The San Francisco call. [volume], September 27, 1899, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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VOLUME LXXXVI— NO. Hi).
"THANK GOD, I AM HOME AGAIN!"
DECLARES ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY
After an Absence of Twenty-Three Months
the Hero of Manila Bay Fervently
Expresses Pleasure Upon Returning,
Talks About the Philippines and
Seems to Dread the Great Welcome
That Has Been Prepared for Him.
NEW YORK, Sept. 26.— Out of the
mist and fog that hung over the
sea beyond Sandy Hook at peep
o' day this morning emerged
the Olympia, with Admiral
George Dewey on board. The Olympia
■was weather-stained but stanch, after
her long run horne — and ' tWo days
ahead of — and Dewey, hearty,
bronzed, modest, ready to receive the
plaudits of his countrymen, but des
tined before the day ended to be utterly
'dumfounded when ho learned the mag
nitude of the welcome that awaited
him.
His flagship slipped around Sandy
Hook, and it was by the merest chance
that the little garrison at Fort Han
cock got in an admiral's salute of
seventeen guns before the oiympia
came to anchor in the lower bay. The
Olympia had come at a steady pace of
10 knots an hour, using one screw, for
a. blade of the other had been damaged
In coming through the Suez canal, and
she made no stop anywhere. Her voy
age was made in perfect weather, and
the admiral caught the first glimpse
of his native land early on Monday
night. Then the Olympia stood off
shore until daybreak when she came
in, catching almost everybody napping
except the ship news watcher in Sandy
Hook lookout.
Hardly had her anchor struck bottom
before, the word was passed to this
city and hence all over the country
that Admiral Dewey had arrived.
The gray mist of dawn had hardly
been dispelled before pleasure boats
began sailing about the cruiser and
shouts of welcome arose. A storm of
cheers floated over the water from the
fleet of excursion craft when the ad
miral was recognized. At sight of each
new American flag- the admiral lifted
his cap and bowed. Time and again he
turned to some officers of the Olympia
(standing by his side and said. "Thank
God, I am home again."
When her anchor rattled to the bot
tom and the Olympia swung at her
moorings the admiral stepped out on
the quarterdeck. The sun had not
long, been started on its climb up th"
heavens. The admiral bared his head
and took in a long breath, then .he
pi.id: "I am glad to get back."
Not at that moment nor at any time
later in the day when official visits
were showered on him, did he speak of
the emotion he felt at • his changed
position. Here stood the man for whom
all Americans were waiting the one
creat hero of the war. the individual
The San Francisco Call.
toward • whom the whole heart of his
country went out in good-fellowship.
He/had' come home to receive a wel
come the like -of which has never been
tendered to a living American, yet, less
than two years before he had gone
abroad, a commodore, it is true, but
comparatively unknown outside of his
profession of arms, and outside of his
native. State. He has returned to find
his name on everybody's lips and. his
picture. in . everybody's window, and
everybody speculating, some, vaguely
and some with keen desire, whether, it
would not be well to make George
Dewey President.
The admiral had not expected the re
ception committee until to-morrow. He
had telegraphed the Mayor that he
would be at ; Tomkinsville to-morrow.
But the gentlemen who are running the
reception feared that Governor Roose
velt might call before the committee,
so they acted precipitately. These var
ious calls and Interviews gave an in-
Bight at close range into the character
of the country's greatest hero. In the
first place, everybody will be interested
in knowing what Admiral Dewey thinks
of himself as a Presidential candidate.
He merely laughs. He declines to en
tertain the thought of running for po
litical office. . •
When told that his relatives said that
he was a Republican, he said they
knew no more about his politics than
a stick. When a wag informed him
that there was talk of running him for
President, with General Joe Wheeler
for Vice President, he observed that he
and Wheeler would make a pretty mess
of it, "for he would try to run the
country like a ship and Wheeler would
try to run it like a regiment." The ad- |
miral had no criticism of the conduct i
of affairs in the Philippines. His re- j
marks were very guarded, but he reit- :
erated^ his .,. well-known saying. "Fill- ■
pinos are as capable of self-government
as the Cubans," adding that he did not
think the Filipinos were ready for self
government just yet.
Admiral Dewey appears keen, alert,
eager in voice and action, and appar
ently in perfect physical condition. He
said he felt well. He told the commit
tee on reception that he was all right
if he could stand the strain of the re- i
ception awaiting him. Then he ex
plained that at Naples he bad accepted
one dinner invitation, and as a result i
had to accept four others, in conse- |
quence of which he was sick for a week.
