The record-union., 1899-04-29
sCoagratulates the Men Who Took Part In
6 the Great Naval Battle.
Later Visits the Cramps Shipbuild-
) ing Yards and Inspects the Bat
\ tleship Alabama, in Course OF
& Construction, the Presidential
Party Departing for New York
on a Special Train in the After
noon

PHILADELPHIA, April 2S.-Presi-
dent Mckinley and his party left the
Hotel Bellevue shortly after 10 o'clock
this morning for a visit to the cruiser
Raleigh, which lies at anchor in the
Delaware River. Before leaving the
hotel, the. President expressed his de-
light at the prospect of inspecting the
ship that fired the first shot at Manila
! The President and his party boarded
One of the navy yard tugs at 11:45
O'clock, and as the boat moved away
from the pier the crowd on the wharf
set up a hearty cheer, while the boats
DIN the vicinity .whistled noisy welcome
10 the Chief Executive. The President
stood in the stern of the tug, leaning
ION the arm of Admiral Casey, com
mandant of the League Island navy
yard. In about two minutes the tug
drew alongside the Raleigh, and the
President was greeted by Lieutenant
Commander Phelps. who introduced
him to Captain Coghlan. The marines
stood at the guard rail on the poop
deck and the crew were ordered to
man the rail as President Mckinley and
his party stepped aboard. AT the same
moment the gunners began firing the
national salute, and the bluejackets
DOTTED their caps.
Accompanied by Captain Coghlan, the
President proceeded to the cabin of the
cruiser, where he held an informal 1e-
ception He was then escorted to the
lower deck, on which the sailors were
lined up for inspection Captain Cogh-
Ian introduced them as follows:
; Mr. President: These are the men
of the Raleigh Part of them are from
the flagship Olympia. They all served
throughout the whole campaign
After passing before them with barred
head, Mr. Mckinley addressed the Ma
Mia heroes as follows:
( Captain Coghlan and men of the
Raleigh: 1t gives me great pleasure
to give you welcome home, and to con-
graduate each one of you on the heroic
part you played in the great battle on
the first of May at Manila, which was
a most glorious triumph of American
aims, and made new and glorious page
in American history.
Il assure. you that when / give you
welcome I am only speaking the hearts
welcome OF several million citizens who
honor you all for your splendid services
TO our country.
This feeling not only extends to your
great Admiral, whom we all love and
honor, but to the humblest member sof
the crew who was in that great fleet at
Manila Bay. 1 give you all a warm
and generous welcome and my thinks
Secretary Of tAa Navy Long then adj
dressed the sailors. He said:
- You have heard the naval Comman-
der-in- Chief, and listened to the most
feeling words in which the President
of the United States has just expressed
not only his own generous recognition,
but that of the whole American people,
of your distinguished services during
the whole connection with the United
States navy
THE country knows on whom she
may depend The record of the Unit
ed States navy is unsurpassed in the
history of the world, and of that record
we do not forget you are a great part,
not only the Officers of the deck but
also, as the name has become famil-
iaFly endeared, the man behind. the
gun"
At the conclusion of Secretary Longs
speech the sailors gave three cheers for
the President and three for the Secre-
tary of the Navy. This was followed
by the ships YELL
Who are we? Can't you see?
1--WE are members of the new Navee.
"Rahi Rah! Rail- Raleigh"
This amused the President very much.
The President then shook hands with
the various officers of the cruiser. and
spoke a pleasant word to each.
Then. with the ladies of the party,
the President made an inspection of
the warship. He examined the big gun
on the starboard side which spoke first
in the war at, Manila, and displayed
much interest in all he saw. A gen
eral handshakfhg concluded the visit,
and the Presidential party returned to
the tug.
A flying visit was made to the
Cramps shipbuilding yards. where the
battleship Alabama, in course of con-
struction, was inspected. Some surprise
was expressed at the agility displayed
by Mr.. Mckinley in climbing ladders
and mounting steps on the Alabama
and at the wharves =.
AS the President was about to de-
scend. from the upper deck Of the bat
tleship, he discovered that the steps
We're very steep. Remarking that 'the