The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-19
Arrival of the BattIeShip Fleet
Witnessed by Thousands
of People.
LOS ANGELES TURNS OUT
CITIZENS WITH ONE ACCORD
RUSHED TO sEASHoRE.

Los Angeles, Cal, April 1S.-Los An
geles sent more than 100, 600 of its resi-
dents to the ocean side today to well
come the American battleship fleet,
which steamed into San Pedro harbor,
twenty-five miles away, in full radiance
OF midsummer sun and dropped an
chor at $3.50 p M The sixteen fighting
vessels and three auXiliarieS, leaving
san Diego shortly after 6 o'clock this
morning, had steamed up the 100 miles
OF surf-beaten coast in single column
formation. 400 yards apart and in full
view or thousands of persons who
gathered at very vantage point. With
the connecticut leading, and with Rear
Admiral Charles NJ. Thomas on the
bridge, the long line of ships pointed
within the breakwater at San Pedro
bay Just half an hour behind their
scheduled hour of arrival. The Con-
necticut. Kansas, Vermont and Louisi-
ana took up berths within the sheltered
portion of the harbor, where they are
to remain the full seven days of the
fleets visit, while the other twelve
ships of the second, third and fourth
divisions reached out into the open sea
III line nearly two miles long.
Enthusiastic Thousands.
The arrival of the fleet was accom-
panied by all of the flashing colors and
embellishments that have made its
presense in every home and foreign
port visited i'll the last four months
marine picture unrivalled in imposing
beauty. The thousands of people who
made the occasion of the arrival
holiday and who lined sea walls, break
water. bluffs and beaches surrounding
the bay, fairly went wild in their en-
thusiasm as the fleet steamed into its
assigned position. They had watched
the ships grow from a miniature
squadron, smoke-enshrouded in the
distance, to the full-grown glory of
the near view offered in the confines
of the harbor, with increasing excite
ment, and when the anchors dropped
with a white splash into the ripping
blue waters whistles blew in a perfect
pandemonium of greeting, while cheers
grew in volume until they could be
heard on board the Minnesota the last
of the big fighters in the far-reaching
column.
Illumination at Night.
Tonight the fleet was Illuminated,
hulls, superstructures, turrets and
yardarms being outlined in electric
bulbs.
Mayor A. c. Harper. accompanied by
General Adna R. Chaffee and other
members of the Los Angeles reception
committee, went by special steamer
several miles down the coast to greet
the incoming feet, but did not board
the flagship Connecticut until the an
chOring signal of multicolOred flags had
dropped from the signal yards Ad
miral Thomas received the visitors in
his cabin and thanked them in char
acteristically gracious manner for the
cordial greetings extended. The stay
of the feet at the ports Of Los Angeles
during the next week is to be marked
by the most elaborate program of en-
tertainment, both for enlisted men and
officers, the city ever has known.
Tomorrow morning the fleet is to be
split up in squadrons in order that four
of the Los Angeles ports may share in
the honor of entertaining the greatest
naval force the waters of the coast
ever has known.