The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-01-13
ALL ARE PROUD TO
SAIL UNDER OLD GLORY
from First paseo


the subject in this way than II re
ceiving your information through the
papers
"One thing you must not overlook
and that Is that the time and date for
sailing was set at least three months
before our departure, and at exactly
10 a. m. on the morning OF the 10th
the hour and date set. we all got un
derway for the Pacific.
The president appeared on the
scene at about $3.50 and after short
reception 10 the admirals and captains
on board of his yacht. she got under
way, as did also the u. s. s. Dolphin,
which had the congressional party on
board. and preceded the fleet out OF
the Roads for about twenty miles.
They then fell out of line. and he re-
viewed the fleet as we steamed out to
sea on this ver-to-be-forgotten
cruise. On the evening OF the frs,
day out, the admiral (Evans) received
wireless message from Washington
stating that the president extended
his congratulations to the officers anc
men for their splendid appearance,
and the manner in which they hand
ltd tHtli ohiPos anu eiAop tAaNt'N'
Evans, after short stop in Frisco
TO proceed on cruise around the
world. returning home via the Sue:
canal and Europe. which by the wal
means, sincerely hope. that | viii
rhave the pleasure of being In Detroit
and among my friends next Christ
mas.
I'VE have had ideal weather al
during the passage from Hampton
Roads. but unfortunately we had Il
put into San Juan, Porto Rico, TO senc
poor fellow ashore to the hospital
They also buried one at sea last even
Ing. a young fellow who was on tn,
Alabama. His home was in Texas
But don't let these few cases lead you
to believe that we are having any
more than our usual share Of sick
ness, because IL you stop TO consider
the fact that we have about $1,000
men in this feet, you will readily un
derstand that death or two may be
expected. However | imagine that all
the opponent papers to the fleet leav-
ing this coast are making all kinds
of ado about IL, where they wouldn't
notice dozen funerals passing
through a town of half this size.
I'VE will arrive in Port OF Spain.
Trinidad. this afternoon and the feet
will start in coaling at once. This
is our first stopping place, but We
will. to use modern phrase. go right
in and turn around and steam right
out again. Each ship is well supplied
with all the provisions necessary for
the run to the coast, but we will. OF
course. keep our stock filed up to
it's fullest capacity at every opportun.
ity from the supply ships which are
accompanying the fleet. so the only
necessity for our stop here Is. coal.
When we arrive In ~Rio Janeiro.
which will be Jan. IL, all hands will
be allowed liberty on shore. We
leave there on the 21st. Sandy Point
will be the next stop for coal only.
and then we are off in the Pacific.
Your humble servant will have the OPP
portunity OF going on shore in all a
the ports, on duty.
II understood Just before we sailed
that the papers were making great
halloo about men deserving the ships,
but Ii was all rot of the worst kind.
While IL was true that a few did
leave the ships, IL was only few, and
they at the present moment. ] ven
ture TO say, would give their all IL
they could only be with US now. The
real fact OF the matter is, We were
turning hundreds OF men away, right
in Hampton Roads, who were willing
to leave good positions to enlist and
join the feet. but every ship Is filed
right up to It's fullest capacity, and
all have more than their actual COM
plement. When we were leaving the
Roads, more than one man could be
heard repeating to himself SCOTS
immortal poem:
'''Breathes there man with soul
so dead, who ne'er to himself hath
said, this Is my own my native land
I'm fact II would be useless to try
TO find a man in this whole feet who
isn't thanking his lucky stars for the
opportunity OF sailing under "Old
Glory" and on this great cruise. Pat
riotism may be at a low ebb In some
places, but I'm this aggregation OF
ships, you can find no limit for IL.
Here you can find 1900 hearts fuli
OF the one desire, and IL the president
gave the word they would be willing
To storm the gates OF HI, 80 you can
draw your own conclusion about these
desertion stories.
"Well, suppose that you are hav.
ing all kinds of cold weather to con-
tend with way back there In good old
Detroit, while ! am down here In the
tropics trying to find some way TO
keep cool; still. while I don't like IL
too hot, nevertheless | prefer the
warm part OF IL.
II am now feeling In the very best
of health and Just getting settled down
nicely IN my new snip. have every
convenience in the line OF modern
improvements, and indications are
now that will corr'rue fo- another
four years on this ship.
Sincerely yours.
nanny rnnNI-n