The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-05-14
going down on one side and back on the

going down on one SIDE and back on the
other side thus going clear around the
entire fleet. AS we would pass the
ships there was shouting and waving of
hats and handkerchiefs, the sailors
eagerly responding. We passed one
battle ship on which the band was play
ing and the sailors were dancing &C.
tillion, when they saw our girls waving
their handkerchiefs they quit and rush
ed to the side of ship and beckoned for
them to come aboard. Perhaps you do
not know that they are not allowed to
have any ladies aboard not even the
officers unless it is for short cruise
along the coast from one city to another.
Arriving at the pier we had a short
time for refreshments and then wendell
our way to the bluffs again to witness
the illumination of this vast fleet after
dark, this was sight grand and beauti-
full beyond description. 1t was very
dark and sitting on the bluffs you could
not distinguish objects but few feet,
when at a given signal the whole fleet
burst into dazzling radiance, it is diff
cult to describe your sensations at such
spectacle. The outline of every part
of every ship sparkled with thousands
of electric lights. The effect is beyond
anything your immagination ever con-
ceived. 1t made you think of descrip-
tions in the book of Revelations Of the
mansions in Heaven.
Added to the illumination of the ships,
each ship carries two immense search
lights, these were all in motion throw
ing streamers of light far into the
heavens and out to sea- and unto land,
occasionally they would be focused up
on you as they swung around and you
would think you was struck by lightn-
ing almost. This illumination was kept
up till nearly midnight, and then ended
the first day of the arrival of the fleet.
We got back to the city after midnight,
being in a terrible jam of people. This
being Saturday night no one was allow
ed aboard until Sunday. | went down
to Long Beach Sunday night and was
very Hospitality entertained by our old
townspeople, Mr.. and Mrs. Matthew
Stewart and family, who wish to be re-
membered to all their Garden Grove
friends. We had a good visit together
and told them how everything was at
Garden Grove. | went Sunday evening
with Mrs. Stewart and called on Mr.. and
Mrs. John Jordan, who are at Long
Beach. We had good visit. Finally
at a late hour | went to bed, waking up
in the stiffness of the night | could
hear strange sound, at first not realiz-
ing where was, did not know what it
was until it finally dawned on my mind
it was the beating Of the surf on the
shore, going to sleep slept soundly till
l was awakened by the roar of one OF
the guns of the fleet arousing the sail
ors for their days duties, it being fred
as afterward learned, as the signal for
rising at exactly five o'clock, l set apart
Monday to go aboard which I accom-.
plished after struggling through mass
of good natured people who almost
fought their way to the ticket windows
to get a ticket. Sunday the fleet separ
ated, four ships remaining at San Pedro
four at Long Beach, four at San Monica
and four at Venice thus affording better
opportunity for the vast throngs to &c
aboard. When the feet entered Sa1
Pedro harbor altogether on Saturday al
they were anchored were the Connecti
cut alag ship Kansas, Vermont, Min
nesota, Missouri, Ohio, Maine, Kentucky
Kearsarge, Illinois, Alabama, Virginia
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Georgia ant
Louisiana.
There were large floats anchored b,
the side of the ships making platform
SO the people could be unloaded from
the launches quickly. These floats lool
like an old fashioned flat boat turned
bottom up and hundred people coult
be on them without sinking. Well a
last stood on deck of the New Jersey
Now you have all seen pictures of bat
/ tie ships and you know their shape, blu
to be on the deck and get an idea o
their immense size, it is great. was
/ little disappointed when / rode by Their
i at a distance that the guns were not a
large as imagined but as Mr.. Varg
: used to say "My Dear Sir when go
up so could lay my hands on one Q
) these - inch guns, they fully came u
: to my expectation. The sailors wer
! very good to answer any questions 20
/ would ask and show you all parts G
y the ship. / got stoker who was o
! | LIZ