The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-02

on it. In short while the white hull OF
a battleship hove in sight and the man at
the end of the telescope could see the
white foam as it boiled up behind the big
ships stern, could make out the awkward
outlines of the military mast with it's two
fighting tops and after while could see
the big turrets with the muzzles OF the
heavy guns protruding from them.
Nearer and nearer came the big white
hulk, with the sea rolling up before the
bow, as propelled by the strong engines
the ship rushed onward towards the har-f
bor "What ship could it be?' the obser-
yatory man could not guess. Not vessel
was expected from that direction, and not
warship was expected to arrive in this
port anyway, until some time later in the
week.
After time the battleship slackened
its speed and now getting within mile
or two of shore seemed to be feeling its
way carefully. Some time later the big
ship picked up pilot and then at less
than half speed slowly steamed in
through Ship channel and about quarter
to four o'clock dropped her anchor off
House island, about mile and a half
from the main land on the Portland side
of the harbor.
1t was the Massachusetts,, a first class
battleship and proudly at the peak fIoated
the Stars and Stripes. She is the first of
the White Squadron to arrive here to help
Portland celebrate the Fifth of July, and
she came here directly from St. Johns,
Newfoundland, where she has been aid
ing the loyal colonials celebrate the
Queens Jubilee and the 4OOth anniversary
of the discovery of Newfoundland by that
bold explorer, John Cabot.
although battleship,' as one of the
officers of the Massachusetts, said yester-
day, she has the reputation Of a
cruiser" And Captain Rodgers her COM
mander, has an exceedingly tiattering re-
port to send to the Navy Department at
Washington as the result of the ships
cruise.
It was the 10th of June when the
Massachusetts,, having participated in the
celebration of Bunker Hill day in Boston
figure head of "Victory" which is not a
figure head at all by the way, but simply
an incumbrance, got underway and
started for st. Johns. She made the trip
in little more than three days and broke
all of her former records for speed and
seaworthiness. 1t was cruise that
opened the eyes of the officers of the
battleship and which will prove of great
interest to every man and officer in the
navy. The ship averaged speed of 14.4
at natural draft, which is nearly two
knots better than she did off the Chesa-
peake last October, when she had on
board the naval board of inspection. On
| that occasion the very best the battleship
could do was 1919 knots under natural
draft. The fact that on her way to New
| foundland she broke her former record
and above all proved herself to be a ship
of great steadiness at sea, will prove of
great interest to all who are interested in
| the new navy.
In speaking of the treatment received
by the Massachusetts at St. Johns Captain
Rodgers said that each man, woman and
child in the place seemed to be trying to
out do the other in making their stay
pleasant and in honoring the United
States navy. Besides the Massachusetts
there were two English and two French
men-of-war in the harbor, and there was
constant round Of festivities arranged
| for the entertainment Of the ships
officers from morning until night, and
from night until morning. This has been
has visited ST. Johns for twenty seven
years, and the colonials ~ere delighted