The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-23
HIS POPULARITY NOT WAIVED.
DEwEY's HOLD UPON THE PEOPLE
A STRONG ONE.

Pressed to See Him Demonstrated
This Fact-The AdmiraFs Tempo
rary IndispOsitfon Did Not Inter-
fere With the Success of the AZ
fair-ArtiIIery Punch and Chicken
Salad a Bad Combination to Work
Upon Distinguished Visitors.
Admiral Dewey is scheduled to pass
through Savannah at an early hour to-
morrow morning en- route to Florida, by
the Central and Plant System Railways.
As the hour will be a very early one, it
is not likely that Admiral and Mrs
Dewey will have their morning SAUNDERS
disturbed by eager crowds anxious to
catch another glimpse of them.
At the same time it does not admit of
doubt that if it were known that the
Admiral and Mrs. Dewey would appear
there would be large crowd to greet
them. The popularity of the distinguish
ed couple in Savannah is almost phe-
| nomenal and fully justifies the wisdom of
the committee in bringing them here.
There were some who thought that af-
ter Admiral Dewey had failed to avail
himself of the invitation to be the city's
guest last fall, it was inadvisable to
press the matter further and that public
interest in his achievements having cool
ed somewhat the reception might lack
something in enthusiasm. The members
of the committee thought otherwise. The
Committee of Invitation had so presented
the matter to the Admiral on the occasion
of their interview with him as to impress
upon him that he was desired for himself
alone and not as a drawing card which
might serve to attract crowds 10 the city
| for business purposes. Although the COM
mittee did not put it in just these words,
it gave the Admiral distinctly 10 under
stand that there should be no side show
| business about his visit to Savannah
This being the case, the committee felt
that the honor of Admiral Dewey's visit
would be as greatly appreciated as would
have been the case at an earlier date,
and the results have proved the wisdom
of their conclusion.
1t was a matter of very general regret
that the Admrals health was such as 10
permit of his showing himself so little
III public, Never in the history of the
many public and semi-pubhc events of
WHICH the LIZ OOlO has bStll tllG SGSAlS lldo
such a throng gathered there. What is
more it was the largest gathering of well
dressed and well appearing people thnt
has been seen in Savannah in years. /;
was a very creditable representation of
the city's citizenship, and one which could
not have failed to give The Admiral and
Mrs. Dewey an excellent impression. The
disappointment at their inability to ap-
pear was great.
The anxiety to see the Admiral, and If
possible, to grasp his hand, was simply
made more intense by his non-appearance
at the reception. He was eagerly watched
for on the streets the next day and
crowds remained in the neighborhood OF
the De Soto the entire day in the hope of
catching a glimpse of him. Having kept
his room by the advice of his physicians,
the curiosity of the crowd was still I'M
satisfied. The throug which messed IL
self in the neighborhood of the De Soto
on the afternoon of the parade, instead
% proceeding to the parade ground after
the passing of the military remained IN
position. The escort Of the Hussars, and
the presence of carriages at the southern
exit to the De Soto was suffi-
Gent announcement that the Adj
noiral and Mrs Dewey would make
their appearance at that point
and delay did not cause the crowd
10 diminish. When Admiral and Mrs
| Dewey finally made their appearance I'M
der the escort OF the committee they gazed
| upon perfect sea of upturned faces, fully
| half of whom were women, all wildly
cheering and demonstrating their enthu-
siasm with waving handkerchiefs and in
other ways. Not satisfied with one view
of the distinguished visitor large por-
ton of them rushed across the square
and lined up along the street to watch the
carriages pass. From the De Soto south to
the parade ground the sidewalks
4
sides, and at the parade ground
the c0ncOurse of people was
the greatest that has ever been seen there
with perhaps the exception of President
Mckinley's review of the troops over
year ago.
Although every precaution was taken to
Keep the crowd away from the Admiral
there were a number who were so anxious
to press his hand that they managed to
accomplish this anyway In the short dis
lance traversed in going from his carriage
10 the reviewing stand several pushed for
weird and offered their hands. The Ad-
mrai Pleasantly took every hand offered
him, and seemed pleased at the demon
stration. After the troops had passed in
review a number of the ladies and gen.
tlemen on the stand were introduced TO
Admiral and Mrs Dewey. On account of
the crowded condition of the stand no at
tempt was made to extend this privilege
and Mrs. Dewey left the stand they pleas
antly shook the hands which were offered
them. There was one exception, however
little urchin, who had crawled through
from beneath the stand boldly held out a
grimy paw, determined not to lose the
opportunity of his life.
Not much, my boy, that paw is too
dirty said the Admiral laughingly.
This little scene was enjoyed by those
who were close by and the boy with the
dirty hand seemed to enjoy the joke as
much as anyone.
The sensational head lines in some of
the Northern newspapers, over the dis
patch announcing the AdmiraFs sudden
illness in Savannah, are calculated TO
give the impression that he was over
come by the influence Of artillery punch.
OF the large committee Of gentlemen
which accompanied the Admiral everv
one knew that such was not the case.
Although very seductive beverage one
glass of artillery punch is not sufficient
to upset even an amateur and ii is to be
presumed that the Admiral like naval