Albuquerque citizen., 1908-05-20
WARM WELCOME
AWAITS FLEET
At SEATTLE
Washington Town Anxious to
Show Sailors That II Is the
Best in the Country.

Seattle, Wash, May 20.-Seattle
will attempt to prove It's claim as
the most hospitable city on the Pa
cific coast when the battleshp fleet
arrives here on Saturday. This will
be the last official reception to the
officers and sailors before they de-
part on their long voyage around the
world, and the citizens of this boom
ing metropolis are determined t.
make II the most memorable of all
the voyage. That Il will be difficult
to surpass the welcome extended the
tars in San Diego. Los Angeles. san
Francisco and other California cities
is admitted, but the Seattle spirit.
which has built a great city in the
shortest time on record is not baked
by difficulties The bigness of the
task before them has only whetted
the ambition of the people of this
city. ana it is entirely probable that
every man jack. after tasting the
joys of a Seattle welcome. will vote
this the grandest town on the Amer
lean map. At least. Seattle will do
itS best to merit such an opinion,
ana when Seattle does its best, things
undreamed of in other cities are
likely to happen.
When the flagship of Admiral
Thomas leads the great fleet into
Elliott bay next Saturday afternoon.
he will find awaiting him the execu-
tive officials of all the states and
cities of the northwest. Tens of
thousands of citizens will cheer the
gallant tars, guns will boom a noisy
welcome and the whistles OF scores
of steam craft of all kinds will toot
in tumultous JOY. That will be but
the beginning. Admiral Thomas will
be presented with a key to The city.
made of solid gold from Alaska mug
gets. and every other officer and
sailor will be presented with an as
sortment Of fifty-seven varieties of
hospitality that Seattle will have con-
stantly on tap during the stay of the
fleet
The great land parade that will be
one of the features of the celebra-
ton will take place on the morning
OF Monday next. That day will fur
nish the greatest military spectacle
ever offered the people of the North
west There will be 10,000 men in
line, including sailors and marines
from the battleships, IA companies
of coast artillery from Puget sound
NpiSn, companies lTOIn foTI Lawson.
national guardsmen and many uni
formed fraternal organizations.
Elaborate preparations are being
made for decorating the city and the
line of march of the parade will be
literally covered with flags bunting
and other hangings that will make
a splendid background for the bril-
liant pageant TO pass before the
thousands of persons who will crowd
every point of vantage.
One of the greatest events of the
program will he the aquatic sports
on the bay. These will include boat
races by the crews from the battle
ships. launch races by the swiftest
tenders from the warships and other
events of like character. In order
that the public may have an oppor-
tunity to view these races in COM
fort not only will many barges be
provided by private parties for car
rying visitors to the scene, but per-
mission will be obtained from the ad-
miral of the fleet for persons to
view the races from the decks of the
Warships.
. The battleshlps will be moored in
huge horseshoe form alton around
the bay, and the races and other
aquatic events will take place with
in this horseshoe the spacious decks
of the war vessels will provide room
for thousands who desire to enjoy
the spectacle.