The Washington herald., 1908-04-15
Patriotic Scenes on Fleets
Arrival at San Diego.
THRONG IS HYSTERICAL
JaekieS, Too, Are Glad to See
Native Soil Again.
Thousands Present to Greet War
Vessels ON Completion of Four
Months Journey Around the Horn.
L. ;. Grant, Jr., Chairman Of Gen
erhi Reception Committee, Extends
Greetings-City in Gay Attire.

San Diego, April 1.-THE anchors Of
the battle feet plunged into the waters
Of Coronado Bay, two miles off the Hotel
Del Coronado, at 2:l5 p. m.
For the first time In almost exactly four
months the feet was once more in Amer
lean waters. To the fleet 1t was a home
coming. II was getting back to Gods
country.
To California was given an opportunity.
The opportunity was many-sided. One
Of the sides related to patriotism. The
eordiallty Of the welcome bordered on q
condition Of frenzy.
The city's 5000 inhabitants. augmented
to-day probably by 10000 visitors. have
gradually been going mad for a month.
1t reached a stage Of hysteria as soon
as the long pennant Of the blended out
puts of the smoke pipes showed that the
fleet was really approaching.
Looked at 1t with Awe.
When the fleet actually did arrive the
people looked at ii in a sort of awe and
stupefaetion. They were practically worn
out with the long wait for it and the
for its entertaining.
The first sign OF welcome came early
this morning about twenty-five miles
down the Mexican coast. of Ensenada.
when an Ocean-going steamship Ioomed
up laden with probably a thousand pas
seag gers
They shouted greetings and waved flags.
which meant that Uncle Sans people in
tended 10 do the handsome thing in the
way of a welcome, and as the feet slowly
moved along the straight stretch Of the
coast and was deployed into four columns.
ADMIRAL Thomas. on the Connecticut,
leading the line nearest the shore. there
gradually came into view smaller craft OF
various kinds, telling the familiar story of
the welcome TO the feet-only this time il
was 70 be an American welcome,
The way the men OF the feet felt about
it was probably illustrated best BIZ a re-
mark that a quartermsster. with many
stripes upon his sleeve. made TO a bunch
Of youngsters on the superstructure Of
the Louisiana while the boundary monu-
ment. marking the beginning Of the Amer
iean soil, had just come into view.
Back to Gods Country"
This grlzzled sailor had seen it many
times before. and turning to the young
sters said:
Lads, there IS where America begins
there's the edge of Gods country. and
Just over the other side. where you see
them houses. there IS where Gods people
live. It's good to get home again.
The bunch took off their hats and be-
gan 10 wave them. and then one of the
roguish members of the crowd remem-
bered a cheer which the feet first heard
in Callao, and roared il Justify:
"Eepe, E. Peep"
As soon as the ships approached Coro-
nado Ray it was seen that the seashore
and the picturesque stretch Of sand about
the Hotel Del Coronado was thronged
with thousands upon thousands of sight
seess: such as that as had greeted the
ships at every port. except Trinidad.
since the fleet left Hampton Roads only
this time there were TO foreign flags. the
welcome was strictly American, and
every man from Admiral Thomas down
enjoyed it particularly for that reason.
Pay Respects to Admiral.
As soon as the mud hooks were down
The admiral and captains went to the
flagship to pay their respects to Admiral
Thomas and then the aid to Gov Gnlett
arrived in launch. to make arrange
ments later in the afternoon for the visit
OF California's executive
A boarding officer from Fort Rosecrans
arrived promptly. and later the various
committees from San Diego 10 tell Ad-
miral Thomas what San Diego was doing
in the way Of providing entertainment
for the feet
T. S. Grant, jr.. the chairman Of the
general reception committee. had cor
dial greeting from the admiral to whom
he sketched the plans for the enter
tainment of the fleet during its four days
stay About a dozen other chairmen of
committees Of different sinds supplied the
details that Air Grant had TO relate.
The visit Of the governor was one of cere-
mony. He was received with a proper
salute, parade, guard, and music. Adj
miral Thomas came to the quarterback
to greet him. Gov Gillette. who Is just
recovering from illness. and whose face
SUI SLOWS SiEits OF HtifItiiE. GREW Aflfli-
self up to his fullest gubernatorial dignity
and addressed a formal welcome to the
admiral, his staff. and the officers OF the
Connecticut standing in the background.
The governor told Admiral Thomas that
Il was one of the proudest days of the his
tory Of California. He spoke Of the
glorious spectacle the feet made and then
lauded the navy. He said that California
was itself proud of the welcome,
Admiral Replies 90 Governor.
He spoke at some length. and then the
admiral. who viii have a good deal Of
speechmalSing to do along the California
coast for the next month. replied briefly.
expressing his hearty appreciation
The entire crew Of the Connecticut was
then summoned aft by Capt. Osterhous.
and then Gov. Gillette made a speech 70
them along the usual hip-hip-hooray lire.
When he finished the blueiackets gave
the governor three rousing cheers.
When the governor went over the side
another salute doomed, and the ceremo-
nies for the afternoon were over.
Soon little launches from the feet weFs
skipping across the swelIs OF the bay
Continued on Page 3, Column 6.