His officers do not believe that the
strain he will have to undergo will im
pair his health in the least, and they
ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY.
SAN FBANCISCO, WEDSESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1899.
OLYMPIA AT ANCHOR IN THE LOWER BAY.
think be wH] come out of it as fresh
as he is when he goes in. The admiral
is not guing to sleep ashore until the
heavy part of the reception is over.
When h..- u;ip invited to spend Friday
night at the Waldorf, he said no, he
Would return to his ship, and would be
up in plenty of time to place himself
at the disposal of the committee for
the cup presentation at the City Hall
at 9 o'clock Saturday morning.
It waf not until he talked with naval
callers that the magnitude of the re
ception waiting him began to dawn on
Admiral Dewey. He declared that he
felt immense pride and gratification in
the reception, but it almost confused
him to see what his countrymen were
doing. In all his conversation, in every
tone, every detail of manner, every
movement, the admiral typified the
character which the American people
have given him. All his callers united
in saying that he is modest to a degree
when speaking of his own work. In
deed, he never referred to it by sug
gestion or even by indirection, but he
was enthusiastic and buoyant with
pride when he spoke not only of his
own officers and men, but of the whole
service.
Admiral Dewey is a humorist. He
had to smile when the chairman of the
reception committee, with great unc
tion, detailed how the admiral was to
ride with the Mayor in a carriage
"drawn by four bay horses," and when
he was called upon to explain how he
happened to be two days ahead of time
he remarked that he had made it a
custom in life to be a day or two
ahead rather than an hour behind time,
"because, you see," he said, "I come
from Vermont, and that is a State
where we have to scratch gravel."
The admiral also declared that his
pictures made him look older than he
really was. At the same time he re
marked, "I think I am getting old. The
fact is I started in to be a hero too
late in life. I should have begun
younger."
Admiral Dewey found time yesterday
to receive the newspaper men with
great cordiality. He also found time
to receive a call from Sir Thomas Lip
ton, which he was to return later in the
day. He was scrupulous about doffing
his hat every time one of the Sandy
Hook boats took a cheering crowd of
commuters past. He took everything
in a very matter-of-fact way, and
seemed to be supremely happy to be
back in his native land once more.
DEWEY GLAD
TO GET HOME
Touched by the Splen
did Welcome Pre
pared by Ameri
can People.
NEW YORK. Sept. 26.— Admiral
George Dewey arrived off New York
at dawn, and the Olympia is now
anchored in American waters in the
light cf Sandy Hook.
The first shout of welcome was from
, the pilots a.nd crew of pilot boat No. 7,
j fifteen miles south of the Hook light
: ship. It happened to be Pilot John
Peterson's turn and at 5:50 a. m. he
was put on board the Olympia and
■ brought her around the Hook and into
I the lower bay. The marine observers
j along the coast had sighted the Olym
| pia in the first light of the morning.
I The shore batteries of Fort Hancock,
manned by gunners called from break
fast, let loose seventeen guns. The
flagship replied with twenty-one and
let go her anchors not far from where
the cup challenger Shamrock is moored.
The admiral was in his own country
again, after twenty-three months' ab
sence. He had returned "great with
the arduous greatness of things done,"
and he scarcely seemed to realize it.
The pilot had brought aboard the Sun
day papers and a reporter of the Asso
ciated Press was received by the ad
miral in a cabin littered by the illus
trated Dewey editions, which together
made hundreds of pages in black and
white and in colors, all concerning the
great admiral and the preparations to
receive him.
"It almost saddens me," said he, "to
see what my people are doing for me.
The pride and gratification is immense
and I cannot express the appreciation
I feel. I did not know, I did not really
perceive until this morning the splendid
welcome that my countrymen are giv
ing me. The Governors of many States
are coming to see me and troops from
GREAT JOY IN THE OLD
GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE
NEW YORK. Sept. 26. — In many places throughout the country guns were started booming, bells ringing
and whistles screaming early this morning by the announcement of the safe arrival here of Admiral Dewey. ,
New York City was not the only Joyously noisy place. Other cities far and near celebrated, each in its own j
fashion.
Taken by surprise, the residents of Montpelier, Vt., only worked the harder in preparation for the recep
tion of their most distinguished citizen. The news reached there early, and was greeted with the firing of can
"non, fireworks and unlimited cheering. The citizens term the Olympiads early arrival "another Dewey surprise."
