Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-12-16
ADMIRAL EVANS
DRAWS UP
ANCHOR
Backbone of American Navy
Is Off on $4,000 Mile
Trip Around
Cape Horn.
FLEET PRESENTS THRILLING
Scene UNDER MOTION
President Views Pageant From in
Tail of Horseshoe" as Ships
Steam Out of Chesapeake Bay
With Flags Flying and
Bands Playing.

Old Point Comfort, Va, Dec. 1e.-
The backbone OF the American navy,
sixteen first class battlsships. under
command of Rear Admiral Robert
ID. Evans, set sail today for the Pa
eide ocean, A. 14S0U~fnile cruise,
which has set all the world talking.
Farading in review before the
president of the Unued states and
saluting as they went stately by the
white vessels drew anchors from
their rendezvous ground at Hampton
Roads, steamed around the famous
old Virginia capes and were lost to
view on the southern horizon.
AT ten knots speed they went,
headed for the West Indies
The feet will bring up at Trinidad
on Christmas eve, the first stage Of
the journey ending there. The fleet
passed out in a single column. the
Connecticut, the flagship of Admiral
Evans, leading the way. They were
four hundred yards apart and from
the Connecticut to the Kentucky,
which brough up the rear of the line,
reached a distance of over four
miles.
President Views Spectacle.
Many yachts and excursion boats
accompanied the fleet down the bay
President Roosevelt's party on the
Mayhower, included Secretary of the
Navy Metcaf.
The naval dispatch boat Dolphin
also came from Washington with a
party of congressman.
Upon arriving at the roads the
Mayilower anchored in the very CEN
ter of the throbbing fleet. Then fol-
lowed the reception on board, the
president having his farewell mes
sage for the four rear admirals and
the sixteen commanding officers
AT the conclusion of the meeting
on the Mayfiower, the president
shook each officer. by the hand and
as they went over the side bade them
official adieu,
With the departure of the fleet the
officers of the Mayhower proceeded
TO get under way almost at once, so
as TO take her place at the head
Of the formidable column and lead
the way to the viewing waters off
Thlmble Shoal light house, ten miles
out in Chesapeake bay.
Orders were issued at the same
time upon all the warships 10 hoist
anchors. and by the time the bat
tleships began to move the presi-
dents yacht was well down the bay.
Coming to anchor near Tail OF
Thimble ShOal light house is known,
the Mayfower let go anchor and
stood by 10 review the Pacific bound
parade.
Connecticut Wins Praise
There was little time to wait be-
fore the Ccneeicut showed Off the
quarter rail.
The Connecticut's decks were man
ned by a half thousand sailors I'm
their nattiest suits of blue, with the
marine guard, in full uniform and
STAFF at attention" on the quarter
deck A band was playing the ma
tional anthem. Admiral Evans stood
on the after bridge high above the
main deck with the Union Jack at
the stem, a two-starred rear admir-
ais ensign Of blue at the main truck
and a spotless new American flag on
the staff at the stern. The Connecti-
cut presented a picture which fairly
thrilled those who saw II and set
their patriotic pulses beating in
quickened rythm.
President Roosevelt lifted his hat
and gave a spontaneous cheer His
voice was quickly taken up by others
OF his party as from his position on
the Mayflower bridge he viewed the
entire pageant. The fleet passed out
of the Virginia capes shortly after
noon.