Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-12-26
MINNESOTAIN PORT
GREAT ORIENTAL LINER ARRIVES
AT SEATTLE.
Reception Which was Planned for
Friday Afternoon Did Not OC.
cur Because of Delay in Arrival.
Escorted Down Sound BY Una.
ti!la and City of Seattle.

Seattle. Dec. 24.-Without the great
demonstration that would have greeted
her had she arrived in the daytime,
the Great Northern Steamship Compa-
ny's transpacitic liner Minnesota, the
greatest cargo carrier in the world,
steamed into Seattle harbor and drop
ped anchor at West Seattle last night
about 9:4O o'clock.
The hoarse rumble of her whistle
believing Justify in JOY at reaching
what is to be her home port; the roar
of the whistle of the steamship Una.
tilla, which accompanied her as an es.
cort, and the flash of their lights were
the only things that testified to an un.
usual happening in the harbor. From
the entrance Of the big liner into the
bay, her lights on many decks piled
high in the air anidships, steamed
across to her anchorage and rested
there. This morning at 10 o'clock she
moved ACROSS to the Oriental dock to
tie up.
Elements Are Unruly.
Wind and weather in the straits of
Juan de Fuca, which had delayed the
shipping of the Aslatic crew at Vic
toria, held the vessel back far beyond
the time set for her arrival. Yester.
day mornings announcement was that
she would arrive at o'clock in the
afternoon; that the City of Seattle,
carrying the Chamber OF Commerce
excursion, would leave Peir B at IL 80
a. m. and the Umatilla, flagship of
the reception fleet would leave half
an hour later, but when the hundreds
had assembled at the pier they learned
OF the delays and went home. 1t was
seen that the ship would arrive SO late
that the marine parade would be use
less, so that was abandoned. Only
two vessels, therefore, went out to
greet the new addition to Seattle's
fleet, but they carried hundreds of
citizens and gave the Minnesota roy
al welcome to these waters.
Soon after O'Clock in the afternoon
the City of Seattle and the Umatilla
set forth, gaily decorated with signal
flags and ensigns, passing the revenue
cutter Grant in the bay. They steam
ed slowly, expecting to see the Mime.
sofa any minute, but it was nearly 8
O'Clock when, in the fast falling twi
light, they saw her lights in the dis.
lance just turning into the straits.
After all, the meeting place was fit.
ing one, for it was at the very entrance
to the sound.
There, in the triangle formed by
Forts Flagler, Worden and Casey, just
off the harbor of Port Townsend, thir-
ty.seven miles from Seattle, the three
vessels came together about 5:l5
o'clock. By that time it was night.
Picture of Rare Beauty.
1t was a marine picture of rare
beauty as the City of Seattle, followed
at sore distance by the Umatilla, cir.
cled around to fall in on the quarter of
that glowing, brilliantly lighted mass
that came slowly through the night.
To one side and near at hand the lights
of Fort Worden beamed out across the
water. At greater distance Port
Townsend's lights could be seen, and
far off DON either side could be seen
lighthouses.
Whistles sounded, the band on the
Seattle played, from the Minnesota
came rythmic "Rah, Rah" yell that
told of Americans aboard, and then
began pyrotechnic display of exquis-
lite beauty. The Minnesota started by
burning signal lights from her bridge.
The other vessels answered. Then
rockets whiZzed and fell in scattering
flakes of light and three great search
lights played. The jubillant whistle
of the Umatilla and the Seattle were
answered each time by the deep bass
roar of the Minnesota, dignified,
good natured sound, befitting the size
of the craft. Then from the greeting
ships came cheers for the Minnesota.
for Jim Hill" for J. D. Farrell, and
for everything else connected with the
vessel.
That was the real reception on Puget
sound, after the Minnesota voyage of
81 days, actual steaming time, from
New York. Today the city is giving
the great ship another welcome, not as
noisy and with no set program, but of
great heartiness and magnitude.
After the Minnesota had been prop
erly greeted all three ships opened up
for the run home. The Minnesota
dropped anchor at West Seattle, and
the City of Seattle and Umatilla
came on and tied up at their docks,
arriving a few minutes before 10
o'clock.
Six hundred and thirty feet in length,
10 fet six inches in beam and 56 feet
deep from keel to saloon deck amid
ships are the principal dimensions of
the Minnesota.
Her total dead weight capacity is
$4,000 tons of 2,24O pounds, in addi-
ton to the weight of stores and equip.
ment. The Minnesota can carry more
than 1000 persons, including $50 cab
in passengers, $50 intermediate, 1900
troops or steerage, and crew of $50
men.
The Minnesota has double bottom
six feet deep, built on the cellular sys.
tenn. Fifty-six watertight compart-
ments insure safety under all condi.
tons.
An ordinary cargo for the Minnesota
would make a hundred railroad trains