Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-18
THE PRESIDENT
Continued from page ~

Lloyds Neck and blockad-
ing the mouth of Oyster Bay, presented
a splendid marine spectacle, abund-
antly suggestive of American sea pow
er.
Clustered in the mouth of the bay,
rested the President yacht Maytower,
Secretary MOody's craft, the Dolphin,
and Sir Thomas Lipton's steam yacht
Erin, surrounded by a graceful fleet of
steam and sailing yachts gathered to
witness the imposing ceremony when
the President and the fleet officially ex-
changed greetings.
Fairer weather for the review could
not have been asked. When the Presi-
dent boarded the Mayflower's launch at
the J. West Roosevelt landing, the big
white shapes of the war vessels, be-
tween the double lines of gray destroy
ers, doomed out of a thin haze that
hung over the sound. Hardly a ripple
wrinkled the surface of the water.
The Mayfower lay in the mouth of
Oyster Bay. Nearby was the Dolphin
with Secretary Moody, Admiral Dewey
and rear admirals on board.
Before the President arrived, Secre-
tary Moody, Admiral Dewey Rear Ad-
miral Taylor chief of the bureau of
navigation; Rear Admiral Rodgers.
commandment of the New York navy
yard; Captain Brownson, commandant
of the Naval Academy: Gen. Chaffee,
Sir Thomas Upton, Col. Sharman-
Crawford of the Royal Ulster Yacht
Club, c. Oliver Iseln, w. Butler Dun
can, Woodbury. Kane, and Commodore
Frederick c. Bourne of the New York
Yacht Club We're taken on board the
MayhoWer.
AS the President stepped on the deck
of the Mayfiower, her guns spoke the
first salute of the morning.
Leaving her anchorage, the Dolphin
passed the MayflOWer, saluting as she
went by. Then the Mayfiower steamed
down the bay, followed by the Pres
dents yacht Sylph, having guests of
the President on board. Slowly the
Presidents flagship moved out into the
sound where the battleships and cruis
ers lay in two parallel lines, lengthWise
of the sound, with a column of Destroy
ers thanking each line of larger ships.
The right column was composed of
two divisions, the first consisting of the
kearSarge, Illinois and Alabama, under
command of Rear Admiral Barker; the
second comprising the Texas, Baltimore
and Chicago, commanded by Rear Adj
miral Sands.
The left column included Rear Adj
miral Coughlan's flagship, the Olympia,
and the cruiser Topeka. composing the
first division and the Yankee, Prairie,
Panther and Dolphin the second divis-
ion. Rear Admiral Wise commanding.
Thanking the first column, and be-
tween it and the Long Island shore,
was the first division of the destroyer
flotilla, the Decatur, cambridge, Barry,
Dale and Chauncey, under command of
Lieut.. L. II Chandler. Lying outside
of all the remainder of the fleet was a
Ranking column of destroyers. includ-
ing the Truxton, Worden, Whipple,
Stewart and Lawrence, commanded by
Lieut.. H. X. Benham.
Surrounding them was Il hotilla of
steam craft of all descriptions num-
bering a hundred vessels, and includ-
ing splendid steam yachts. a string
of code signals futtered in the rigging
of the Dolphin. and an answering string
hung Imply from the Kearsarge and
many flags wig waged from ship to
ship of the big fleet.
With the Presidents flag flying from
her main truck the Mayflower steamed
slowly off to the east end of the right
column. made a sweeping curve and
moved down through the lane between
the first column of battleships and
cruisers and the first column of de-
StroyerS. Lines of Whitehead sailors
manned the rails, superstructure, fight
ing tops and yards of the white fleet,
and dotted the rails of the dark hulled
destroyers. Scurrying launches cleared
the course of the Maytower and her
satellite, the Sylph, as they entered
the lane; a 12-pound gun in the Kear-
sarge's secondary battery spurted a
little flash of flame and smoke and
the succession of Presidential salutes
began.
While the smoke was drifting from
the Kearsarge's guns, her band struck
up columbia" and her sailors gave
the President a ringing cheer as the
Mayfiower moved by. At a speed of
three miles an hour, the Presidents
flagship proceeded down the lane, and
as she approached the guns of each
of the SnlpS III turn spoke III SdluIe'
their bands and the cheers of the
sailors joining in the tribute. The guns
of the destroyers We're silent. From
the bridge of the Mayhower President
Roosevelt, surrounded by a group OF
admirals and guests. acknowledged the
salutes. At the end of the lane the
Mayfower turned and passed down the
lane between the second column OF
cruisers and second line of destroyers
One after another the guns of the Dol
phin Panther. Prairie. Yankee. Topeka
ana Olympia saluted. until, having cir
cled the fleet and completed the first part
of the review. the Mayfiower stopped at
the head of the two columns between the
kearsarge and the Olympia. AS a naval
picture it was splendid and inspiring.
Launches put off from the warships and
swept over to the Mayfower. conveying |
the commanders and flag officers to pay |
their respects to the President.
This formality completed, the Presi- |
lent boarded the Mayflower's launch and |
was conveyed to the Kearsarge to return |
he official call. Twentyone guns from |