The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-01-17
EVANS fleet
AT RIO JANE|R0
GREETED BY THOUSANDS
IN BRAZILIAN PORT.
CROWDS had GATHERED EARLY
About 1900 Miles Has Now Been Cow
cred, Nearly a Third Of the Dis
tanee of the Voyage to
San Francisco.

Rio Janeiro, Brazil.-The American
fleet of sixteen battleships entered the
port of Rio Janeiro at 3 o'clock Sun
day afternoon, after a passage from
Port of Spain, Trinidad, more than
three thousand miles, unmared by seri-
u accident, replete with interesting
incidents and ending with a royal well
come from the thousands that had
gathered to greet the visitors.
The fleet weighed anchor at 4
o'clock on the afternoon of Dec. 20 at
Port of Spain, and exactly at 4 o'clock
Sunday the vessels were swinging at
their anchor in this beautiful harbor.
All of the battleships are here, but
the supply ships Culgoa and Glacier
are still at sea, not having been able
to keep along with the others. The
fleet has now covered about 1900
miles, about a third of the distance
of the voyage to San Francisco.
Crowds Gathered Early.
Early in the morning the crowds
began to gather in the streets of Rio
Janeiro, and long before the signal
flags were hoisted announcing the APP
proach of the American ships of war,
thousands of curious spectators had
taken up the points Of vantage on pub.
lie buildings and the elevated quays.
When the feet steamed into the har-
Dor, under the splendid mountains
that framed the bay, beautiful in the
tropical sun, it was a spectacle in
comparable to the eye. The roadstead
lay like a glittering mirror beneath.
Word that the fleet had passed Cape
Frio, about 45 miles out, was received
at $3.50 o'clock and Immediately scores
of tugs and other small craft, crowded
with spectators, set out to meet the
visitors and accompanied them to the
anchorage. Outlined against the hori-
zon, the great battleships, stretched
out In one long line, came slowly
through the passage into the bay. The
Connecticut. Rear Admiral Evans flag
ship, was in the lead, with the Bra
lillian cruisers, dressed in gala attire,
on each side. Passing the fortresses,
the Connecticut fired a salute of 81
guns, which was responded to by the
! Brazilian warships, the German cruis-
er Bremen and the shore guns. The
yards and fighting tops were manned
and cheers upon cheers were given
for the splendid passage of the flagship
and her sister ships.
Hearty Welcome Is Extended.
AS soon as the anchorage was made,
the Brazilian minister of marine, Ad-
miral Alencar, the captain of the port,
the American consul, G. e. Anderson,
the commandants of naval divisions
and the civic authorities went on
board the Connecticut and extended
a hearty welcome to Rear Admiral
Evans, his officers and men. Hun
dreds Of launches, tugs and small
boats circles about the battleships I'M
til long after the u had gone down.
Not less than $4,000 to 10000 persons
were aboard these boats and more
than $4,000 others were gathered on
shore to celebrate the coming of the
fleet. Sunday night the city was
beautifully illuminated and a gala &C.
casion has been made in honor of the
visitors.
Many Flags Waved.
Outside Of Rio Janeiro a Brazilian
fleet, consisting Of three cruisers, ac-
companied by the American tender
Yankton, met the American battle
ships off Cape Frio, and after an ex-
change Of greetings, steamed with
them along the coast into a roadstead.
A hearty welcome was extended to
tie officers and men by the minister
of marine in the nam of the Brazilian
government and the navy. Bands
played and whistles blew, with the
waving of many flags, as the Ameri-
a ships steamed proudly through
and dropped their anchors.
The newspapers here publish spe-
cial editions, describing the splendid
welcome extended to the Americans.
Several of the papers will issue daily
editions in English during the stay
of the fleet, and have made ran
ments to secure extensive special dis
patches from the United States, so
that the men may have the news of
their own country.