Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-30
ROOSEVELTDINES WITH CREW
President Pays Unexpected Honor tC
Jackies on Bsttleship Missouri.
EXECUTIVE WITNESSES TARGET PRACTICE
Later He Has His Photograph
Taken with the Victorious Gun
Crew-HiGh scores
Mede.

BARNSTABLE, Mass, Sept. 29.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt visited the North Atlantic
fleet off Cape Cod today and left with
enthusiastic praise for the officers and
crews of the fleet. The crew of the battle
ship Missouri on which the president spent
the day, cheered themselves hoarse as he
left the ship at $780, for they had had an
honor paid them which no other crew in
the navy had ever received. The president
and his guests sat down to dinner with
the jackies This feature of the trip was
a surprise both to the officers and the
men.
When the Missouri left the target ground
and returned to its anchorage and the
first mess call was sounded on marine s
trumpet. the notes had not ceased echo
ing throughout the fleet when the presi-
dent called Admiral Evans to his side and
said that he and his guests would take
dinner with the sailors The necessary
orders were issued and the sailors Jumped
to their feet in surprise when they saw
President Roosevelt walk on the after
gundeck and take his place at a table where
he and his guests had the same mess that
was being served to the sailors at the
surrounding tables.
President Refuses Napkin.
One of the men observing that there
were no napkins at the presidents table
rushed to the ward room TO procure the
necessary table linen. When he returned
the president thanked him, but said he was
dining with the boys" today and would
have no privileges which they did-not
enjoy The sailors. pleased with the presi-
dents action, took no further steps until at
the conclusion OF the dinner when they
aak knx Of
cigars which had been obtained by sub
scription from the navy canteen.
President Roosevelt left for oyster Bay
this afternoon after he had received a
long dispatch from Secretary Taft, dealing
with the situation in Cuba.
The president arrived at the entrance
OF Cape Cod bay at about 9 o'clock this
morning. Rear Admiral Evans left the
flagship Maine shortly afterward and went
to the presidents yacht, accompanied by
Congressman C. Lowering. At o'clock
the president boarded the Missouri. At
his request the usual presidential salute
OF twenty-one guns was omitted.
The moment the presidential party ar
rived on the Missouri the champion of the
North Atlantic feet started out to the
target grounds. On the way the president
visited the various parts OF the ship, in
spected the turrets, ward rooms. etc.
Target Practice Begins.
Firing at the targets. anchored 1,6So yards
away, was begun almost Immediately.
While the six-inch guns were being fired
the president stood behind the gun crew
and watched through a strong glass the
admirable Workmanship displayed Every
shot fired found the target, not miss being
recorded
When the ship turned and went back over
the course President Roosevelt went to the
forward turret, where the big twelve-inch
guns were being prepared. During the
firing of these guns he did not remain in
the turret, the mechanism having been ex-
planned to him earlier in the day.
When the ship returned 10 it's anchorage
a newspaper photographer asked the presi-
dent to pose for a picture, and the presi-
dent Immediately gave his consent on con-
dition that his picture should be taken with
the victorious gun crew.
After the regular practice began. IN order
TO show the president the value of the team
work in training trials were held from
the turrets and siN-inch guns. the maneu-
vers being the same as in actual firing.
except that dummy charges were used in
stead Of powder This was followed by
target practice at l.6S0 yards with siN-inch
guns and twelve-inch turret guns, the
speed of the ship being ten knots and the
size OF the targets 17x2o feet.
scores of Highest Crews.
The following scores were made:
The forward turret. in charge OF Lieu
tenant T. l.. Johnson, fired eight shots,
making eight hits, in one run across the
range at the rate OF 22S hits per turret per
minute. The trainer was benjamin Hare,
seaman; the right gun pointer was W.
Gibbons, bOatswain's mate; left pointer,
Charles Blanchard boatswains mate. and
L. X. Boyer, turret captain.
The six-inch guns were fired by three
pointers, each pointer firing eight shots
and making eight hits. The first six-inch
minute. the second pointer made 81 hits