The Senator’s Homecoming: A City Roars for Watson Squire

KOBE COMES HOME.

Fellow Townsmen Give Him a Grand Welcome. Thousands Join the Chorus. A Firework Supplement to the Enthusiastic Cheers of Its Gratified People.

The final act of the fierce senatorial campaign which has agitated the state of Washington for the past two weeks was the reception tendered last evening by the people of Seattle to Senator Watson C. Squire upon their return to their home in this city. The reception was informal, without organized reception committees or other conventionalities, but a spontaneous ovation by the people of Seattle.

Senator and Mrs. Squire arrived from Olympia shortly after dark on the Bailey Gatzert, with the Chamber of Commerce excursion party. This excursion party was swelled to fully 2,000 persons on the return from Olympia. Many portions of the state joined this triumphal party, loading the steamer up to her full limit of her license.

About 2,000 people gathered at the Seattle wharf to witness the departure of the party. As Senator and Mrs. Squire stepped from their carriage and passed along the gang plank to board the steamer, Mayor George T. Hinehart, of Walla Walla, mounted a pile and proposed three cheers for Senator Watson C. Squire. The cheers were rendered with mighty roars from 2,000 throats. An interesting ceremony called "the christening" was celebrated just as the steamer started away from the wharf. Mayor Hinehart officiated in the performance of the rite with the mystic solemnity of a Catholic priest. He stood forward on the deck, close to the jack-staff, in his hand a bottle of champagne which had been sent to him by Senator Squire for the performance of this ceremony. As the vessel backed sharply away from the dock he raised the champagne bottle with the words: "I christen this in recognition of the service of the Chamber of Commerce and the Bailey Gatzert in the victory of the Republicans of the State of Washington and of Hon. Watson C. Squire." He then broke the bottle over the bow of the new steamer, and cheers were then given for Mayor Hinehart by the crowd, and the steamer went out into the stream amid tremendous shouting and swinging of hats and scarves by the crowd on the wharf.

Senator Bennett, Thomas Carroll and several other prominent citizens of Tacoma, and many supporters of Judge Malkin, including ex-Delegate Thomas Miller, of Walla Walla, were aboard the steamer and tendered their congratulations to Senator Squire.

At Tacoma the steamer stopped about fifteen minutes. A large crowd had gathered at the wharf to meet the steamer. Mayor Squire stepped out of the pilot house and proposed three cheers for Judge Malkin, which were given with hearty enthusiasm. As Tom Carroll stepped from the steamer to the dock he led the crowd on the wharf in three roaring cheers for Senator Squire. Senator Squire then offered three cheers for Thomas Carroll.

The entire journey to Seattle was highly enjoyed by all. In the cabin the ladies and gentlemen passed much time in singing. Others promenaded the decks of the steamer enjoying the matchless scenery. The joy over the famous victory was expressed in enthusiastic congratulations of Senator Squire. A notable feature of the party was the presence of Colonel Thomas Evans, who appeared to be a sadder and a wiser man. The little he had to say, and the quiet, unobtrusive manner in which he said it, was remarked by all who know him best. It was difficult to realize that he was the same man who had tried to bet $50,000 on the result of the senatorial fight.

About 5:30 o'clock the First Regiment band marched from the Seattle Armory down Second street to Columbia, thence through Columbia and Front street to Baker's wharf. Several thousand people soon collected along the waterfront in that vicinity to await the steamer's arrival. About 6 o'clock a light was seen to emerge from beyond Duwamish head. It was impossible to distinguish what vessel was approaching, as the light glided over the dark waters of the harbor, and the crowd withheld all demonstrations of enthusiasm until it could be determined.

Soon the deep resonant tones of the steamer's whistle were heard and a shout went up from the crowd. From a pile on the corner of the dock a large red flare shot through throwing its rays against the white tides of the approaching steamer. This was followed by the explosion of bombs, music by the band and repeated cheers by the crowd. The Gatzert's whistle gave a prolonged, victorious blast.

The decks of the steamer were black with people, all crowding forward. As the steamer glided slowly into her slip the band struck up "Hail to the Chief." The gates of the wharf were thrown open and the cheering crowd surged upon the dock, all trying to get to the steamer. On board the steamer a chorus was repeating "Squire, Squire, Watson C. Squire" as the steamer tied to the dock.

Senator and Mrs. Squire soon stepped ashore and immediately entered a carriage—General Squire's private equipage—and W. K. McClintock entered the carriage with them and were driven to the hotel escorted by the band, the party from the steamer, and a large portion of the crowd which gathered at the dock. The procession moved up Union street to Front street, thence down Front to Cherry, and from there to the Rainier Hotel.

In the hotel lobby a large crowd pressed around Senator Squire to extend congratulations. The band rendered several selections on the hotel veranda while Senator Squire dined.

Among those who accompanied Senator Squire from Olympia were: Mayor Hinehart, Mayor White and Mrs. Frank Hanford, Delegates Wood, Jones, Muldoon, Vice Commissioner John Kahaley, dark and Foster, Griffith Day and wife, Colonel G. G. Haywood and wife, Mrs. Thomas Burke, John W. and wife, Thomas Proch and wife, J. White, George White, Chief Gardner, D. N. Baxter, David Kellogg, R. J. Holmes, Otto Ramke, Wald, H. W. Wheeler, M. Koch, Wm. T. Sharpe, Representative of Jefferson Charles R. Wood, Townsend J. Will Lyons, of the Port Townsend Leader, C. V. Rosevear, of Astoria; Will D. Jenkins, of Whatcom; John J. A. Kuhn, of Port Townsend, J. L. Smith, Kalama, Isaac Calhoun, Dr. Thomas Hankman, of Port Townsend, Governor Black, of Fairhaven, Secretary Washburn, of La Conner, George Carroll and Nelson Bennett, of Tacoma, and many others.

During the course of the evening Senator Squire was interviewed by a Post-Intelligencer reporter, but it was a difficult matter for him to talk, as he was constantly interrupted by fresh arrivals. "I have been deeply moved by the welcome that has been manifested by the people of Seattle and the state of Washington," said the senator. "Their emotion is a striking evidence in my favor, never to be forgotten or misunderstood of my word as well as an expression of friendship. Although I am leaving my city, I am proud of the state which I represent in my public career. I will endeavor to serve my state first, and my city second. The reception that has been given me this evening will never be erased from my memory."

The thousands at the wharf and escorted him in honor of his re-election since with gratitude.

During the whole evening the hotel was thronged and the Senator and Mrs. kept busy acknowledging congratulations of visitors. Watson C. Squire, in response to the number of demands upon her, will hold a reception this afternoon at the Rainier Hotel, between 3 and 5 o'clock—an entirely informal affair. And in view of the general expressions of good will, she extends a cordial invitation to all her friends who desire to call upon her. Mrs. Squire will accompany the senator, who leaves tonight for Washington.