The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-17


.boat Dolphin. with n party of Con-
gressmen on board, also participated IN
the review.
Fleet Begins 10 Sail.
There was not single hitch In the
program Wien the streamer OF faes
came down from sixteen ships stimuli
taneously the waiting crowd caught Tue
signal 10 mean that they were READY
e. scil. and for the fraction of d mo-
ru.nt there was not sound from tue
shore. Soon. however, the Mayllowcr
turned her Prov to the sea, the eNcur-
sion boats, moving awlSwardly ana
trying to keep beyond the range OF
danger. which they did. Get under
way immediately" was flashed from the
Connecticut, and similar orders wig
wagGed from every vessels bridge.
Buglea and bells mingled. y swarm of
men ran back and forth on the flag
ships deck, but carrying out we'll
organized drill. Turning as easily as
n peaceful child asleep, the Conneeti-
cut switched around and picked up her
speed. The star Spangled Banner"
''The Girl Left Behind Me-" and then
Aud Lang Syne" were played by the
hand. the officers all the while standing
NJ attention.
Going out with wind and tide. with
scarcely ripple now, she moved
proudly, but two of hsr tunnels show
ing the strain from tile engines below.
The admiral's pennant WAS plainly dis
cernible from the shore. Four hun
dred yards behind by the tape the
Kansas fell In; then the Vermont, and
then the Louisiana, comprising the
first division OF the first squadron
With the same distance intervening
the Georgia. head of the second divi-
sion. first squadron, trailed. followed
By the New Jersey, the Rhode Island
tsnd the Virginia.
The Minnesota was lying TO tho star
board side of the steaming column of
steel. She had swung into position
with the tide, and all except trained
eyes expected her TO cut In. as she was
gradually hut slowly goins forward
That. however. WAS not q part of the
plan. Directly behind the Minnesota,
flagship of the third division. second
squadron. were the Ohio. the Missouri
and the Maine-the namesake of that
one which was never forgot The
Maine made the twelfth in line, and
then. maneuvring like the Minnesota 1
the Alabama, flagship Of the fourth |
division, second squadron. followed as
the naval guard OF honor for the Illi- |
nois, the Kearsarge and the Ken
tucky. As the Kentucky. the smallest |
OF the fleet. was opposite the fort the |
was curving east by south
AT Thimble Light. all steaming Indian
file. but apparently abreast to the |
watchers in the rear. Miles out they
could be counted more easily than one |
could figure the distance between the |
Connecticut and the Kentucky, with
each of the sixteen placed 400 yards |
from the other.
The Review NJ the Cape.
The Presidents cruiser yacht had
moved more rapidly than the eight
knot speed OF Me f!spt. and was an
chored at ths' Eorseshoes Tail when
the Connecticut passed out on thu |
starboard side. The huh OF the adj
mirals ship. glimmering in the rea
Roosevelt sunshine of an ideal day
doomed up Oft the quarter rail. High
on the er-bridge the admiral STOOL.
As the first gun boomed--and even be-
fore-the Presidents hat was being
lifted UP and down. and then there
came q spontaneous cheer from those
around him that drowned the strains
Of music from the flngship's band.
Changing his position quickly as tn
stern OF the pace-maker OF the sea
got ahead. the President had magni-
hcent view OF li!e lleeL, WNlGnN Il leN, 4
moments before he had praised with
all the popular adjecuves at his COM
nand. But his view was brief, for .he
guns OF the Kansas We're sending
forth a roar, TO be answered by aiit
other cheer from the yacht.
Left Sobbing Ones Nci,.nd.
In that same style and order they
came and passed. The picture when
put into type Is duh and cold; the in
spiration of those who watched was
Chilled when the naval pageant was
lost under whirlwind OF smoke be-.
You'd the cape. Back near the Cham
berlin, where the battle fleet had stood,
1t seemed as j a great gap had filed.
the waters OF Hampton Roads. Out of
the windows of the structure, strangely
changed from one OF splendor TO one
of woe, hands iluttered and eyes that
were damp and dim followed the white
line until II disappeared. The parting,
with wives, sWeethenrts and mothers
had been Notwithstanding so TO those
that were left behind. This throng OF
sobbing ones had watched the fleet
until ii cleared The capes at noon. All
the while. however, the wireless sta
lions flashed other good-bys 1t was
due 10 these emotional moments at
Old Point that led 10 the wild and