Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-01-18
EVANS FLEET AT RIO
Brazil Opens Wide It's Gates
to Battleships.
FATHER NEPTUNE CREETS THEN.
Cruisers and FIotiIIa of small Craft
Welcome Our TurS at sea ON
south Americas Great Port.
To stay Ten DAYS.


RIO JANEIBO. Jan. 15.-The Amer
lean fleet of sixteen battleships entered
the port of Rio Jauoiro AT , o'clocl,
I'm the afternoon. after PASSAGE
from Port OF Spain. Trinidad. more
than 5000 miles. unmarried 10y serious
accident. with all we'll on board and
ending with royal welcome from the
thousands o. Brazi,ians that had gath
cred Co greet the visitors.
At midnight on the 9th or January
the feet crossed the equator. ana Ia
ther Neptune visited the ships ON
the flagship Connecticut. Neptune. sur
rounded by his various assistants and
satellites. ad1rcssed "a warm welcome
foo the .odmira in command. Never he
fore had $50 nnuv recruits crossed the
.ne at one t.me numbering fully go
per cent of the crews. This great
number of green hands gave Father
Neptune AND his followers an unusual
opportunity Goo put them broulh the
Initiation with iuimitlh'e spirit. Sep
uine ssta- hung at the yardauus dur-
ing tle ceremonies.
All ilc newspaper correspondents ou
the vessels paid thc foo.u- with the
Older officers ami number or MIDI
ehipmeu Who took tle initiation.
There wgs thc usual llthering ami
shaving hy thc BARRIERS ANA the duck
sing in thc tanks which was admins
'ercd hv Nep,uue's followers. the Ted
dy bears
Early DUB the morning The crowds be-
gan 600 gather ln tho streets of Rio
Janciro. uud long before tlc signal
nacs were hoistcd announcing the arr
rroach OF Che American ships of war
thousands of curious spectators hnd
taken up the points ct vantage on pub.
lic buildings and the elevated quays.
When the fleet steamed into the harbor
under the splendid mountains that
framed the bay beautiful m the trop-
ical sun. 10 was spectacle iucompara-
BILE 10 the eye. The roadstcad lay like
% glittering mirror beneath.
When word that the fleet had passed
Cape Fri0. about forty-Gvc miles out.
was received. immediately scores OF
tugs and other small craft. crowded
with spectators. SET out Co meet the
visitors aud accompanied them TO the
anchorage.
Outlined against the horizon. the
great battlcships. stretched out ln one
long line. came slowly through the
passage into the bay. The Connecticut.
Rear Admiral Evans flagship. was in
the lead with the Brazilian cruisers
dressed I'm gala attire. on either side
Passing the fortresses. the Connecticut
fired salute OF twenty-one guns.
which was responded 90 10y the Bra
LILLIAN warshlps the German cruiser
Bremen and the shore batteries. The
yards and fighting tops We're manned.
and cheers upon cheers were given for
the splendid flagship and her sister
ships, their commanders and crews.
The hattleship feet viii remain here
until next Sunday. where officers
and men VIII De deliberately entertain
ed both by the government and the
municipality and 10y organlzat ions Of
citizens. From today until the 10Th
every day will bring some function i'm
honor of the visitors.
1t is reported here that Admiral Ev-
ans has rheumatism and will be rep
resented ashore by Rear Admiral
Thomas
Shore leave was allowed 10 between
three and four thousand sailors. and
much disorder marked the presence of
the sailors ashore last night Ten sail
ors We're injured In "a disturbance at
the landing. The trouble was So seri-
Gus that the liberty parties We're re-
called 10 the ships.