Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-30

frldley who fought the Olympia in Ma
Mia bay; Colonel Franklin Bartlett
former representative in Congress from
New York. and an intimate personal
friend OF the Admirars, together with
three newspaper men. were the only
civilians aboard.
one Of the naval guests was the en-
gineer of the Olympia when it led the
way past Corregidor Island. He was
given three rousing cheers as he went
forward to see the men.
FARRAGUT FLAG UNFURLED.
immediately after Admiral Dewey re-
turned from the Sandy Hook. the wig.
wager on the bridge slgnalled the fleet
TO prepare 70 get under way. The gang
ways were hauled up and the boOms rig
ged. An old qGartermaster hurried a
small dark roll Of bunting 10 the main,
hand over fist. 1t hung there while the
bugle sounded the call to quarters and
the marines were mustered aft. Then,
just as the signal to weigh anchor was
given, a pull on the Ealliards opened the
roll, and spread the four-starred flag
which Farragut flew az he ran the forts
at New Orleans. 1t was the flag which
was Presented to Admiral Dewey. AS it
broke the sailors at their stations and
IL with the "hip. hip horray." that we
got from our ancestors. The Nag foated
proudly all through the pageant to-day.
II is tho most precious procession Of Far
raguts pupil, and when it is struck on
Monday il will probably be forever. as it
is altogether unlikely that Admiral Dewey
Will ever command another fleet
THE START.
1t was exactly o'clock, the hour fixed
for the start when the fleet. with an
chors short-hove. began 10 move. The
ships had swung TO the flood tide and
were pointing down stream, tut with
their twin screws they faced about as if
on piyots and headed for the Hudson.
followed by the long line of vessels in
the civic parade. When the ships had
Strengthened out for their journey
across the upper bay the spectacle they
made will ever be treasured in the mem
Dry OF those who saw it. IN advance
Of the Olympia was a double line Of
patrol and fire-boats. liioudan fleet
10 clear the way Of unofficial tr, spassers.
IT did not require much persuasion,
either. as the shippers had a wholesome
respect for the steel ram Of the mighty
sea monsters. On the port beam of the
Olympia was the escOrting ship, the
Sandy Hook. with the Mayor and other
dignitaries aboard, and in her wake at
intervals Of 400 yards stretched out a
mile long. were the great covering war
ships. the armored cruiser New York.
the battleships Indiana and Massa-
chusetts. the cruiser Brooklyn, the Sc
cond-class battleship Texas, the old
wooden frigate Lancaster, the gunboat
Marietta. and the Chicago the flagship
Of the South Atlantic Squadron. old
Glory fluttered from each masthead and
tafrail. On both quarters Of the New
York were the black, low-lined torpedo
boats, three on each flank. The rest of
the procession then moved across the
shining waters.
DEWEY ON THE BRIDGE.
Admiral Dewey went up on the after
bridge as soon as the start was made, and
remained there throughout the parade. a
heroic figure outlined against the skies,
for the thousands afioat and ashore. With
him on the bridge most of the time was
Colonel Bartlett. 10 whom he talked when
he was not acknowledging the salutes, or
personally directing the movements Of his
fleet. and the Admiral gave close atten-
ton throughout the journey 70 everything
which transpired on board the vessel
BY his direction the ensign was cOurtei
sled 10 vessels which saluted. and several
times he ordered the crew to stand by 10
cheer in answer to some extraordinary
demonstration.
The guns Of the Olympia spoke but
once before Grants tomb was reached.
That was when they barked in answer
10 the deep baying Of the guns Of old
Fort William, on Governors Island.
Before the battery was reached hun
dreds Of tugs and excursion boats had
crowded in behind the patrol-boats and
stretched away rank upon rank to either
shore from the quarter Of the olympia.
Their whistles were going continuously
throughout the Journey. The untold thou
sands who thronged the wharyes and
piers. who leaned from the windows and
balconies. and looked down from the
dizzy heights of sky-scrapers, must have
impressed the Admiral greatly, but his
modesty would not permit him TO view It
all as personal ovation.
astonishing. astonishing" he repeated
several times to Colonel Bartlett, but he
said nothing of himself.
TERRIFIC DIN.
The waving Of the hundreds Of thou
sands along the shore could be distinctly
seen from the deck Of the Olympia, but
only occasionally were The sounds OF
cheers waited from the crowds ashore.
As a rule, perhaps they were too much
interested I'm the spectacle TO venture APP
plause. besides, they were too far away
10 be heard by the Admiral or the men
on the cruisers. even if the terrific din OF
the craft in the river had not been Kept
,n almost without intermissiOn.
.frfr rtnf los
going. and when the feet swept around
the stake-boat above Grants tomb, on
Riverside Drive and each ship had let
20 its booming salute, the concert that
followed was COMMUNICATING mad
fantastic. Notwithstanding roar, that
continued for almost ten minutes. 80
much steam was wasted hat the boats
Themselves were lost in their own yapor.
The parade at this point began 10 De-
come disorganized. many pleasure craft
leaving the line below, and croWding
so deTcelv about the Olympia that She
was uanoeuvred with great diiiicuIty.
INC excursion boats loaded 10 the guards
u.,th people. were almost criminaiy reck-
loss as they passed along. many Of them
listed 60 far that one wheel was buried
doo, while the other scarcely touched
the water.
ADMIRAI. LOSES HIS EQUANIMlTf.
Tbe Admiral was sometimes annoyed
bv the crowding OF these craft but ne
retained his equanimity throughout II all
bow,ng and removing his cap to the
exulting and cheering crowds. 1t was
no, untl an the warships had passed In
roviey before the olympia AT anchor be-
low the beautiful floats representing
peace and victory, that the one incident
Of the day occurred which showed that
win al his genielity the hero OF Mania
could also be a very stern SAILOR,
IN less than a minute after the Chlcaso