New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-23
"SE4 WIDOWS" REJOICED.
STeethtdrtS and Relatives also of
Mariners Happy Il gain.

Old Point Comfort Feb. 22-From al shore points
hereabouts sightseeing steamboats, sailed early to
meet the returning warships. Breakfast at the
Chamberlin was A hasty meal. Hundreds OF the
women folk Of the fleets officers were quartered N
this hotei-the wives. the mothers. the daughters
the sisters and the sweethearts They went TO bed
early last night, that they might be up bright and
early To those who rose eary-and most Of them
did-there was occasion for rushing through the
morning meal. except where unusual precautions
on the part OF those In charge of excursion steam
boats, yachts and tugs had made them fix the time
OF departure an hour or two sooner than was abso-
Iutely necessary.
But all the women and The poor civilian men
who were ~,ith them did not so down to the in
ships. Many elected to remain ashore. For" eX-
planned the wife of a navy surgeon, wen be sure
t. meet them when they come ashore II we stay
ashore ourselves. and we can't them if go
out the feet. So it's better to stay ashore"
the corridors OF the Hotel Chamberlin were
early a-buzz with parties making ready 10 meet
the incoming warshps. gIeat rumber Of navy
people at this hotel, including Rear Admiral
Emery retired) who left the feet al Manila, and
Mrs Charles S. sperry. wife Of the commander in
chief Mrs Richard Wainwright, wife OF Rear Ad-
miral Wainwright, and Mrs. Seaton Schroeder ar
rived last night.
Everybody was agog with excitment the mo-
mentous time approached when the feet to
steam into the Roads. Elderly naval men went
about bearnng. If to say We'll I've never
known anything Ike this before. The boys are
going TO get great reception me women WeTs
in a constant hutter. They were animated, JOY
Gus and the feeling far different from that
which prevailed when the vessels sailed away,
bound for unknown seas and perhaps to encounter
great danger.
Now they were home NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. over
the technical problems offered by the greatest
cruise battieships ever undertook, secure in the
knowledge that they invaded all the world on
peaceful mission and returned triumphant
Everybo importIned to make ss much
noise as possible. Norfolk paper published the
following exhortation in black type
Make racket. and don't forget TO make II
long and loud. Blow your whistles and toot your
horns turn the steam with full force through
the throats of the caliopes and from every steepe
and spre ring the bells"
A big party Of Senators and Representatives,
with their wives and other members of their fam
flies reached Old Point at O'Clock the steam
ship Washington. They had left Washington last
night. Many of them tired. and all of them
were hungry. When the gangplank was thrown
out they made rush for the Chamberlin TO get
breakfast Right after them the United
States lighthouse tender Maple, flying the flag OF
Oscar S. Straus. Secretary OF Commerce and
Labor With Mr.. Straus were Mrs. Straus. their
son-in-law and daughter, Mr.. and Mrs Hoch-
stadter of New York, and Theodore l.. Weed
chief clerk of the Department of Commerce and
Labor. Robert Bacon Secretary of State. got here
on a yacht. a big crowd OF members of the Navy
League got in from New York on the Old Do
minion Line steamship Brandon.