The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-12-26
TRINIDAD TAKEN
BY AMERICAN
FLEET
Seven Thousand Sailors Lant
On Island
MERRY DAY IMPORT OF SPAIN
Regatta Chief Feature OF Christmas
Celebration by the Crews Of Evans
Big Ships.

CnrlStInaS spirit ilidl peINaueu tho
American fleet was more like the cele-
bration of the Fourth of July THANH
that of the Christmas the men had
known in colder climes. decorations
there were In plenty and wreaths OF
holly and evergreens swinging that
had been brought along to keep alive
the membranes of the day. And
there were special dinners In the mess
rooms for the officers and turkey and
other good things for the men.
1t was not given to the men OF the
torpedo boat fotilla to spend Christ.
mas ashore, for in the early morning,
with flags flying and the firing of
salute to Admiral Evans flag, floating
on the main truck of the battleship
Connecticut, they steamed away to
Para, a five days journey. Had no
accident happened to two of the little
vessels they would have reached Para
tomorrow, but though the accidents
were OF minor nature II was deemed
better to make the repairs at this port.
Six or seven thousand of the blue
jackets were given liberty on shore
and entered into the spirit Of merry
making with the townspeople, whose
geniallty and hospitality have known
no bounds. This beautiful Anglo
Spanish town is at present looking its
best. and Christmas, with its warm
sunshine, was greatly enlivened by
the thousands of uniformed visitors
who at one time or another of the day
paraded its handsome thoroughfares
The feature of the festivities was a
regatta, in which many Of the battle
ships had crews. There were plenty
of exciting finishes, and enthusiasm
ran high. Admiral Evans, with his
staff, watched the struggles of tn,
competitors from his launch, and bis
crowds occupied points of vantage
along the course.
The American torpedo boat flotills
has left for Para on its way to the
Pacific after delay of twenty-foul
hours incident to the repair of dam
| hSt Nout WI oiC vi tbE HtOPChCis
of the Whipple fouled the anchor
chain of the collier Fortuna.
Christmas was observed on Admira
Evans fleet of battleships and on thu
torpedo boat fotilla with old time en-
thusiasm. The men had for thei
Christmas dinner soup. turkey wit
cranberry sauce. pie, coffee and cl
CARS and for one day at least lived a
high as the officers in the wardrooms
J The Culgoa and the Glacier, suppl
ships, have ten tons of candy o.
board.
= Rear Admiral Evans and Captain
Osterhaus, commander of the flagship
took Christmas dinner on the Cor
necticut, where both have sons. Mos
of the wardroom messes invited thei
) respective shippers down to dinner
and Christmas trees were plentiful.
First class conduct men are ashore
, riding in cabs, playing baseball an
r sampling green swizzles," the natiOI
, al beverage of Trinidad. The rae
r course is occupied by bluejacket bas'
e ball mines practicing.
: The Yankton has arrived. making
! total of twenty American wa
:, ships In the gulf of Paria, large
D force than was ever seen here, a
!, though fourteen British warships wei
j. here when the allies blockaded Ven
/, zuela.
The greatest enthusiasm prevails o
erywhere, due to the Christmas col
bration and the presence of the neet
Rear Admiral Evans and the div
u sional commanders of the feet atten
n ed reception at st. James barrack
n which proved delightful affair