Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-17

as they We're uttered. Then, with the
brief ceremony ended. he SraspeI Nd
miral Evans hand and gave il the
heartiest Of shakes The two convers-
ed together informally for n moment or
two until other arriving flag and COM
handing officers set the reception in
full swing
When Admiral Evans was about to
take his leave and get the fleet under
way the President followed him to the
gangWay and then called him aside for
ncdrl! five minutes of earnest consulta
ton. The President spoke with his
usual emphasis and the admiral listened
intently with affirmative mods.
During the reception the President
was photographed with the officers
grouped about him. a marine guard
aud band were stationed on the May
| flowers decks and the ceremonies of
receiving and sending away the visit
| ing officers gave a martial touch of
color, to the occasion. Rear Admiral
Berry commanding the Norfolk navy
yard journeycd to Hampton Roads on
the torpedo boat Stringham to pay his
respects to the President and his dark
hulled. rakish looking craft passing in
among the Whitehead battleships sug
gested the grimmer side of Il navy's
being. Black Of hull and tunnels. with
no touch OF color anywhere in relief.
the Stringlam glided about like some
creepy reptile. There was another tor
pedo craft in the picture-thc Tinri.
which acted as convoy to Mayilower
bu; the Trinri was far more pleasing
in her sta green paint with Il bright
| yellow band about her forward stack.
She remained by the side OF the May
| Hover throughout the ceremonies.
| LII parting with the officers of the fleet
President Roosevelt was wholly informal
and gave each a cordial handshake. plac-
cd hand on each uniformed shoulder
and gave them q hearty goodbye.
! Tho waiting fleet prepared early to vel
come the President and then bid him
| adiru. Long before the first gray tints
of the breaking day. the red and white
;tdois lantern on mastheads were flashing
signals from divisional hagships Sailor
! men by the hands We're busy polishing
decks and brassworl for the coming sun
to set sparkling against the buff Of the
vessels superstructures. She ever busy
little steamboats, We're making their last
! trips from the shore. their impatient
! whistles screeching warming to tardy
mail ordeTlcS laden with last messages
of goodbye to the departing fleet. whel
the sun broke above tie eastern horizon
IT was not long after the anchor lights
had disappeared that the slim white hui
of the May flower could be made out il
the distance. Then the final preparations
were rushed with will. Orders had bee,
given to dress ship at o'clock and tn
last bells Of the morning watch lad no
been struck when the dressing lines, afiut
ter with vari-colorcd signal flags. wer
litted to the trucks above the fighting
tops These bright adornmcnts appeare,
az if by magic on every ship Of the nee
AMI remained aloft until the Presiden
had taken his place at the head of tn
line and the beginning Of the Pacifi
cruise was an actually. Then they cam
; tumhling to the deck and the ships ono
more assumed the simple guise of cruis
ing trim.
The Old Point shore and the rampant
, Of historic old Fortress Monroe wer
lined with thousands Of persons as III
feet lifted anchor and set sail. Othe
thousands were gathered aboard cXcul
sion craft Of all kinds. The Govcrnmcr
u. pier projecting far ont into the ROAD
nj OLD Point was a mass of humanity
the crowd were gathered wives. sister
ana Swecthcarts Of officers ard cnliste
men, all feeling the common mingled az
Il mira ton for the vast marine picture III
: folded before them and the sadness of
y long parting with relatives and friends.
? was peculiarly appropriate. too, th'
Il when the flagship Connecticut swept !
$ the rier tie band assembled on the qua
: t.ldrck played "Tho Girl I Left Behir
! Nc" and then more plaintively "Au
& Lang Sync," followed in turn by Il
q