New-York tribune., 1919-03-14
Tardy Mayor Keeps
1000 From Greeting
Homecoming SD
Welcome Flotilla, With the
9th Boys r. e latives
Aboard, Waits for Hylan
While Transport Docks

The municipal welcome flotilla, with
steam up, lay at the Battery at 1880
a. m. yesterday ready to start down the
bay to greet the Homecoming SD Field
Artillery Brigade of the 27th Division.
The New York troops, 1900 strong,
were on the transport America. The
police boat Patrol, the municipal ferry
boat Mayor Gaynor and the de-
partmental steamer Correction were
jammed with about 1000 welcomers.
Half-past seven was the hour which
had been set for the tiotilla's depart
ure. The Police Band was on board.
Members of the Mayors Committee of
Welcome were on board. Staff officers
designated by Major General John F..
Organ to meet his returning artillery
men were on board. So were welcom-
ing committees from Buffalo and other
upstate cities and hundreds of per-
sonal welcomers. Many of these car
ried placards printed with their own
particular messages Of greeting in let
ters a foot high.
ing hour had passed. Already the great
troop ship must be approaching the
Narrows.
Mayor, Mayor, Who's Cot
Everything was ready for departure
except the Mayor of the City Of New
York. He was not to be found on his
flagship, the Patrol. or her two sister
ships. To sail without the Mayor was
unthinkable. So the boats chafed
against their tenders and the welcom-
ers milled about the deck, each pict-
uring to himself the eager progress of
the transport up the bay.
Fifty minutes passed 1t lacked only
ten minutes of the hour when the
America was to dock at Pier 3, Hobo
ken. The glances of those on the
three hobbled boats began to turn
seaward more frequently than land
ward. A bugle sounded in the bow
of the Patrol. 1t was answered by
the clash and blare of the Police Band
amidships. Then Mayor John f. Hy-
Ian, himself, strobe up the Patrols
gangplank. Behind him came Deputy
Police Commissioner Rodman Wana-
maker and Grover Whalen, the Mayors
secretary.
"Toot! Toot" cried the pent-up
steam rushing from the Patrols boil
ers to the whistle, and the welcoming
procession started, the flagship in the
lead and the Mayor Gaynor and the
Correction numbering into line be-
hind.
AS they swung out from the Bat
terry q stately gray ship slipped past
the Statue of Liberty and up the
Hudson River.
1t was the America.
Finished a Poor Second
swung widely to the right to make a
stern chase of it. Under their noses
as they turned darted the saucy motor
boat Natalie Mae attending the Amer
lea. One of the men on board shouted
through a megaphone at the Patrol:
Back to Palm Beach! Your eight
hours latei"
The welcome fotilla managed to
reach point off Pier just as the
transports stern swung outward. The
soldiers on board were we'll up forward
clustering for a glimpse of the pier.
But the Patrol and the Mayor Gaynor
and the Correction and Mayor Hylan
were right astern.
Mr.. Whalen said that the Mayor had
been ready long before sailing time but
that Mr. Wanamaker had been tardy.
Later 1t was announced officially that
this explanation was wrong, that the
Mayor had been hanging around Bat
terry Park since 1880 waiting for Cen
eral O'Ryan, not knowing that General
O'Ryan wasn't coming. The Mayor
had his picture taken standing on TOP
of the pilot house of the Patrol where
he got a good view of the Americas
stern and when the photographer
warned him to stand still he INQUIRED:
Why don't you take movies of me p"
There was no answer.