The San Francisco call., 1908-04-24
FLEET WEEK TO
END IN WHIRL
OF PLEASURE
Angelenos Fill Whole Day for
Officers and Men With
Enjoyment 4 ..s
Seaside City Sends Evans Gavel
Which Nelson Used on
Victory @
Auto Ride Will Be Given $500
Enlisted Sailors Through
Orange Groves

week in Los Angeles is drawing to a
close in perfect whirl of entertain
ment amazing in its extent and va
riety. Today will see practically the
last of the long lists of events on the
local program, and tomorrow the va
rious beach cities where the ships are
lying at anchor will have day to de-
vote to a celebration of the fleets
presence. In every port round of
pleasure has been provided that will
occupy every moment of time of the
officers and men up to the hour they
are required to return to their ships
at midnight Friday
The ships were open to visitors all
day today and thousands of people
crowded the electric and steam lines to
the beaches and boarded the craft ply
ing between ships and the shore. Boats
of every description were loaded with
passengers throughout the day. The
decks Of the warships were black with
people from 10 o'clock, and at o'clock
in the afternoon, the closing hour for
visitors, many hundreds still remained
aboard. waiting an opportunity to re-
turn ashore.
THOUSANDS VISIT SHIPS
1t is estimated that between 5000
and 10000 people have visited each OF
the ships of the first division daily at
San Pedro since they anchored last
Saturday. The ships of the other di-
visions have proved equally popular.
and the officers have been put to much
effort in caring for the immense
crowds.
Never before in the history OF Los
Angeles has the elaborate system of
rail communication with the beaches
been put to such tests in carrying
crowds as this week. The number of
people that have been handled, both
ways, by all the various lines reaching
the different ports approximates 1,o0o,-
600, according to the estimate of rail-
road official today.
The ships have been almost denuded
of officers from the day of their ar
so fast that the men have had scarcely
an opportunity to return to the ships
for quarters. Many of the command
ing officers have remained in the city
during the entire week and scores of
others have been able to pay only the
Only scattering number of officers
are aboard the ships during the day.
SAILORS HAVE FREE RIDES
The men, too. have had the largest
amount of liberty since their arrival In
Los Angeles. Upward of 1000 have
been ashore each day for "a hours. be-
ginning at o'clock in the morning
They have been transported to and
from the beach cities by the railroads
free of charge and have also been car
ried without charge on all city lines.
The sailors of the fleet have been
overwhelmed with entertainment. So
busy have they been that they have
hardly had an opportunity to get to
the downtown district. The best order
has been maintained and the local peace
authorities speak in the highest terms
of the manner in which the enlisted
men have observed the rules of good
conduct.
The men are to have their final round
of entertainment tomorrow morning.
when $500 Of them are to be taken on
an automobile tour of the city. Ad-
miral Thomas has granted liberty to
that number for the occasion. They
Will arrive at Fifth and Broadway In
the center of the city at 10 o'clock.
where more than 500 automobiles will.
meet them and take them through the
streets of the city for four hours.
BARBECUE FOR MEN
Following the tour they will be given
a barbecue luncheon, the same as has
been given daily to the men at Chutes
park, after which they will see the last
performance of a wild west show at
Agricultural park.
The last of the boxing bouts for
!