At Norwich University at Northfleld, Vt., where the admiral was once a student, the receipt of the news }
was a signal for a demonstration, in which all the bells and whistles of the town were used, while cannon on >
the university grounds gave the admiral's salute. A meeting will be held at Northfleld to make arrangements j
for receiving the admiral on October 13, when the cornerstone of Dewey Hall is to be laid. 5
In Philadelphia Mayor Ashbridge ordered the ringing of the bell in the tower of historic Independence Hall. J
Seventeen strokes, an admiral's salute, were tolled.
The booming of cannon broke the morning stillness of Princeton, N. J. Whistles, pistols, guns, firecrackers
and other noise-making devices joined, until nothing could be heard but a medley of reverberating sounds. ,
The townspeople turned out in alarm, but the university students told them that Dewey was home. The admiral j
is dear to the hearts of the sons of old Nassau, not only because of his deeds, but because his son is a gradu- j
ate of Princeton and a loyal alumnus. '
The firemen of Belleview, N. J., were scared by the blowing of a whistle in a big factory. They had been
warned that it would be blown when Dewey arrived, but it was so unexpected the flre-fighters hurried out the
apparatus and raced to the factory. When they learned of their mistake the men rushed back and set the
engine-house bell in motion.
Newark, Morrietown. Jersey City and other places throughout New Jersey celebrated with demonstra- ,
tions of most enthusiastic kind.
MAYOR'S OFFICE,
City and County of San Francisco.
To the People of San Francisco:
Thursday, September 28, Admiral
Dewey's arrival will be celebrated in New ;
York. The people of San Francisco de
sire to express their patriotic regard for the
hero of Manila Bay, whose victory saved !
our coast from ravage and opened the
Pacific Ocean to our trade. I therefore ;
call upon all citizens to display the flag \
and to otherwise express their gratification
on this joyous occasion.
JAMES D. PHELAN, Mayor.
Florida, Georgia and other far-away
States are on their way to take part
in receiving me."
The admiral stroked the head of a
tawny-haired dog. the crow dog of a
Chinese breed that appears in the il
lustrated interviews with the admiral.
"Bob. here." he said, "is not well.
He yearns to be ashore. He is sick to
get a little grass and to scamper
around. I feel a good deal that way
myself. I am mighty glad to get home.
It is not good for a man any more than
a dog to live on shipboard for twenty
three months."
Alluding to his arrival two days
ahead of time he said: "I am sorry
that I am ahead of schedule. The
Olympia has been steaming at the uni
form rate of ten knots an hour since'
we left Gibraltar. Several days ago
we knew that we would arrive before
Thursday unless we moderated our
speed or went somewhere out of our
course. Captain Lamberton. Lieuten
ant Brumby and I held a consultation.
The propriety of running into Hampton
Roads or some other port in the South
was spoken of, but we concluded that
we ought not to touch land first any
where except at New York. It was
suggested that we cruise some distance
outside New York harbor until Thurs
day, but we knew that if we did we
would be disco% - ered and reported. The
weather looked a little squally, and it
seemed better to be inside the Hook
than outside. But the consideration
that really decided us to come into
port was to give Captain Lamberton a
chance to clean un the ship before our
PKICE FIVE CENTS.
voyage up the harbor. Captain Lam
berton and I are very proud of the
Olympia and we wanted enough time at
our anchorage to rub her down and to
make her look spick and span."
The Olympia looks as smart now as
a yacht. The anchors were hardly
down before details of the crew were
washing the ship's white sides and
touching up the stains with paint.
The admiral's first business was to
send an officer ashore with telegrams
for the Navy Department, Mayor Van
Wyck and General Butterfleld. announ
cing the arrival. He then spent most
of the morning in looking over news
papers and receiving reporters. He
was just finishing a midday breakfast
when Sir Thomas Lipton called on
him. With Sir Thomas were Dr.
Mackay and other visiting Englishmen.
"I suppose you have come for the
' tea." said Admiral Dewey, referring to
| Sir Thomas' gift of five pounds of tea
to each man on the ship while at Co
lombo.
"No; you're welcome to that if any
body can drink it," replied Sir
Thomas.
The admiral and the owner of the cup
challenger had a fifteen-minute talk.
As Sir Thomas and his friends left th<;
Olympia a half hundred of the ship s
crew forward cheered the Baronet.
"You could not stop "em," cried out
Admiral Dewey, waving his hand at
Sir Thomas Lipton. "They had not
any orders to do that."
Admiral Dewey then had a succes
sion of notable callers. Rear Admiral
Sampson with Captain Chadwick, his