Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-04-21
1RALEIGH AT NEW YORK.
Welcome to the Cruiser Which
Fired First Shot

In the Engagement at Manila Bay May
4, Is0s---ThOusAnds Cheered the
WRrshIp and Mayor Extended Free
dom Ofths City TO the RetuT ned Heroes.
The cruiser Raleigh, which fred the first
shot in the attack on the Spanish fleet at
Manila May /, 1898, and the first of Dew
ey's fleet to return to this country, was
greeted by the cheers and shouts of thous-
ands when she steamed up the river at New
York Sunday under escort of the fleet
which had been sent to do her honor. The
Raleigh arrived at quarantine late Saturday
night, and she gave a clean bill of health
to the officials Sunday morning. Then she
steamed up to the anchorage at Tompkins-
vile.
On the bridge stood vigilant Capt. Cogh-
Ian, and near him his executive officer,
Lieut.. Commander Phelps, and the naviga-
tor, Lieut.. Winder. Grouped around the
gun ports the men off duty stood in
punches.
The Raleigh showed only her three bat
tie flags and "homeward bound" pennant.
These three flags were the same she hoisted
that smoke blown day in Manila harbor,
when Montojo's Spanish fleet was shot to
death by Dewey's ships. The "homeward"
II,
buoyed at the end with a gilt bladder
bought at Malta, and inscribed, "New
York or bust"
The steamer Glen Island was the flag
ship of the welcoming fleet and she had on
board the mayor of New York, the com
mittee of 700 and their wives, many of the
heads of the municipal government, the al
dermen and committee from Raleigh, y.
c. The mayor and many others were
transferred to the Raleigh. Mayor Van
Wyck made formal welcome to the heroes
of Manila Bay and extended to them the
freedom of the city. When Capt. Coghlan
replied he said:
"What we did at Manila we did becau Sc
our great chief was there and forced us to
do it. OF course, we did not have to be
driven to do our duty, but his very presence
would incite anybody to deeds of honor
While we feel proud that we took our
humble share, we feel that we shine in the
reflected glory of our great chief. Never
theless we accept your congratulations and
the freedom of your city, and we thank
you heartily"
Three hundred medals made from metal
taken from the wreck of the Maine were
left on board for distribution among the
| officers and men.
There was a chilling wind and dismal
rain fell, but every vantage point from the
Battery to Grants tomb was filled with
spectators who wished to get look at the
cruiser in her grim war paint and to greet
her with cheers.
When the Glen Island rounded the curve
in the majestic stream and saucily led the
way for the gray and grim fighter, the
crowd took up the cheer that had followed
as close as her wake from the Battery. At
the Palisades were thousands of persons,
and they sent back an answering roar that
could be heard but feebly among the clam
or of BELLS the footing of whistles and
finally the booming of great guns.
The Spanish toy war boats, captives in
the triumphal train of the Raleigh, pulled
along beside the steel ship and were OBJ
jects of much wonder to the spectators,
who were inclined to take as joke the as
sertion that they presumed to call them
selves fighting craft
When gun after gun spoke its part in
honor of the memory of the General the
cheering almost ceased. The majority of
those on shore were willing to let the more
impressive crash of cannon speak their
sentiments. The turn being made at 129th
street the ships proceeded on their way
down the stream, the Raleigh anchoring off
34th street.