The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-23
FLEET CHEERED
BY THOUSANDS
American WarShipS Leave Rio
Janeiro for Punta Arenas on
Magellan Strait.
PRESIDENT PENNA ON HAND
EXCHANGE OF COMPLIMENTS ON
THE MINNESOTA.
PRESIDENT PENNA ON HAND

Rio JdnelrO, Jan. 22.-Io the booming
of guns and the cheers of thousands on
the accompanying pleasure craft, the
American warships sailed from Rio
Janeiro this afternoon, bound for Punta
Arenas, on Magellan strait. Ten days
will bring the fleet almost midway on
its 14,000-mile cruise to San Francisco,
and the ships and the men carried with
them today the godspeed and good
wishes of the whole Brazilian nation.
Not an untoward incident had marked
the visit of the Americans here. They
were Toasted and feted, both officers and
men, during their sojourn in Rio. and
half the population turned out early in
the morning to give them a fit
ting farewell. AS upon the arrival of
the feet, so upon its departure, the
quays, the public buildings and the hills
were crowded with thousands watching
the warships until they had disap
peared through the mouth of the bay
into the open sea-
President Penna Present.
The president of the republic, DIR.
Penna, came to Rio Janeiro from Pet
ropolis about IL O'Clock and proceeded
on the yacht Sylvia down to where the
warships were lying. He went aboard
was in readiness to accompany the
American fleet, and made tour of all
the American vessels. Accompanied
by Admiral Alencar, minister of ma
rine, and DR.. L. Muller minister of pub
lie works, and other high officials, he
visited the divisional flagship Minneso-
Ia, remaining there about an hour. Ad-
miral Thomas, commander of the flag
ship, Captain Hubbard, and the Amer
lean ambassador, Irving B. Dudley, re-
ceived him with all honors, and the
band played the Brazilian national an
them. In the salon of the Minnesota
there was a mutual exchange of greet
ings. Admiral Thomas made a little
speech in which he expressed his best
wishes for the prosperity of Brazil and
her president, concluding with Brazil,
God bless you forevermore"
The president responded with thou
sand wishes for a good voyage for the
splendid fleet, prosperity for the United
States and health of President Roose-
welt.
saIutes Exchanged.
While the president was aboard the
Minnesota and during his trip among
the vessels, salutes were exchanged, and
on his departure from the flagship
twenty-one guns were fired. DIR. Penna
then returned TO his yacht, which pro-
ceeded to a point off Fort Villagagon,
to watch the departure of the ships.
About o'clock the American feet be-
gan to move, passing out in single COL
unnn and in inverse order according to
divisions, the Alabama leading. The
three divisions of the Brazilian navy
followed composed of three battleships,
seven cruisers and six destroyers. In
the vicinity of Fort Villagagon steamers
circled about, having on board thou
sands of spectators from shore. Hun
dreds of launches and small craft from
the sporting clubs, all gaily decorated,
were there also, forming a stirring
spectacle.
The great warShips moved slowly at
first, but as they disappeared from view
they were steaming at ten-knot pace
One by one as they passed the presi-
dents yacht they saluted with. twenty
one guns and the forts replied in kind.
There was much waving of small flags
and handkerchiefs, and the cheering
seemed incessant. The blowing of a
hundred whistles in the steam craft
added TO the noise. About this time
heavy shower fell, but the majority of
the spectators held to their posts until
the last warship had disappeared on the
horizon.
No Special Plans.
Captain r. r. IngersOll. chief of staff
TO Rear Admiral Evans, on being in
terviewed before the departure of the
fleet, said that he had no special plans
for the passage of the ships through
Magellan strait. They will go through,
however, he said. as a solid fleet.
The German cruiser Bremen, which
has been here for some time, and re-
Gently was ordered to remain until the
departure of the American fleet, to give
the German officers additional time to
make observations, left today as the
American ships sailed