The Washington herald., 1907-12-17
BIG FLEET OFF.
Continued from Page one.

Continued from Page One.
| ing. A sleepy crowd they were. None
OF their women folk came to the wharf
TO see them off. Partings had been said
/ in hotel rooms or secluded portions Of
hotel corridors. Few OF them had man
aged TO get breakfast, and It was doubt
ful If they would have time to snatch
bite aboard ship. for the etiquette OF
the occasion required change of cloth
ing 10 all the gorgeonsness of special full
dress-brass-bound uniforms. they call it.
for the beginning of the days ceremonies
al S O'Clock
In Gay Caparison.
Clocks and watches ashore said il was
three minutes past eight when, at a sig
nal from the Connecticut, Admiral Evans
flagship. every vessel in the fleet spread
her most gorgeous raiment OF gaudy sig
nal fiags-red, yellow. blue. white. Grim
son, black, and green. These flags were
attached 20 long ropes. so arranged that
when the word was given and the men
began to pull. the bright bunting leaped
into place from masthead to masthead,
from bowsprit to top yard
For half an hour or more the Mayfower
had been observed in the near distance.
and, as the flags were brought out. she
steamed, in a stately way, toward the
array of vessels shimmering in the bright
winters sun.
When she was near enough for those
aboard the nearest ship TO detect that
the pennant she flew was that OF the
President of the United States. pun OF
smoke came from the side Of the Con-
necticut. Before those on shore had
time to hear the report, there were other
puffs of smoke. and in a few seconds the
entire feet was banging away
Every ship Of the sixteen there fired
the Presidential salute Of twenty y-one
guns. Sixteen times twenty-one loud re-
ports is some noise Every ship banged
away like a good fellow. each trying. ap-
parently. TO get through first When the
echo Of the last shot had died away. the
Mayfiower was abreast Of Fort Monroe.
whose ramparts were topped with khaki
dressed soldiers. silhouetted against the
horizon The fort did its share Of the
saluting. but It was nothing compared
to the greater noise that the feet had
made.
The President Arrives.
By the time the soldiers had finished
their greeting to the President the May
flower was abreast the two ships nearest
shore. These were the Connecticut and
Minnesota, each heading a column Of
eight vessels. Between the columns the
Presidents yacht steamed with a dignity
that fitted the occasion.
Bunched deep along the sides Of the
main decks We're the crews Of the great
ships-solid lines OF blue. This was
the ceremony OF manning the sides.
On account OF the weather the sailors
wore overcoats. The bridge Of every ship
was packed with officers. They, too.
wore overcoats, thus hiding all the gor-
geOusness Of special full dress except
the richly decorated chapeau On the
quarterback were the band and the ma
rine guard.
AS the Mayfiower glided by silently
and with dignity attended by two grim.
black beetles-the torpedo boats Tingey
and Stringham-oficers and men on the
ships raised their right hands 10 their
headgear in silent salute, while the ma
rines brought their rifles silently 10 pre-
sent" There was not a sound-not even
a 'chug chug' from the Mayflower's en-
gines.
"Sfar SpRngled Hammer"
Then the band Of the Connecticut burst
into music, and in minute Of two every
band in the feet was playing "The Star
Spangled Banner" whose strains came
clearly over the water 10 those on the
Mayfiower. and were carried by the fresh
breeze 10 the thousands gathered on the
shore.
No man on board any OF the battle
ships needed 20 be told who il was
standing there alone on the bridge OF
the passing yacht. He stood alone a
solitary figure outlined strikingly against
the background OF the sky and water
In spite Of the chilly wind the President
wore no Overcoat. He was attired in /
conventional garb-top hat, frock coat. /
striped trousers
If ne were cold none OF those near /
at hand was able 10 detect any sign OF /
grouped the others who had come with I
him to see the review-women in heavy I
wraps and men IN overcoats.
MayfiOwer at Anchor.
When the Mayfiower reached a point /
midway between the two columns of 4
battle ships. she came to a standstiH 4
and her anchor dropped into the choppy 4
waters of the roadstead Up TO this 4
time she sported no holiday dress, but /
suddenly the long lines of gay signal |
flags, square, oblong. and triangular,
went into place from one mast to an
other. and down to the bow and stern.
There was a hitch for an instant One
Of the ropes from which the bunting
was suspended caught in the wireless
mast President Roosevelt, coming down
the stairs leading from the bridge saw
the trouble and paused to watch two
Sailormen put things right
1t was not yet 8 o'clock when Lieut..
Vogelgesang, the captain of
the Mayfiower, spied Admiral Evans
steam launch approaching the Presidents
yacht. The shTill whistle OF the bo's'n
plped the admiral over the side. and the
six side boys raised their chilled hands
IN salute
President Greets Admiral.
Three rufies." they call it. were sound
ID by the Mayfiower's red-coated bands
men, assembled on the port side of the
Iuarter-deck. The young marines along
side the band "prescnted" arms pras;