form. AS the Olympia swept by the
New York, the last ship In the column,
the full marine band aboard the Olym-
pia played Sousa's "El Captain" march
and the spectators on the excursion
fleet cheered.
The shippers turned loose their whis-
ties and sirens. Everything that could
make a noise in the harbor Joined in.
Farther than ears could hear the steam
jets of the whistles on craft lying at
the battery and up the North and East
rivers could be seen as they roared
their welcome. 1t was such a soul
maddening concert Of steam whistles,
as American steamboat men are Ia
nous for. In a few moments the sharp
rattle of the anchor chain was heard
as the Olympia's anchor Gated from
its bed into the water
VISITS OF THE ADMIRALS.
Then came the admirals and captains
from all the ships trooping in their
swift water carriages to pay their re-
spects to the nations hero.
First, Rear Admiral Howison, with
his aids. splendid in gold braids. ar
rived. AS they came aboard they were