The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-17
GREAT DAY WITH THE FLEET.
THE PRESIDENT ATTENDS SER-
VICES ON THE kEARSARGE.
A Multitude Anoat Surrounds tho war.
shlps-LOts OF work for the Marines
I'm tho Ceremonies or ylsitlng--AAl


| and villages OF Long Island and Connecticut
did not 90 out to see the North Atlantic
fleet to-day 1t was because there were not
enough boats or they didn't have the price
The price was in most cases rather high, and
those boatmen who in their wisdom did not
overcharge carried out full cargoes OF hui
mainly. But although there were not
enough craft to accommodate the demand,
there were enough 10 make big showing,
and the fleet was surrounded from early
morning until dusk by fotilla OF steam and
sail yachts excursion boats, oyster boats
and steam and naphtha launches.
Sunday is supposed to be day OF rest on
shipboard. but this Sunday was an excep-
ton. What with visits from the President
and the Secretary Of the Navy. and the
coming and going Of Rear Admirals, those
officers and men who had to carry out tho
required ceremony were kept on the jump.
The busiest men on board all the big ships
were the marines. They were kept under
arms from early morning until some time
in the afternoon, in expectation Of doing
the honors to distinguished visitors. 1t
was rather warm and somewhat sultry,
and the marines, who wore full dress,
swetered and perspired and hoped tho
ceremonials would soon be over. Their
discomfort was added to by the @jollying'
they received from the blue jackets. who
were white summer attire.
President Roosevelt and party OF guests
came out to the fleet and that meant q lot
of scurrying into place and presenting arms
and doing the other things required when
the head of the nation goes aboard OF gets
anywhere near a ship Of war. Secretary
OF the Navy Moody also appeared on the
scene and there was more ceremony in his
honor. OF course, the flag officers OF tho
fleet had to pay their respects 10 the Presi-
dent and the Secretary, and their passing
and requesting between their fagships and
the Kearsarge, the only vessel which the
President and Secretary Moody boarded,
meant lot Of more work for those who did
the courtesies.
Visitors were welcome on all the Ships
but comparatively few knew that they
would be permitted to come aboard, and
so contented themselves with sailing or
steaming past the lines of armorclads and
other vessels. Nearly every pleasure craft
seemed tosbe full of girls, and some of
them were mighty pretty girls They
waved their handkerchiefs to officers and
men on board the warships without regard
to rank and 1t was seldom that they failed
to get response. Most of the jackies
lined the sides during the afternoon and
carried on desperate long -distance fiirtn-
tioDs with those Of the fair sex who either
didn't know or didn't care for the difference
between Rear Admiral and an enlisted
man.
The days ceremonies began at Q o'clock
this morning, when Rear Admiral Barker
went over to the despatch boat Dolphin
accompanied by Flag Lieutenant Eberle,
to pay his respects TO the Secretary of the
Navy, who spent the night on the Dolphin,
anchored Just of bluff near the Presi-
dents estate. The Secretary told Ad-
miral Barker that the President intended
to attend religious services on the flagship
Kearsarge at II o'clock, so the Admiral
hurried back to his flagship and issued
orders for all the officers to get In full d. ess
Secretary Moody got to the Kearsarge
ahead of the President and was received
with honors He made the run out to the
fleet in the gunboat yacht Peoria. As
the Peoria approached the warships the
bugles sounded, the marines assembled
on the quarter deck, with the band near by,
and all hands stood at attention. This
was done on every ship Three ruffies were
sounded on the drums, the marines pre-
sented arms and the bands played few
bars OF march.
Hardly had the ranks been dispersed
when the yacht Sylph hove In sight flying
the Presidents flag. This was shortly
after IL o'clock As the Sylph came TO,
short distance from the Kearsarge,
Flag Lieut.. Eberle put off In the Admiral's
steam barge to present Admiral Bankers
compliments to the President and to escort
him TO the flagship. The President, Mrs.
Roosevelt and their party got into the
steam launch and in few minutes were
received by Admiral Barker and his officers
on the Kearsage's quarterback.
Then the bugles rang again throughout
the fleet. the marines and the bandsrnen
took their places and everybody who wasn't
below stood at attention. Present arms"
commanded the marine officers; Sound
four ruffies was the order to the drummes.
As the last ruffle ended the brass instru-
ments struck up Hail, Columbia" MIR.
and a silk hat He seemed very much
pleased to be aboard the flagship and showed
in his talk with Admiral Barker and Capt.
Hemphill a familiarity with the vessel
that indicated study and good memory.
Chaplain Isaacs of the Kearsarge is a
Methodist, and the religious services at
tended bv the President were conducted
in the manner Of that church. A pulpit had
been erected upon the after part OF the
covered gun deck. The chaplain faced for
ward, where great crowd Of jackies, all In
white were gathered. Behind him sat the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt, their party
and Secretary Moody. In the party were
Mrs Emen Roosevelt, Miss Christine Roose-
welt, Capt Willard II Brownson Of the Navy,
former Secretary of the Navy William i.
Chandler, who Is guest of Secretary Moody
on the Dolphin: former United States Dis
Commander j. II Gibbons of the Dolphin.
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., and his younger
brothers and sisters and some OF their
young cousins.
The services were begun with the singing
of America. in which the President joined
heartily, to the accompaniment Of the ships
string band. The text was He ia the
blessed and only Potentate; the King OF
Kings and Lord Of Lords" Chaplain
1ssacs did not select this text on account
of the Presidents presence. He had pre-
pared the sermon before he knew that Mr..
Roosevelt would attend.
The central idea of his discourse was
that men rendered the best service TO their
country when they rendered the best service
to God. He did not make any direct refer
ence to the President, When the services
were over the President congratulated the
ChaDlain and then went aft with bia Marty