The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-16

was not until the MayfloWer had near
ly reached the Old Point pier that the
president had his first view of the
| splendid fleet. On either side of a veri-
tible marine boulevard the ships were
disposed in two 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 figura-
tive arms overclasped waiting for the
| Mayf1ower to pass beneath and down
the lane to meet the other ships which
were paired on opposite sides and
| reached full two miles away.
Each ship was gaily dressed from
| Jackstam to flag post, the long lines of
varicolored bits of signal bunting hut-
| tering in the early morning breeze first
| in an almost perpendicular rise from
! the stem to the signal yards surmount-
| ing the fore fighting top then reaching
! straight back to the after top and
| down again to the stern rail of the
quarter deck. Black smoke pouring
from every funnel indicated that the
| steam for the first step in the memor-
able voyage.
Connecticut Leads the Firing.
The Connecticut, flying the flag of
Rear Admiral Evans, commander-in-
| chief of the expedition was the first
to speak to the president. Her star
board and port saluting guns began
alternatiVely to proclaim their respect
and duty 10 the nations chief. Fol-
lowing the motion of the flagship, as
it is expressed in the navy, the other
ships took up the firing and in less
than two minutes 336 guns had
doomed. A play at mimic warfare by
the finest fleet the American navy has
ever boaSted cou1dnot have produceda a
more spectacular effect. The smoke
of battle for time enveloped the feet
and the smell of gunpowder, filled the
air. Again without formal recognition
of the honors bestowed, the Mayiower
entered the warship lane and proceed
of the assembled fleet let go her
anchors and swung around partly, to
face the flow of the ebbing tide.
No sooner had she done so than
the torpedo launch of the Connecticut
with Admiral Evans and his staff on
board, was darting swiftly to her side.
Making the after gangway, the Of
f1cers, in all the regalia of special full
yacht to pay their respects to the
president. He received them on the
quarter deck and the exchange of
greetings was more hearty than for
NAL
Following the Connecticut's lead, |
the launches from all of the other
ships were soon swarming about the
Mayfiower. From the Minnesota came
the steam barge of Rear Admiral c. |
NJ Thomas, commander of the second |
the barge of Rear Admiral William H. l
r. Morey, commander of the second I
division and from the Alabama came /
Rear Admiral G. S. Speery, command |
ing the fourth division. Each admiral |
was accompanied by his staff. The i
captains commanding the 16 ships |
followed the flag officers to the May |
flower and with their arrival the |
reception reached its climax
The last goodbye ceremonies were |
few and within half an hour after Ad-
miral Evans had first stepped upon the !
quarterback of the yacht all OF the OIL
GERS were once more in their dancing
launches returning to their ships. The
last goodbyes had been said, the presf-
dents last wishes of good luck had
been uttered.
Suddenly the signal yards of the Con-
necticut flashed the message:
"Get under way Immediately, follow
ing the motions of the flagship
orders volleyed from each vessels
bridge. They were conveyed by warn
ing bells to engine rooms, through the
musical notes of half a score of bugles
and shrill whistles of the "bo'sun"
pipes. Dressing lines were hauled in
and as they tumbled to the decks, the
ships were robbed of gala attire. Ev-
was in cruising trim now and
the time for play was past.
With the departure of the fleet Off
GERS the Mayflower proceeded to get
under way almost at once, SO as to
midable column and lead the way to
the reviewing waters off Thimble shoa1
light house, ten miles out in Chesa-
peake bay. or two-thirds of the way
from Hampton Roads to the stretch of
ocean outside the Virginia CapeS, Henry
and Charles AS the Mayf1ower retreat
ed down the warshfp lane each vessel
she passed manned the rail with blue
Jackets, all Of whom stood at attention.
Meantime the giant cranes on board
the war vessels were reaching out and
picking up the steam Launches ana
running boats and storing them snug
Iy in their berths high up IN the super
structure and safe from the crashing
boom of storm waves to be encoun-
tered on the trip.
Anchors Are Lifted.
Next from the ships can1e the whir
and hiss of steam driven windlass and
The grinding crank of lifting anchor
chains whose massive links were bent
Of six inch steel Sixty fathoms of
chain had been laid out on each ship.
This is ten times the depth of the
Roadstead channel, but necessary to
keep the vessels free from fouling In
he swinging currents of the tide
work of raising anchor had begun al
most simultaneously on each of tbs {
sixteen ships. Stripping them OF all
and and harbor mud as they rose t
rom the surface.
The Connecticut, head of the col {
INN and the other ships of the first
liyision. the Kansas, the Vermont, and 6
he Louisiana, were the first to get t
heir anchors folded on the bows. Then I
anne for each navigator and captain :
bit of difficult maneuverfng at close :
uarters The sweep of the ebbing
ide had turned every ships stem to =
he west and it was necessary to swing .
ach vessel around to take position
or the eastern start to the capes. One
" one. the other armor clads posted '
heir position pennants to the fore t
ruck, signifying that they were ready t
0 get under way. Q