Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-20
THOUSANDS
SEE SHIPS
FOUR PORTS BESIEGED BY
EAGER VISITORS
NIGHT ILLUMINATION REPEATED
AT EACH
Fleet Divides at an Early Hour and
Takes Positions for the Re-
malnder of Its Stay
Here

VT ITH an ideal day and the liberty
wv that Sunday affords pleasure
seekers 100000 or more persons
went to see the battleships yesterday.
The transportation companies again
found their capacity tested to the
limit, but the day passed without Sc
rious accident as result of the crush
at the stations and on the cars.
1t was a day when the sailors were
kept busy escorting the crowds about
the ships and explaining the great guns
that were the chief feature of exhi
bition and the thousand and one
things that were inquired about by
the visitors. From the first hour the
ships decks were open to visitors they
were crowded and many 'made the
line'' by visiting all four ships.
The fleet, which remained at anchor
in San Pedro harbor all night,
steamed punctually in divisions from
the harbor at o'clock in the morning
and sought the other anchorages at
Long Beach, Redondo and Santa
Monica. BY o'clock every ship was
at anchor and by 10 o'clock the decks
were swept clean and the guns and
equipment furbished for the inspec-
tion of the public. The visitors, who
made as much demand on the launches
as they did on the traction cars, were
on hand early, and the ships lacked no
evidence of the keen interest that the
Pacific coast is taking in it's welcome.
ONLY the first division, under Admiral
Thomas remained at San Pedro. and
during the day the Connecticut was
| the destination of all the launches that
| carried visitors to the fleet. The de-
| mand was SO great on the flagship OF
| the fleet that several times the officer
/ of the deck had to detain boatloads
until the crowd on board was reduced.
The water transportation was equal
lv no fortunate as the land. there
| being no serious accidents reported.
NIGHT Illumination
AT night each of the ports was
treated to the illumination of the
| shins and the searchlight play, which
| was a duplication in reduced size OF
fine brilliant spectacle presented by the
entire fleet at its anchorage Satur-
day night.
running the ships of the fleet the sail
ors were paving visit to the City or
| Angels. The liberty allowed for at
tending the church services In the city
hrol,oht over 1000 ashore, and after the
services were ended in the morning
and before they begun in the evening
the streets were filled with tne men
In houses and pie hats and wide-bot-
tom tight-hip trousers. They spent the
| a fternoon at places of amusement
shooting galleries or in taking trolley
rides which were free to al in uni
form The presence of the men was
marked by the most decorous conuuc.'
The nresence of hundreds at the diHer-
ent churches was marked co.ip'-
n,ent to the moral character OF the
fleet. .,r L.,,,r har
welcome to the fleet in earnest. Ine
hlueiackets have shore leave at
o,c,oclr in order that they may reacn
ch,1tes park by $3.50 to be IN tneir :
seats when a rapid-fire program ol
amusement for them peslns ti1 ~ .
None will miss this entertainment pc
oonse it includes athletic combats eacn
,.ornine which will eliminate In
co ilor hout for the four champlonsnips
: of the feet. And besides jim JeiIrles'
tbe idol of the sailors, will be the ref
cree of all events.
Banquet in Evening
Tn the evening the officers viii be
bannueted at the Alexandra, pens
brought to the city on special cars
from the beach towns. The panque'
!; viii represent all that is highest in this
form l.r of entertainment, to be served In
a bower of fresh flowers. and the
, sneakers will be the representative
men of the city. The pathetic an
sence of Admiral Evans, whose III
; ness at Paso Robles prevents him
} from coming. will be disclosed by MS
vacant flower bedecked seat.
/, Tomorrow the official reception pa
rade viii be held, starting in automo-
biIes from the Alexandria hotel at II
O'clock and traversing large portion
of the business and residence sections
IT will be followed by reception tt
} the officers at the beautifui nome ol
! Cantain Randolph II. Miner and in the
) evening by a reception at the Califor'
e MIA club.