Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-05-06

the Berkeley hills and other vantage
points were black with people.
The Presidio was thrown wide
open. the public being admitted even
to the batteries. Soon after Z
O'Clock the sun made a valiant effort
to peep through the clouds and sue
ceeded in shining forth for a few
seconds only to be again obseared.
The haze over the is floating fort.
resses lifted slightly. partly disclos-
Ing the great white hulls to the
awaiting throngs. With powerful
glasses It was possible to see the
men on board moving about, putting
on the finishing touches for the en-
try into the bay. Every ship was
dressed with Tags strung from bow
to truck and. from truck to stern.
From the peak OF the Connecticut
fiuttered the blue pennant of Rear
Admiral Evans, while from the nag
ships squadron commanders were
flung their red pennants.
The Wisconsin and Nebraska took
up their positions during the night
Joining the big feet Immediately
upon II arrival at the lightship.
The movement of the sightseers
TO the various places from which
the fleets entrance could be OBJ
served formed pretty picture.
Hundreds OF automobiles. gaily dec.
Grated, with bunting and the ma
tional coors. sped through the
streets. while the less fortunate the
majority carrying flags, from the
miniature button hole affair to the
more pretentlous size, bordered
cars. decorated wagons, buggies ani
other means OF conveyance. vieing
; with one another in the display of
the colors.
The boats from across the bay did
! n rushing business from the first
, trip and when the trains from the
! interior began to arrive they were
. taxed to their capacity.
/ The anchors OF the Atlantic bat
I tleshlp feet splashed into San Fran
: cisco bay today and the first half OF
the word -famoms cruise was com
pletod.
Prosaic Is the statement, but fai
y from prosaic was the arrival ant
I Its attendant circumstances. foi
! never In the worlds history hal
|, there been such magnificent ma
' rine spectacle as that presented
: when the combined fleets. 4S ship
OF war. led by the flagship Connect
cut. with good old Fighting Bob
Evans on the bridge plowed II
way down through the Golden Gat'
between the high cliffs. black will
humanity. adding mighty flesh
! and-blood welcome to the myriad ar
4 ti.icial signals Of welcome TO th'
ships and men upon whom devolye
the task of upholding the nation
honor at home and abroad.
First Glimpse OF the Fleet.
III All night long hundreds of peopl
slept In the open on the hills, ol
i the military reservations on bot
sides OF Golden Gate and on tn
beach In the vicinity OF .Sutr
Heights. With the first gray streak
a dawn they were up. and befor
l their eyes were half open they wer
| looking seaward TO catch the firs
| glimpse OF the great ships of whit
| and bun which were riding at anch
or near the lightshIp, eight miles Of
shore.
III A slight mist hung over the Sc
and at first only a faint outline o
the vessels could be discerned, bu
with the lifting Of the haze IN
monster sea fighters stood cat 4
| bold relief, tugging at their anch
| ors as though anxious TO be un
slipped and be permitted 10 sail
once into the magnificent harbo
10 which the eyes OF officers and me
have been lOngingIy turned 70
/ months, but the time had not ye
come for the signal from the believe
commandcI -in-ehlef TO up-anehor.
Crowds Pour Into the City.
The crowds. preceded by thou
sands that had come TO the city
three. four and even five days ago
began 10 pour into San Francisc
as soon az the ferries started AM
trainload after trainload began T.
pour into the depOts on both side
Of the bay BY o'clock hlllsides
hOusetops. excursion boats, from
tiny. Wheeling launches 10 grea
ocean liners, were crowded with pa