New-York tribune., 1907-12-17

other ships of the first division-the Kansas. .hs
y.rr,ont and the Louisiana-were thS first 10 get
their anchors folded on their BOWS. men 80, .
for each navigator snd captain 4 piL ei "iil'
roanoeuvring at close quarters. The sweep oi t''
ehhinr tide had turned every ships stem 10 INC
,,-ee+ and II was necessary swing each FesSeI
around take position for the eastward star. 70 "
the Canes One by one other armorciads
boisted their position penna1ts 10 the lore uUCh'
sienifvinS that they ready 20 get unoer way!
r1a eapsbins n. each Of the three divisions subor-
dinate to first did not hoist their penhahts
until last anchor chains of the Immaculate co''-
mand were stowed. The beat of giant copper
bladed twin propellers churned the roadstead
waters TO milky white they manoeuvred for the
start.
FULL SPEED AHEAD ORDERED
When at last all sixteen ships were in position
in single column, natural order and distance
four hundred yards apart the engine room indca-
tors. In ths depths Of the steel protected
decks, showed full speed ahead For the pur-
poses OF this cruise full speed means an easy pace
of ten knots hour, and IL was on this basis
that the ships bade farewell to the great crowds
gathered on the Old Point shore and moved away
from their familiar anchorage ground. As the big
vessels gained headway they one after another
picked I'D their bones from the furrowed wake
of the flagship
The Presidents yacht well down the hay
when the bsttleshp column began to move. Com
the water formation about Thimble Shoal light Is
locally known. the Mayfoxer again let go her
anchors and stood by review the Pacific bound
parade.
There was little time 10 wait before the wide
girthed hull of the Connecticut, gimmering white.
showed off the quarter rail. Coming toward the
Nayfiower almost bow at the head of the far
flung line, great clouds Of curling black smoke
laaninc from her three towering funnels-bufr
painted 20 coincide with the color OF the super
-rirh hal
sailors in their nattiest suits of blue with marine
guard, full uniformed and stiff at attention on
tho quarterback, with band playing the national
anthem with Admiral Evans on the afterbridge,
high above the main deck, with the Union Jack
at the stern. the two starred rear admrals ensign
of blue al the main truck and a spotless new
American flag uttering from flagstaff at the stern,
the Connecticut presented picture which fairly
thrilled those who saw, and set patriotic pulses
beating quick ming rhythm.
The President Lifted his hal, and the spontaneous
cheer he voiced was quickly taken up by others
in his party From his position the Maynower's
bridge the President had uninterrupted view of
the entire pageant.
SERIES OF SALUTES BEGUN.
When abreast the Presidential yacht the Con-
necticut began her series of salutes. The at
the rails at the word of command. raised their
right hands their caps and held them there until
the Mayfiower was cleared. On the forward bridge
Captain Hugo Osterhaus and the fleet navigating
officer 10 attention with a flourish of swords
Admiral Evans and the members of his staff Sd
Iuted similarly in from the after bridge. while
the marine guard, with polished rifles stood mo-
tionless at present arms; drums aboard the flag
ship were ruffing their tokens of respect when at
last came the strains of The Star Spangled Ban
ner" floating the waves.
Just beyond the Mayfiower the sautng cannon
were brought into play, and with twenty-one guns
the flagship voiced her farewell message the white
alobues of powder smoke rising like ffImy balloons
from either bow to become lost in the deep hued
coal vapor whirlng from the glowing fires beneath
Kissing boilers.
II peculiarly fitting that the Connecticut
should lead the greatest fleet sent from Amer
lean shores She is the product from stem to stern
from keel plate to fighting top Of the American