Evening star., 1908-01-13

Harbor of Rio Janero. where Uncle Sans battl
equator. which made them immune from
the attentions of King Neptune, who had
the greatest day in his career. His royal
flag was displayed from the mainmast of
each of the ships, and he came aboard in
the time-honored manner over the bow to
, see that all the neophytes were duly In
ittiated into the mysteries Of his court.
Discretion was indeed the better part of
valor in treating with his majesty. When
any of the uninitiated attempted to resist
the rather rough attention paid to them
by the kings courtiers they only called
down on themselves much worse treat
nent. Various ceremonies were indulged
in and everything passed of In most
laughable manner
The Neptune who visited the Louisiana
was In a particularly gracious humor.
and as few offered any desperate resist
ance to his royal attentions he conde-
scended to announce that special honorary
certificates would be forwarded to Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt in due recogni-
tion of the fact that they had visited
Panama, which was near the royal do
main. His majesty declared that, al
though the President was absent in body.
he recognized that he was present in
spirit at the initiation of those who never
before had had the great honor Of cross
ing 'the line"
A Wild Barkentine.
At 1880 on the night Of January 0 a
northbound barkentine. with lights set,
but burning very dimly. was sighted close
to the fleet to the west. For some un-
known reason she did not hold her course.
but suddenly shifted her helm and ran
among the ships Of the first squadron of
the first division, Rear Admiral Evans
division, and passed between the Louisi-
flagship OF Rear Admiral William II. EN-
cry, commanding the second division Of
the first squadron. Then some one on the
fbarkentine saw the ships of the second
squadron OF the third division, Rear Ad-
miral Charles NJ. Thomas, and the sailing
vessel ran back of her original course.
The battleships were thrown into some
confusion by the movement to avoid a
collision, but as soon as the danger was
passed they speedily resumed their align
ment The barkentine had a narrow es-
icape. 1t was generally believed that with
a favoring wind and everything drawing
well. the helmsman on the sailing vessel
had fallen asleep at the wheel.
On the night Of January there was a
spectacular searchlight drill lasting half
:, an hour. ninety-six beams being thrown
IN every direction.
At 2:3O Friday morning a gun doomed
from the Missouri. this being signal
that a man had fallen overheard. Every
gines. Boats were lowered and the search
lights were thrown all over the face of
the sea- Tor half an hour the search was
kept mp In vain, the boats rowing In every
direction Then the boats were signaled
to return to their respective ships. the
engineS were started and the voyage
resumed.
The crew Of the Missouri were then
mustered to ascertain which OF them had
been lost. when 1t was discovered that
1t had been a false alarm One of the
crew. who was suffering from nightmare.
had shouted Man overboard!' and the
cry being repeated by those who heard
It reached the officef of the deck, who
Immediately caused the signal gun to be
fred. There was much relief among all
the crew when 1t was learned that no
one had been lost. What happened to the
man with the nightmare is still matter
of conjecture.
Reputation Hard to Equal.
As the fleet was bound out from Port
of Spain Admiral Evans signaled from the
Connecticut an extract from a farewell
letter to him by Sir H. NJ. jackson, gov
ernor of Trinidad. In which he said that
he had had experience with the fleets Of
the world and had spent seven years at
Gibraltar. and he congratulated Admiral
Evans on the conduct Of his bluejackets
while at Port of Spain. He added:
They have established reputation
which It would be hard to equal and i'm
possible to beat"
Hundreds Of launches. tugs and small
boats circled about the battleships until
long after the sun had gone down. Not
less than $4,000 to 10000 persons were
aboard these boats. and more than SO, 900
others were gathered ashore to celebrate
/ city was beautifully Illuminated, and a
gala occasion has been made in honor Of
I the visitors.
| To some extent the progress Of the fleet
strong currents and the swell but by
/ poor coal and minor arrangements of the
auxiliary machinery of several of the
ships. Until Friday. the 10th. a uniform
speed OF ten knots was maintained. The
speed was then increased to eleven knots,
and finally to twelve. All through the
voyage they encountered pleasant weather.
and at no time was the heat excessive,
even while crossing the equator.
The first land sighted from the time
OF leaving Port of Spain was OF Pernam-
| buco on the morning OF the 8th, at a
distance OF twenty miles. The next land
| 10 be sighted was Cape Frio yesterday
morning. From abreast Of Pernambuco
there were gentle, variable breezes, with a
smooth sea and long swell from the
southwark. With a favorable current the
battleships successfully completed the
longest single passage they have yet made
-3. 800 miles, In which their capacity was
well tested.
American Jackies in Row.
Dispatches received here from Pernam-
buco tell Of disorders among the sailors
OF the torpedo fiotilla, which arrived there
January 10. While on shore leave the
sailors became engaged in a row among
themselves and with the police, who in
terfered. number Of the sailors received
slight injuries. and twenty Of them were
arrested on charges of drunkenness. Lieut..
Commander Cone had a conference with
the peace authorities, and will prevent
further trouble between the police and the
sailors who are allowed shore leave
Edward Gray. a sailor on the torpedo
boat Lawrence. while climbing a ladder
on the side of the vessel fell into the sea
and was drowned.
In view Of the Interest in the progress
of the American feet around South
America and its presence In the harboI
of Rio Janeiro. a<city about which little
Is generally known in the United States
the director of the international bureau
OF American republics. Mr.. John Barrett
while minister to different South Ameri
can countries. has prepared the follow.
ing statement:
Rio Janeiro, where our fleet Is spending
ten days, IL one of the most beautiful, in.
teresting and progressive cities of the