The Portland daily press., 1899-07-17
In Spite Of Rain Large Crowds Wiz
messed Departure.
Squadron Steamed
Straight Out to Sea.
VIII Remain at Sea Some Days
For Drill and Eyolutions.

The North Atlantic squadron sailed
Sunday sfternoon at half-past two o'clock.
There was some doubt expressed among
the officers ON the fleet on Saturday about
the fleet getting away before Monday
morning, but promptly at the hour named
| by Capt. baylor on bis arrival here, the
ships got under way and steamed out to
sea.
Sunday was another big day for the
city. The Maine Central, Boston 8,
| Maine and the Grand Trunk all brought
In large excursions from various parts Of
the state. In all there were something
like 10000 people in the city ON Sunday.
Among them were great many country
people,, some of them who had never ssen
salt water before, much less a man-o'-
war. On the Maine Central the excur-
sion trains came from as far east as
| Skowhegau and Waterville, while the
trains over the Mountain division and the
Grand Trunk, brought in great many
people who we're obliged tosget up very
early in order TO get the trains. The
ships received visitors until about noon
and after that hour very few visitors
were allowed on board. Some OF the leo
pie who came TO Portland from miles
back In the country were forced to con
tent themselves withssa view OF the ships
as they swung at anchor in the harbor.
These people sailed down among the
ships on some of the steamboats, and got
a good view Of them IL they did not get
on board.
By noon the street oars were crowded
with people who were on their way to
the Eastern promenade and the Cape
Cottage TO see the feet sail away. 10 was
spriukling a little at times and the eky
WAS overcast and threatening. A stiff
breeze blew in from the southeast and
there was some little chop in the harbnr-
| Shortly before 2 O'Clock the recall sig
nal for all boats went up on the ahips of
the feet and at half past two o'clock a
long string of signal Gags went auttering
aloft on the flagship Indiana. Black
smoke was pouring from the big tunnels
of the ships. boats were hoisted and every
preparation for sailing made. The signal
Was, Prepare TO get underway in half
an hour"
At half past two o'clock another string
of signal flags fluttered aloft Of the Indi-
ana, Il was to get underway and leave
the harbor. One after another the big
anchors OF the ships came in sight COW
cred with black mud from the bottom OF
the harbor and streams of water from the
hose on deck washed away this mud as
soon as the chain began to come in.
The Brooklyn was the first TO move to-
wards ship channel. Just before she got
underway the New York boat came In
and as she passed the ships saluted each
ne with three blasts of her whistles,
but no attention was paid to this courte-
sy. About the fleet lowered many steam
ers. steam yachts and sailing craft of all
descriptions. The big Brooklyn sailed
slowly out OF the harbor headed straight
cut to sea. Following her was the, New
York, then the Massachusetts,, the Indi-
ana, the Texas, aud lastly the New Or
leans In this order with big intervals
,etween the ships the squadron rounded
Portland Head and followed the Brook
lyn seaward. As the ships passed Port
land Head and Cape Cottage there were
big crowds on hand to see their depar-
ture. Hundreds OF handkerchiefs were
waving them adieu. but no attention was
paid to them on the ships The hand
kerchief continued to wave. however. un.
til the ships were well outside of the
channel. In long column the fleet con-
tinued on its course about east southeast
until they were lost In the mist far out
to 500 and fiually only the black smoke
along the horizon marked the plact
where they mad disappeared.
The tleet will remain at sea for three OF
four days, so 1t is said, and win have
some target practice and squadron eyolu,
tioDs before they return to Newport fol-
coal.
The departure Of the fleet left the har
Dor looking bare aud uesolate The
steam yachts and other craft which had
| followed the feet out to sea steamed bach
Into thu harbor and the quiet and calm
of rainy Sunday settled down over the
/ Forest City again.