Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-21
American RallIsships Given a Royal
Welcome as They Steamed
Into HaPbap Yesterday.
ADMIRAL EVaHs SLIGHTLY BETTER
Commander OF the Fleet who
Has Been Suffering from Rhcuma-
tism Ever Since the Departure from
Hampton Roads win Not be Able
to Take Part in Festivities.
fBy Associated preus,


cALLAO. Feb. 20.-Thc American
battleships under Rear Admiral Evans
locking clean ana trim and powerful
In the tropical sun. came to anchor
IN this port soon after s O'clock this
morning. The booming of the salute-
announced the arrival OF the fleet bu,
there was no need to send out signals.
for every resident Of Callao and great
crowds from Lima, that stands hack
of The hllis. had awaited with expec-
fancy the first glimpse of the adyanc-
ing column.
Callao was In holiday array. and
many Thousands viewed from tho
wharves, the hcadlands ana tho shlps
TN The harbor. the imposing scene.
enormous crowds went down the bay
on excursion steamers and cheered
the American men OF war.
The Peruvian cruiser Coroncl Dolo-
gezi. bearing the first official welcome
TO the fleet Joined the American yea
sells % miles To the southwark ana
acted as escort up the coast She
led the way into the hnrbDr this
morning With the flagship of the fleet
close behind 1t was stated TO-
day that Admiral EvanS. who has
been suffering almost from the To-
ginning Of the voyage from rhenma-
tlsu was slightly better, hut as yet
he does not feel that he should risk
the danger of coming ashore. Rear
Admiral Charles NJ. Thomas. COM
mander OF the second squadron Will
represent him at the official ccre-
monies but Rear Admiral Evans Is
stu the commander OF the feet.
The battIeships will remain here
probably for ten dys and viii be Join
ed by inc torpedo boat iioiilla near the
close of their stay at Callao. Ar
inngements have been made for fes-
tivities of all kinds. Including bull
fight, which not less than five thous-
and OF the blue jackets VIII see and
a regatta for which preparations have
been going on for several weeks.
President Pardo will give a recep-
ton TO the officers tomrrow after
noon and Wnshingtons birthday viii
he made gala occasion.
Trip Through the Straits.
The fleet had successful and nm
eyentful passage up from Punta Ar
enas. They left Plnta Arenas Mt
eleven o'clock at night, February 7
ana in column formation they made
their way through the western half
OF the Straits of Magellan, The tor
pedo boat fo,illa accompanied the
warships
Saturday the s, the sky was over
caF', the weather was cold and the
wind llew squally and fresh. forcing
the low flying clouds aside for occas-
ional FLASHES of brilliant sunshine.
The snow clad peaks on either side
OF the Straits made q fitting getting
to the wild weather.
As the vessels steamed steadily
through the narrow confines of Eng
lish Reach. Crooked Reach and Long
Reach. and finally past the Evangcl-
lists Islands, out to the open sea. the
scene was one OF wild. rugged and
pictur1 sque beauty One after ano-
Their OF the white battleshlps forged
through the deep gorge in the bleak,
mountains that form the souther-
most point Of land OF South America.
10 north and to the south. the noun
tain valleys showed glinting glaciers
with cascades streaming down the
marrow cuts and defilcs to the lower
levels TO find their way in rushing
rivulets 10 the sea.
Proud Of the Fleet.
AS the vessels finally cleared in
safety the last headlands and the dan
gerous Islands that bar the entrance
10 the open ocean, every man in the
feet was filed with sense of pride
in the successful accomplishment of
a difficult and dangerous piece OF ma
vigation
Once during the passage the fleet
ran into the rain and fog and tho
headlands and mountains marking the
western entrance to the straits We're
quickly lost to view
Tho warshlps then had fog for four
days. during which time they kept in
touch by means OF their whistles. On
the fifth day the weather cleared and
remained fine until the fleet steam
ed into Callao this morning under
"a warm trODlcal sun