New-York tribune., 1907-12-17
DETAILS OF THE START.
Great Fleet Gets Under Hay With
ont Hitch.

old Point Comfort Va. Dec 1s.-The hayflower
eu-rng around the water battery of Fort Mon
roe and into Hampton Roads shortly after o'clock
The saluting guns of the army post were the first
20 signal the arrival Of the President and his party
Tpenty-one times the cannon overlooking the pctl-
rescue noat Of this famous old army stronghold
voiced their notes of welcome. The white naval
yacht kept silently her way. accepting the salute
as her due and requiring outward form Of
recognition.
Aboard the sixteen warships, at anchor mile
further UP the Roads. buglers had already begun
20 summon officers and crews to quarters Most
of the men aboard the vessels had been called sew
eral times in the past TO welcome the President.
but there was special significance in to-day q
cerernouy. II a time simply 20 look pretty
on parade. but coupled with il was note Of good
by and good luck" which they felt had world Of
meaning
II until the Mayhower had nearly
reached the Old Point pier that the President had
his first view of the splendid fleet. On each side
a veritsbie marine boulevard the ships were dis
posed in long lines. the fagships Connecticut
and Minnesota standing respectively at the head of
the shore and outbound columns. Like players at
some giant game of London Bridge" the twin
battleships stood with fgurative overclasped
waiting for the Mayhower pass beneath and
down the lane 20 meet the her ships. which were
paired opposite sides. and reached full two miles
away
Each ship was gayiy dressed from jackstar TO
flag post. the long of varicolored bits of sig
nal bunting futtcring in the early morning breeze
first almost perpendicular rise from the stem
10 the signal yards surmounting the fore fighting
top. then reaching straight back to the after top
and again TO the stern rail OF the quarter
deck. Black smoke pouring from every funnel in
dicated that the engineers forces building up
steam for the first step in the memorable voyage.
The Connecticut flying the flag of Rear Admiral
Evans, commander in chief of the expedition. was
the first 10 speak the President Her starboard and
Sa1Ilting began alternately to proclaim
their respect and duty to the nations chief Fol-
lowing the motions of the flagship. as it is eN-
pressed in the navy, the other ships took the fir
ing and in less than two minutes time SSs guns
had doomed play at mimic warfare by the finest
feet the American navy has ever boasted could not
have produced a spectacular effect. The
smoke Of battle enyeloped the feet and the smell
OF gunpowder filed the air.
THE MAYFLowER DROPS ANCHOR
Again without formal recognition OF the honors
bestowed the MayhoWer entered he warship lane
and proceeding slowly TO point about midway of
the assembled feet, Jet go her anchors and swung
around partly, TO face the flow OF the ebbng tide.
No sooner had she done than the torpedo
launch of the Connecticut. with Rear Admiral
Evans and his staff board was dartng swiftly
10 her side Making the after gangway the officers
in all the regaiia Of special full dress uniform.
paired board the yacht to pay their respects 10
the President He received them the quarter
deck and The exchange of greetings more
hearty than formal. Following the Connectcut's
lead fle aeuncleS from ali me otner SHIPS were
SHarming about the M3ZTcwer- From the
Minnesota Ncame the steam barge of Rear Admiral
Charles NJ. Thomas commander OF the second.
squadron: from the Georgia there was the barge Of
Rear Admiral William H Emory, commando Of
she second division and from TIE Alabama came
N Rear Admiraf $ Sperry. commanding the fourth
division. Each admiral was accompanied by his
staff The captains commanding The sixteen ships
followed the flag officers TO the Mayhower. and
with their arrival the reception had reached its
7prseS <Hu and with i'm
half an hour after Admiral Evans had first stepped
on the quarterback of the yacht all Of the officers
were once more in their dancing launches return
ing 10 their ships The last goodbys had said
and IN. Presidents last wishes Of good luck had
been uttered. Suddenly the signal yards Of the
Connecticut flashed the message;
get under way immediately following the mo-
tons OF The flagship
Orders voIlered from each vessels bridge. They
were conveyed by warning bells 10 engine rooms.
through the musical notes of almost score Of bu
=tes and the shriil whistle OF the 'bosun's. pipe
Dressing lines hauled in. and as they tumbled
10 the deck the ships were robbed of gala attire
Everything was in cruising trim now and the time
for play was past
with the departure of the feet officers the May
eovrer ,rocceded 10 get under way almost at once.
so as to take her place at the head Of the for
1siilsiie column and lead the way TO the review
ing waters of Thirnbe Shoai Lighthouse, ten
miles out in Chesapeake Bay, two-thirds of the
Rsx- from HAMPTON Roads TO the stretch of
outside the Virginia Capes, As the Mayhower re-
treated down the ~srship lane each vessel she
passed manned the rail with biue1ackets, all or
whom stood at attention
Meanwhile the giant cranes board the
vessels were reaching out and picking up The
steam launches and stunning boats and storing
Them snugIv in their berths high up il the super
structure and safe from the crashing boom Of
storm waves to be encountered on the trip.
Next from the ships came the whir and hiss OF
stearl-1riven windiasses and the grinding cank OF
lifting anchor chains, whose massive links
,ent cf six-inch steel. Sixty fathonls Of chain had
heen psid out en- each ship. This is ten times the
depfh of the roadstead channel. but necessary o
keep the vessels free from foung in the swinging
currents of the tide. With the command to
-.IIeaye 'er .p," the work of raising anchors had
begun almost simultaneously each Of the sixteen
ships Big of water played upon
the climbing chair links. stripping them Of all
sand and harbor mud they rose TO the surface
The Connecticut, head of the column, and tho