Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-03
GRAND OVATION
For Admiral Dewey from New
York to Washington.
Never Before Was an American So
Honored by Fellow Citizens.
Everything Complete for Presentation Of
Sword from Congress. Today.

4
henceforth the national capital is to be
his home-was made the occasion fol
the greatest tribute ever paid by Wash.
ington to any individual. After the
preliminary welcome in New York, it.
self unsurpassed in its kind, it remain
cd for the highest and greatest in tho
official world to hold out the hand OF
greeting to the admiral and to join with
the people who are to be his fellow
citizens in bidding him welcome
The citizens had made every prepa
ration to make the occasion worthy OF
the hero. The decorations We're elabo-
rate Pennsylvania avenue was one
mass Of colored bunting along the en-
tire line of march from the station to
the White House and few private citi-
zens failed to make some display of
color on their residences.
Unique designs in fairy lamps dot
ted the horizon: great searchlights
threw bread beams of bright light
across the blue sky of a clear October
evening and the stately Capitol stood
revealed in all its beauty in the power
full rays If many concentrated lights.
The same device was used effectively
in the case of other public buildings
within the range of vision Of Admiral
Dewey and the President as they re-
viewed the throng from the PROV of the
white Olympia projecting from the
center of the stand erected just south
of the treasury building at the head of
Pennsylvania avenue.
On the facaQe OF TIE newly complet-
ed general post office building famed
forth two inscriptions set in electric
points. the one reciting the famous
message Of the President directing
Dewey. then thousands of miles away
il the Far East. to go forth to destroy
the Spanish fleet and the setting out
the famous Gdmirars direction TO the
late lamertel Gridley. You may fire
when you are ready. Gridley" which
marked an epoch in the history of the
United States.
Twelve Thousand members Of civic
organizations paraded before him, be-
sides tens of thousands Of non -organi-
zed citizens and in roar of cannon
rockets and the blaze of red fire and
the thunderous cheering Of the popu
lace and the warm greeting of the head
of the head Of the nation Dewey came
to the national capital to a welcome
such as has not hitherto been known
here.
His journey here from New York was
one continuous ovation. limited in its
intensity only by the density of popu-
latiOn. The decorated special train
which left the Pennsylvania Railroad
ferry slip in Jersey City, at 1.50 in the
afternoon. was fully in keeping with its
distinguished passenger. The special
was given a clear track and the run to
Washington was made without real
stop. except at Gray's Ferry, on the
outskirts of Philadelphia. where en-
gines were changed and a new train
crew came aboard.
Almost Immediately after going aboard
the train the admiral retired to his prl-
vate car for luncheon. which was served
for six Admiral Dewey. his son George,
his brother and wife. Capt. Lamberton
ana Lieut.. Brumby. Thereafter the adj
miral lay down and tried to secure a
little sleep. but this was impossible. ow
ing to the continuous ovation along the
line.
IL was said by the railroad officials and
trainmen that the ovation during the run
from New 1tih " w uSIIilS lOi was th~
most remarkable demonstration that has
ever taken place along the line. Every
town turned out its full popula ton. as
did every house and cross roads settle
ment. to see the special pass.
bare stop was made at Princeton,
where young Dewey had been a student,
and the admiral went TO the platform for
a minute and told the boys that he was
pleased with the reception they had given
him. Every student of the college town
was in evidence. as well as the whole
population Of the place, while college
Wells resounded above the rumble Of the
departing train.
Admiral Dewey was particularly
touched all along the line by the number
Of children who turned out to see him.
They formed a very large part of the
crowd in every town, and wherever there
was schoolhouse the children had evi
IDENTIFY been given special recess to
come out and cheer the train. There was
another large crowd of children at Balti |
more and Admiral Dewey, who had come
to the rear platform for the sixth or sew |
enth time on the trip, said that he felt |
more touched and complimented by the |
attention of the children than by almost |
any other thing that had happened since |
his return to America. |
All along the line every train, freight or |
luted it with a long drawn blast of the |
whistle, and in the larger towns where |
the flyer slowed down within the city lin
its there was a continual roar of steam
from factories. machine shops and the |
engines and trains on the |
sdings.
Chester and Wilmington seemed to have
come down to the depots enmasse ana |
the train slowly ran between wide !
lanes of people from one end of
the town to the other, while every |
lamp post, wamning, post and shade
tree bore crop of young Americans
and the roofs and freight cars on the
sdings We're converted into grand
stands. The admiral responded good
naturally to all these calls on the stock
Of strength he had been reserving for
the ordeal in Washington and came
again and again to the platform, to
bow as the train went by.
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