The New Dominion, September 24^th, 1870

Tuesday last will long be remembered by the citizens of Saint John as worthy of record in the annals of our people. On that day there returned to our shores a few men, unassuming in appearance, quiet in demeanour, yet nevertheless heroes. They were not statesmen, yet they had added much to the name of New Brunswick among the nations of the earth, and gained for themselves fame- the statesman's prize. They were not warriors, yet they had established the renown of our little Province by their nobly won contests, and were now, for the first and last time, returning home- defeated, but not conquered; their efforts unsuccessful, but their honor untarnished. They were four of our citizens, named Fulton, Ross, Price and Hutton- known to the world as the "Saint John Oarsmen," and proudly hailed by us as the Paris Crew.

And how were they received? With honor, as was their due; with every demonstration of joy our people could make-with banners streaming to the breeze as in the day of success-with the boom of artillery and the sounds of music, and the assembling of thousands to greet them with rejoicing. The streets have seldom presented a more festive appearance; the face of nature, which on the day of defeat looked darkly upon us, "Grieving, if aught inanimate e'er grieves," smiles brightly upon the happy scene. One feeling was in every heart, one word on every tongue- "Welcome."

It was proper we should greet them as victors rather than vanquished, and until superior skill, in a contest with man, not the elements, compels them to yield, they must, in the opinion of all, bear the palm, and continue the Champions of the World. It cannot be denied that whatever may be the merits of the two crews, the true reason of the victory of the Tyne men at Lachine was the adaptation of their boat to the condition of the water; those best competent to judge feel assured that had circumstances been otherwise ours would have been the triumph. Our oarsmen are still confident, and we have still faith in the St. John Boys, knowing that, should the opportunity of a fair test be offered, they will prove themselves worthy of the trust reposed in them, and add more laurels to the bright ones with which they have been crowned in the past.

In the present hour of apparent defeat we have, at least, the reflection we have been beaten by men, more than that, Englishmen. No stranger flag may fly the whip to taunt us with us our loss-no foreign race exult that they are Champions of the Wave. No stranger flag may fly the whip to taunt us with our loss-no foreign race exult that they are Champions of the Wave. No, let the pride of victory be with our Motherland, the boast of having conquered us be with her hardy sons, and though their triumph soon may end, the tide of victory turn, while yet they may their honors wear, we cannot but feel pride, though fortune was not with us, still "Britannia Rules the Wave."

It must have been highly gratifying to our oarsmen to meet with the reception accorded them. They were keenly sensitive, and no doubt feared that, though the defeat was through no fault of theirs, the people of Saint John might impute ill success to want of skill, and lose their well earned confidence in the heroes of Paris and Springfield. How very different was the case. Our people knew then in the past, and felt that, but for unforeseen events, the triumph would have been ours in the present. Feeling thus they were determined to show forth their thoughts by a public expression.

This they did most successfully; private losses were forgotten, and individual interests became absorbed in the desire to testify general sympathy, and the outburst of universal sentiment must have convinced our noble fellows they were esteemed none the less in adversity. They return to us, their reputation unsullied, their skill undoubted, and, we believe, themselves invincible.

Reception of the Paris Crew

Early on Tuesday morning, preparations were commenced for the reception of the returning oarsmen; flags, banners, mottoes, and decorations of every description appeared in all, but more especially the public, parts of the city, and when the afternoon came our streets presented a truly brilliant appearance. Our space is inadequate to afford any thing like a description of even the principal points of interest. In Prince William, King, and Charlotte streets the finest display was seen. The view of the former obtained from Chipman's Hill was strikingly fine the long and tastefully arranged strings of flags showing to excellent advantage, while in closer inspection the taste shown in the number and varieties of ornamental devices attracted the eye. On Charlotte street a fine display of colors was made from the New Dominion Office and other parts of the building in which it is situate. The city was in holiday trim, such a one as is seen only on occasions where the rejoicing comes from the hearts of the citizens. A stranger would have imagined some national triumph was being celebrated, he would never have supposed a defeat. Six o'clock was announced for the arrival of the steamer, but fully three hours before the time large numbers began to congregate at the landing and by five an immense crowd had gathered, the streets and wharves at Reed's Point showing a vast sea of human heads. Shortly before six the steamer appeared in sight and, on nearing the wharf, a salute was fired by a battery of artillery, and the cheers were heard from the assembled crowd. ON landing the four oarsmen were conducted to a barouche drawn by six horses, their friends were accommodated with another carriage, and preceded by the new Volunteer Band and followed by a long line of vehicles of every description, they proceeded through Prince William and King streets to the Court House. On the line of march the scene was extremely attractive; every available position was crowded with fair ladies, in holiday attire, whose smiles of welcome and enthusiastic waving of handkerchiefs must have been highly gratifying to the returned champions. On arriving at the Court House, the procession halted, and F. P. Robinson, Esq., in a neat speech welcomed the "Boys" to St. John, assured them of our sympathy and confidence, and on behalf of the people presented them a substantial testimonial in the form of a purse containing $400, after this, the march being resumed the men were driven via Suspension Bridge to their homes in Carleton. In the evening bonfires blazed in every quarter of the City and Carleton, various places were illuminated with great taste, and transparencies suitable to the occasion shone in the different parts of the town. It was a day never to be forgotten-we could not have been more jubilant in victory-we were more proud than ever of our men, and they could not but feel assured that we were as confident as they of their ability to win had they been fairly tried.