The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-15
BATTLESHlPS DROP
ANCHOR AT SAN DIEGO
Continued From PAGE I

pONcIlui White lSnly were sent Qanc-
ing over the waves. playing now and
then on the crowded beach of the bril-
liantly illuminated hotel, then reaching
far away to the south to cOnjure from
the night the peaks of the coastal
range of mountains which mark the
boundary line between Mexico and the
United States.
Dazzling Display.
During all this radiant display the
old light house marking the rounding
point to the north-Point Loma's lone
ly beaeon-flashed its alternating red
and white signals in democratic SIM
plieity and wholly unmindful of the
spectacle the coming Of the ships and
their illumination afforded. On shore
scores of red signal fires were main-
tanned throughout the evening as a
welcome sign, and, above all, high in
the reaches of the sky. shone brilliant
southern moon, hurrying its way to rO
mantle fullness. The thousands who
journeyed from San Diego to the
beaches of Coronado to witness the
arrival of the fleet, remained to view
the beauties offered by the night.
The fleet let go its anchors-all
splashing in the water with .simultane-
Gus precision. at 12:47 p. M. just thir-
teen minutes before the announced
hour of arrival. For two hours the
ships had been in sight and their COM
ing had been watched with wonder by
the waiting throngs. So engrossed were
the people in the beauty of the scene
that they forgot to cheer. The people
Of California are not so well acquaint-
ed with the navy as they would like
to be. and the cruise of the battleships
to this coast has long been looked
forward to. Never before have armor-
clads of the Connecticut type, displac-
ing more than 5000 tons of water in
! their occupancy of the sea, been seen
along the Pacific coast, and the occa-
sion of their first visit is to be made
4 a memorable event wherever they
touch a port or cruise close enough to
the shore 10 be seen by the cities and
resorts that skirt the edge of the coast
Fleet in Perfect Condition.
The splendid condition of the ships
was manifest in every way. Outwardly
| they were the same sparkling, impress
sive, white and buff units of a pow
| erful aggregation of fighting force that
pointed their way out of Hampton
| Roads on a home coast 5000 miles away
with the president showing the way
| on his cruiser yacht, the Mayflower
| Internally, the ships were i'm better
condition than when they started, en-
! gines working with the smooth thrust
and throw of perfect bearings and care
! full handling. and boilers making steam
| with less consumption of coal because
| of the increased efficiency in the firing
rooms. The wash of the waves along
( the water line displayed from two to
/ three feet of red armor belts and show
! ed but comparatively little sea growth,
| despite the long stay in temperate and
! tropical waters.
Rear Admiral Charles NJ. Thomas.
| commanding. was on the bridge of the
| Connecticut as the fleet steamed to
| its anchorage. The absence of Rear
Admiral Evans, who is i'll at Paso Ro-
bles, is deeply regretted on all sides
Admiral Thomas at the dinner tonight
referred to the matter with much feel
I ing.
Approach of the Vessels.
| Fimy ribbons of smoke on the hori-
/ ZOn gave the first hint of the approa CHI
/ ing vessels this morning although the
| wireless messages had already told of
their near presence. Eyes were strain
! ed to catch the first glimpse of the
! ships. and telescopes and marine
| glasses were at a premium. The day
had opened black and threatening, and
/ it was not until after 10 o'clock that
/ the sun burned it's way through the
bank of lowering clouds. Once its rays
/ lldu peutAidleu the MIST however lnS
| sky quickly cleared and by the time
| the fleet came into view there was not
! a fleCk TO be seen.
As soon as the Connecticut let go her
anchors Colonel Thomas Wilhelm. L. s.
I A. retired. on the staff of Governor Gil
/ lett as assistant inspector general, put
I out from the shore and was received on
/ board the flagship. He presented the
compliments of the governor to Admiral
/ Thomas and said the chief executive of
/ California wished to call and pay his re-
| spects and formally extend welcome TO
| California waters. Admiral Thomas gra-
ciOusly replied that he would be glad to
/ receive Governor Gillett and his staff at
? 2:30 p. m. At that hour the governor,
accompanied by the uniformed members
/ of his staff, repaired aboard the flagship,
/ taking a government launch from the
coronado pier. Lieutenant Governor War
| rem r. Porter also was member of the
! party.
Governor Meets Admiral.
AS the party went on board from the
[ starbOard gangWay. the sides we're man.
/ ned and all the officers of the ship were
I drawn up at attention on the quarter
/ deck. Governor Gillett was shown to
the cabin. where Admiral Thomas received
/ him. They returned Immediately to the
deck, and, there, standing under the muz-
| zles of the after twelve-inch guns of the
| battleship Governor Gillett made brlef
/ address of welcome to California.
At the conclusion of the governors ad-
dress, Admiral Thomas called for three
| cheers for the governor and the people
| of California. They were given with a
! will, the admiral himself leading.
! AS the governor was piped over the
/ side of the Connecticut in beginning his
/ return "trip to the shore. a salute of sew
I enteen guns was fired in his honor from
! the three-pounders on the after bridge.
| Mayor John +. Forward of the city OF
/ San Diego. William Clayton. director gen
/ eral of the fleet celebration committee,
/ and L. S. Grant. Jr.. chairman of the
| reception committee, also went aboard the
/ Connecticut during the afternoon and re-
ceived cordial welcome from Admiral
! Thomas.
Attended by the members of his per-
! sonal staff Admiral Thomas returned
! Governor Gillett's visit at the Hotel Del
| Coronado this evening.
/ The dinner to the flag and commanding
| officers tonight was purely a private,
| subscription affair, and the addresses
! were informal Governor Gillett was
| among the guests.
| San Diego tonight was brilliantly ilu-
| minated. the elaborate scheme of decora-
| ton which has been carried out including
! night display of exceptional beauty.
H0BS0N WINS ONE FIGHT.