The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-09-28

AT $500 o'clock yesterday afternoon
the white hull OF the handsome German
cruiser Fake CLEANED from among the
rain.m mists floating over the Columbia
river abreast Of Tongue Point, and the
gathered hosts Of Astoria lining the
piers Of the city was astir with welcom-
Ing fervor.
+ The reception steamers, Electro, Pa.
troll and Major Guy Howard, at the
flayel dock. Immediately signaled their
guests aboard from the shore, and May
or J. ". supfenant and about 30 oi
the big general reception COMMITTEES
crossed the gang.planks and the fleet
go, under headway, heading up the bay
10 meet the advancing stranger. Simul.
taneously, the light house tenders Col
umbine and Manzanita left the buoy
depot and steamed into the stream and
the meeting took place of the railroad
docks. the five home vessels circling into
the wake Of the Fake with haiing blasts
from their whistles. all OF which were
promptly answered by the visiting
ship.
Under slow bells the naval parade
proceeded down the river, the Fake
leading under the guidance Of Captain
Empkins OF the ri,er-pilot staff, and at
a point midway between the A. 4 G.
docks and those Of the o. X. Il n. COM
pany, the cruiser let 20 her anchor and
rounded TO on the ebb just turning.
The fleet OF government steamers
comprising the reception squadron then
broke, the Columbine and Manzanita
going To their berths, the Howard and
Electro transferring their passengers to
the Patrol, aud the latter ranging along
side the Fake TO put on board the
mayor. his committee and the commit
tees guests from Fort Stevens, Colum-
bia and Candy.
Inc Fake was in perfect readiness for
her visitors and at her gangway stood
Coryctte-Captain Paul Behncke and
Captain. Lieutenant Bendemann, with
cordial greetings for everybody. Intro
ductions and counter.introductions, as
between these officers and Mayor Su-
prenant ensucd, and in short while all
hands were made to feel thoroughly at
home. and the ship Nas invaded, from
stem 10 stern by the pleased and eager
Astorians, who found plenty to amuse
and delight them, They swarmed every
where and at every turn found clever
officer. or member Of the ships com
pany TO explain all that was new, curl
ous and interesting. zAnd familiar as
Astorians are with vessels of all sorts
and conditions, they evidently found
enough to engage them for a good hour,
during which time tiis ansnlfi@ Of the
day were exchanged on all sides and a
very pleasant time was had Z AS
The Fake is of what is known in the
German navy as the small.cruiser class
and fine specimine of her class, at that.
She is of 1900 tons and has an operat-
ing speed Of 1850 knots per hour; she
carries a complement of ten officers and
one hundred and fifty-four men.
She was built in the imperial yards
at kiel in. 1901, and equipped for sea at
the naval depots of Dantzig. Her draft
on an even keel is las feet. and she Is
armored on the composite style, with six
inches OF steel protective plates run
ming her entire length and extending
four feet above and below her water.
line,
Her battery consists OF eight l0.5
centimetre swivel guns and five 81
centimetre guns, besides four rapid.
lire Maximes. This equipment is COM
pleied with two torpedo tubes of the
Whitehead service.
She is barkentine rugged and carries
two cutters two wha,e.boats, two gigs
and fine motor launch of extraordin.
AIRY power.
She has been away from German ports
for over the usual two years in which
every ship of the Kaiser's navy is sup
posed to report at heme, and is really
now on her home.ward bound voyage.
She came around the Horn about four
teen months ago. from Newport.News,
and has touched at every port Of impor-
tanoe between her point of departure
and skagway. Alaska. She departs
hence today for San Francisco, and win
leave that port for her national waters
via the trans. paeihe route and the Suez
canal.