Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-02


chances on shaking hands with him."
Promptly at 10 o'clock Admiral Dew
ey came into the room. He o a
civilian suit with frock oat and dark
trousers, and carried no hat. The in
slant he appeared there was a burst of
applause. He saluted and said:
Good morning, ALL"
Admiral Dewev met Mayor Harrison
as he advanced with a cordial greeting.
Mayor Harrison said:
Admiral Dewey, l appreciate your
dislike for set speeches, and have there
fore none to make. | only want to say
that thank you in behalf of the Chi
cago committee for the honor done us
by your receiving us here this morn
ing. 1t is an honor second to none in
the land, and now l wish to extend to
to you, on behalf of the committee, and
on behalf of the city of Chicago, an in
vitation to come to our city. We wish
you to come to us whenever you may
see fit. We make no specific time, but
we would be glad to have you with us
on October 9th, when President Nc
Kinley is to be present at the laying
of the cornerstone of u new post
Office. While we may not be able, per-
haps, to give you as elaborate a cele-
bration and as perfect a ceremony as
was yesterdays, we can and do prom
Use you an equal degree of enthusiasm.
If you cannot come to us now, then
consider the invitation a standing one,
and come at your own pleasure. l o
hand you the formal invitation of the
committee"
Admiral Dewey received the invita-
ton that Mayor Harrison extended to
him. Admiral Dewey held the invita-
ton in his hand and turned its pages.
DEWEY'S REPLY.
AS he continued to turn over the
leaves, he glanced up and said:
"Mr. Mayor and members of the
committee, the honor is mine. l con-
slider it a great honor to be waited
upon by such a delegation as this, and
l consider it a greater honor that the
invitation is put in such a nice way,
allowing me to set my own time to
visit your city. l wish l could go to
your city tomorrow, but that is impos-
sible. AS you know, l am soon due in
Washington. Then | must go to YER
mont. l must have some rest, and |
have not been there for years. 1t is
my great regret that l cannot go at
once to your city. l wish so much l
could be there when President Nc
Kinley will be there. l have a great re-
gard for Chicago. 1t is a great city,
and during the last year some Of the
grandest letters l have ever received
came from Chicago. | thank you, Mr..
Mayor, and thank you, Chicagoans."
AS Admiral Dewey concluded there
was a moments pause. Each of the
two principals seemed to hesitate. At
that instant some one in the front of
the crowd stepped forward to shake
hands with the Admiral. Mayor Har-
rison quickly interposed himself be-
tween the Admiral and the enthusiast
tic WeSterner, saying, as he placed his
hand on the mans shoulder. do not,
do not, please, don't ask Admiral Dew
ey to shake hands this morning"
The man stepped back into the
crowd. Admiral Dewey
SEEMED MUCH EMBARRASSED
by the incident, and he first held out
his hand and then withdrew it. Mayor
Van Wyck then seized the opportunity
thus offered to get away, and, placing
his hand under the elbow of Admiral
Dewey's right arm, escorted him
through the door. AS Admiral Dewey
was leaving the room there was a
burst of applause, and he turned and
waved a salute with his hand as he dis
appeared behind the heavy curtains.
Mayor Harrison expressed himself as
well pleased with the reception given
him and his committee. When asked
if he thought Admiral Dewey would go
to Chicago, he looked surprised and
said: 60, of course he will! Didn't
he say he would go some time? That's
all we came for--to get his promise to
go whenever he pleased"
Ferdinand w. Peck. United States
commissioner TO the Paris exposition,
was among the ~Chicagoans to-day, and
said:
when Admiral Dewey goes to Chi
cage he can have the whole town. the
county and the State"
The corridors of the Waldorf-Astoria
were ~thronged all day with people anx-
icus to catch even a glimpse of the
great Admiral. Early in the morning
they began to come in and they were
coming and going all day. But none
of them was given the pleasure of see
ing Dewey. He was not down in the
corridor Of the hotel at any time.
When he was escorted to the room to