Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1898 — CHEER FOR HEROES [ARTICLE]

CHEER FOR HEROES

Great Crowds Greet Home-Com-ing War Fleet. BIG NAVAL PAGEANT. New York Makes It the Occasion of a General Holiday. America** Battle-Scarred Fleet that Sack Cervera’a Ships Thunder* It* Tribute at the Tomb of Gen. Grant —One Million New Yorker* Wildly Cheer the Fighter*, While Roaring Gun* Emphasize the Welcome—Ovation to Eampeon and Schley. New York special: ■ New York and the nation on Saturday fitly signalized the appreciation of the republic of her victorious fleet. An imposing pageant of warships was received in the harbor of the largest city of the country with acclamations of delight and admiration, and the ovation from shore and from the great flotillas of all sorts of craft on the water significantly gave to the returning heroes some idea of the esteem and admiration in which they are regarded by the people. Long before sunrise gun was fired at Castle William, Governor’s Island, the people were astir and abroad. Crowds were hurrying to the river to be early on the scene. The New York and New Jersey shores were crowded with people. The river and bay were literally alive with craft and the craft alive with people, all cheering and good-natured. An impressive scene was when the flags were raised on the forts and flagships. As the starry banners were raised aloft the bands of the forts and on the flagships played the “Star-SpAngled Banner,” and the shores rang with patriotic cheers. There was very little friction in carrying out the program and no more delay than was to be expected. There was considerable wigwagging on the gray battleships, and the police boats formed in line. Theh came the Glen Island, and then the battleships began to slowly move up the bay. There was a salvo of cannons and cheers of peopk, and the toots of thousands df whistles made an indescribable din. Soon after the monster pageant was in line. First came Admiral Sampson’s flagship, New York, then Admiral Schley’s flagship, Brooklyn, then the Massachusetts, Oregon, lowa, Indiana and Texas, and after them a moving mass of all sizes and descriptions, with flags waving and people cheering. The great battleships moved slowly and majestically. As Governor’s Island was passed there was a tremendous report from the guns that did so much execution at Guantanamo and Santiago. The people on shore and afloat went wild. They yelled and screamed, waved flags, and jumped up and down in patriotic fervor. And so it was all the way up to Grant’s tomb, where there was a final demonstration of patriotic fervor such as New York has never witnessed before. The pageant was viewed and cheered by hundreds of thousands of people. It was a magnificent and indescribable scene and one never to be forgotten. Since leaving Guantanamo no incidents of an unusual nature except a temporary breakdown on the part of the Indiana had marred the homeward progress of Sampson’s fleet. Few ships were passed. Smooth seas and fair winds made the passage pleasant. There was occasional change of formation. Heading out from Cuba, the armor-clad ships came in single column, the New York leading, the lowa next, then the Indiana, Brooklyn, Massachusetts and Oregon.' At night the fleet shone with side lights, running lights, portholes lit up by electric lights from within blazed out on the waters as the ships passed through the Windward passage. It is months since such an illumination has been seen in Cuban waters, where warships, blockade runners, transports and all sorts and conditions of craft have been threading their way with all lights screened, great shadows, that passed silently. On the trip from Guantanamo, as the air got cooler the spirits of the 3,000 men and officers aboard the six ships rose correspondingly. The relief from the perpetual heat of Cuba was indeed appreciated. Saturday's celebration was the first opportunity the American people have had of demonstrating in a public way their gratitude for the great achievements of the Santiago squadron, and throughout a long day of greeting there was no stint in the welcome, no pause in the shouts and cheers, no cessation of the spirit of rejoicing at the sight of the vessels and over the return of the nation’s defenders at sea. Enthusiasm knew no limit, and the sentiment of gratitude and rejoicing dominated land and sea and people. The hearts of our naval heroes were gladdened by the roynl welcome extended by a million patriotic Americans. Such an outburst of enthusiasm wns never before witnessed on the banks of the Hudson or any other river.