The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-03-28
Illinois and Alabama
Did NOT Enter HaF-
Dor, But Are on
Target Range.
WHERE THEY WILL REMAIN FOR
SEVERAL DAYS, ENGAGING IN
PRACTICE - MANY BLUEJACK-
ETs WERE GIVEN SHORE LEAVE
LAST NIGHT AND MANY MORE
WILL BE GRANTED LIBERTY To-
DAY AND TOMORROW.

Twenty warships entered port yes
terday. The fleet is by far the lar
gest ever to enter a gulf port at one
time. and their presence was shown
in an unmistakable manner last night,
when the blueJackets were given
shore leave. and livened up the city
to a considerable degree. The vessels,
ranging from the largest battleships
to torpedo boat destrOyers and dis
patch boats are now at anchor off the
city They began to enter the harbor
during the forenoon, having arrived
off the bar the night previous, and
continued to come up and drop anchor
until late in the afternoon.
The Kearsarge. the flagship of Rear
Admiral Barker, was the first to enter.
She crossed the bar early in the fore
noon, and coming up the narbOT, drop
ped anchor Just OF -Palsfox wharf.
Following her vas the Missouri, AM
then came the other battleships, fol-
lowed by cruisers, gunboats and tor
pedo boat destrOyers. The entire fleet
contains vessels from four squadrons.
The ships are here for the annual
target practice, and will remain for
more than two months. Their arrival
was anticipated, as they had been
spoken by wireless telegraphy sew
eral days previous.
Many Spectators.
When it became known that the YES
sells were entering the harbor many
persons 1ocked to the various wharveS
of the city and viewed them as they
steamed slowly up the harbor and
dropped their pCnderous anchors. The
fog, which was very thick during he
early portion of the forenoon. prevent
ed the ships from entering the harbOr
as early as expected. but a. soon as
the fog lifted the Kearsarge crossed
the bar and came up the harbor, fol-
lowed by the entire fleet. The last Of
the ships were at anchor before dark,
and presented a pretty scene in the
bay.
Admiral Barker Pleased.
Read Admiral Barker, commanders
in-chief, was pleased to again reach
Pensacola. He visited mere last yeaE
and spent about two months, when the
fleet engaged in practice on the ranges,
and expressed himself yesterday ate
noon as being glad to again come to
this port. He will shortly turn over
command of the feet to Rear Admiral
RObley d. Evans. In fact the change
will occur within the next ten days,
when the Maine will probably displace
the Kearsarge as flagship, as she is
better fitted for a flagship than the
Kearsarge. The change Of the ad-
mirafs flag is an event which will be
witnessed with much interest by many
persons, as the ceremony attendant
upon the same is very interesting.
Blue Jackets Ashore.
Several hundred bluejackets from
the various ships were given shove
leave yesterday afternoon and spent
the night in the city. The scenes wit
messed in hotels and restaurants were
familiar, owing to many similar ones
seen during the past two years when
the ships spent several months here.
Restaurants were crowded with the
Jackies, who were hungry for a change
OF diet, and while the saloons were
well patrOnized. there were very few
OF the boys intoxicated. The liberty
parties will continue each day until all
of the men have been given an oppor-
tunity of coming ashore.
Were Recently Paid of.
Pay day with the entire fleet occur
red on the 25tn and as result all Of
the jackies came ashore with consider
able money. Not only have they one
months salary but the previous one,
as they had no opportunity Of going
ashore at Culebra or Guantanamo.
Two Ships at Practice.
Two ships are now at practice, the
Illinois and Alabama They did not
enter the haTbor with the other yes
sells, but stopped in the gulf and began
preparations for practice on the target
range. They will be engaged in this
work for some time, and win then
enter port and give the men shore
liberty.
Quite number Of officers from tne
various vessels came into the city yes
terday- afternoon and last night and