The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-12-27
FLEET At TRINADAl
Completes First Part Of VOy-
age TO the Pacific
ALL ON BOARD ARE WELL
City Decorated in HOaOr of The
Event

Admiral Evans and Stall Received
With Squad of Honor on Landing.
Blue Jackets Enjoy Themselves on
Shore-Slight Accident to Torpedo
Boat Destroyer-Christulas Greeting
From Secretary Mctcaf.
Port OF Spain, Trinidad. b. ". l.,
| December 24.-Although not due here
until today the American battieship
fleet arrived in this port yesterday,
completing the first leg of the 1900
mile Journey to ths Pacific.
Daylight today showed the warsh1ps
| anchored in four column formation
about four miles from the wharf. The
people crowded the water front TO
view the imposing array of white ships
of war, entertainment committees COM
pleted their final arrangements, and
tho town rapidly took ON it's best holi-
day attire.
| Port of Spain has prepared to well
good fellowship.
Numberless launches, row boats,
small yachts and harbor craft OF all
sorts began putting out at an early
! hour to take sightSeers over to the
American vessels. They clustered and
cruised about between the anchored
warships, glistening in the sunlight Of
warm, perfect day, while the crowd
voiced it's admiration
! Rear Admiral Evans accompanied by
| his staff, called on the governor of
Trinidad, Sir Henry Moore Jackson,
this morning. They We're received on
landing by a squad of honor from the
local militia A party Of officers from
the fleet came ashore this afternoon.
1.-The warships this morning took coal
| from the cOlliers.
| All on board the vessels are well.
| The tender Yankton arrived during
the night, several hours later than the
fleet She was unable to keep up with
the other vessels.
| Two thousand Of the men of the bat
tleship fleet were granted liberty this
Afternoon and were warmly welcomed
by the populace when they landed.
They gave themselves Up to the en-
| joyment of sightseeing and playing
baseball and other games. The town
presents lively appearance.
During the movements of the torpe-
| dc. boat fiotilla, preparatory to leaving
the harbor this morning, the destroyer
IWhipple's propeller fouled the anchor
chain Of the Fortuna. This accident
delayed the departure Of the fotllla
a second time. The torpedo boats re-
turned here yesterday after having sail
ed Sunday because Of damage to the
machinery Of the Lawrence.
| The Whipple was at once hove TO
and divers were at once sent down 10
clear the propeller. The accident
was not serious.
| The city Port of Spain lies on
curve in the Gulf of Paria, on the
west side OF the island of Trinidad II
is one of the cleanest, most attractive
towns in the West Indies. From the
| bav the view of the port is bright ana
beautiful; white walled houses cappeu
with red roofs nestle among luxuraht
land brilliant tropical foliage, IN the
lforeground sparkel the blue waters Oh
the gulf. while behind the town the
lepcircling hills make frame OF chang
ling hues.
It is an English town. English IS
the tongue Of the blacks Christmas
lis observed in the English way, ana
1.-The men Of our fleet will get an English
welcome. 1t IS a modern town, WIN
we'll paved streets. good street car
,servicc, good stores, good hotels az
ltractive tropical parks and extensive
igardens.
There are several clubs, some N the
city and others in the nearby country
The famous Trinidad asphalt lake Is
: sixty miles from Port Of Spain. Ii
supplies under lease to an American
: the raw material of American pave
ments. The waters Of the bay arc
shallow and vessels OF deep draft nave
to anchor some distance out. The cn-
mate at this season is warm and pleas
ant.
Washington, Dec. 24.-Admiral Ev-
: ans has reported to the navy depart
ment the safe arrival OF the battle
ship feet at Trinidad yesterday.
Secretary Metcalf today sent the fol
lowing Christmas greeting to the Oh