The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-01-16
BMERICAN FLEET
At RIO JANEIRO
BATTLESHIPS ON WAY TO PACIFIC
COAST WELCOMED IN BRA
LILLIAN CITY.
SHIP "MlXES UP" SQUADRON.
Merchantmen Sails Into Fighters, but
No Harm Results-Gay Time
When Equator Is Crossed.
FIRST DISORDER IS REPORTED.

RIO JANEIRO, Jan. l3.--The sixteen
vessels composing the American battle
ship fleet on the way to the Pacific, Rear
Admiral Robley ID. Evans commanding,
arrived here Sunday afternoon
As the fleet passed the lighthouse on
Cape Frio signal, set by the order OF
the government. conveyed a welcome
from the Brazilian people. The vessels
were met by a cruiser and two torpedo
boats belonging to the Brazilian navy,
which mad been dispatched by Rear Ad.
milar Alexandra de AlenCar, minister OF
marine. to escort them up the bay. There
were twelve Brazilian warships and one
German cruiser, the Bremen, III port:
As the Americans passed the tortlh-
cations a national salute was fired which
was replied to, gGa Tor gun. 10y the bat
tleships. Then followed the salutes be-
tween the Brazilian, German and Amer
lean warships, and for IA time the noise
was thunderous
The news of the approach of the fleet
had spread through the city long before
the warships were near the town ana
thousands OF persons went TO the water
front to welcome the visitors and their
greetings were tumultuouS. The sailors
on the merchant vessels IN the harbor
also chcered and shouted cries of good
will.
Delayed by Trade Winds.
The newspaper world Of the capital
was wideaWake to the Importance OF the
event and issued special editions, telling
of the arrival and reception.
The fleet was due to arrive saturday,
according to the official schedule, but, IN
addition to some delay in the coaling at
Trinidad. strong trade winds and heavy
swels were met with as the warships
lAUltr tl,. ,rtl hoo torn
South America and the fleet was de-
layed.
On January the feet crossed the
equator and the occasion was marked by
great deal of fun among the fleet.
Long before this date it was learned mat
there were $500 men aboard the ships
who had never crossed the line and they
were the ones who furnished the sport
to the more seasoned blue jackets and
officers whose experience had previously
taken them across the equator, winch
made them immune from the attention
of King Neptune who had the greatest
day in his career
The sea mouarch's royal flag was dis
played from the mainmaSt Of each OF
the ships, and he came aboard in the
time hOnOrcd manner over the bow To
see that all the neophytes We're duly IN
itatcd into the mysteries of his court.
Discretion was indeed the better part or
yalOr in treating with his majesty Dld
any of the uninitiat"d attempt TO resent
the rather rough attention paid to them
by the kings courtiers they only called
down on themselves much worse treat
ment
King Neptune Praises President.
The King Neptune who visited the
battleship Louisiana was IN particularly
gracious humOr and as few of his vic
tins offered any desperate resistance to
his royal attentions he cOndrScendcd to
announce that special honorary certlh-
Gates would be forwarded To President
and Mrs Roosevelt i'll due recognition of
the fact they had visited Panama, which
was near the royal domain
On the night of January . Il north
bound barkcntine with lights burning
dimly was sighted close to the fleet. For
some unknown reason it did not hold its
course, and ran among the ships Of the
first squadron of the first division. HE
barkcntine passed between the Louisiana
and the Georgia, the latter being the
flagship of Rear Admiral William II.
Emory, commanding the second division
of the first squadron. Then the sailing
vessel ran back to its original course.
The battc~hlps were thrown into some
confusion by their efforts to avoid col
lision. but as soon as the danger was
past they speedily resumed their align
mcnt. SIc harkeutiur had miraculous
escau.. On the night of January $ there
was spectacular scarchIight drill, last
ing half an hour, uiurty-six beams be-
ing thrown in every directions.
MAN Overheard" False Alarm.
Early ON Friday morning gun
doomed from the Missouri this being a
signal that a man had fallen overheard.
Every ship at once stopped its engines,
boats were lowered and the searChlights
were thrown all over the face of the sea.
! For half an hour the search was kept
up in vain. the boats rowing III every
direction. Then the boats were sicnaled
to return to their respective ships and it
| was discovered that il had been false
alarm.
! one Of the crew, who was suffering
/ from nightmare. had shouted Man
| overheard and the cry being repeated
/ by those who heard it, reached the oft
/ Ger of the deck. who Immediately caused
! the signal glln to be fired.
/ As the fleet was bound out from Port
/ of Spain Admiral Evans sgnaled from
/ the Connecticut an extract from fare
/ we'll letter sent to him by Sir II. NJ
| Jackson. governor of Trinidad, in which
/ he congratulated Admiral Evans on the
/ conduct of his huejackpts while IT Port
| of Spain. He added:
/ 'They have established a reputation
which it would be hard TO equal ana i'm
/ possible 10 beat
/ First Disorder Is Reported
/ Dispatches received from pernambuco
tell of disorders among he sailors Of the
! torpedo ilotllla. which arrived there on
January 10. While or shore leave the
sailors became engaged ~ a row among
themselves and the police intcrfcrcd
Some of the sailors 'ueoiycd slight in