Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-24
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS
Crowd the Vessels Of Rear Admiral
Evans Fleet At Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, Calf, April 23.-Fleet
week in Los Angeles is drawing to a
close in a perfect whirl Of entertain
ment, amazing in it's extent and varie-
ty. Today will see practically the last
of the long list Of events on the local
program and tomorrow the various
beach cities where the ships are lying
at anchor will have day to devote to
a celebration of the fleets presence.
The ships were open to visitors all
day today and thousands Of people
crowded them. 1t is estimated that be-
tween eight and ten thousand people
have visited each of the ships of the
first division daily. The ships of the
other divisions have proved equally
popular and the officers have been put
to much effort in caring for the i'm
mense crowds. The number of people
who have been transported both ways
by all the various lines reaching the
different ports approximates million
according to the estimates Of rail-
road officer today. The ships have
been almost denuded Of officers from
the day Of their arrival. Function fol-
lowed function so fast that they have
had scarcely an opportunity to return
to the ships for quarters.
Many of the commanding officers
have remained in the city during the
entire week. Only scattering number
of officers are aboard the ships during
the day. The men, too, have had the
largest amount of liberty since their
arrival in Los Angeles. Upwards of
1000 have been ashore each day for "a
Of ~
morning. They have been carried to
and from the beach cities by the rail-
roads free Of charge and have also
be en- carried without charge on all city
lines. The best order has been main
tanned by them.
The men are to have their final
round of entertainment tomorrow
morning when 5000 Of them are to be
taken on an automobile tour of the
city. Admiral Thomas has granted
liberty to that number for the occa-
sion. More than 500 automobiles Will
meet them and take them through the
streets of the city for four hours. They
are then to be given a barbecue
luncheon, after which they will see
the last performance of the Wild West
show at Agricultural park.
The last of the boxing bouts for the
fleet championships were held today at
Chutes park, where four days enter
tainment for the men was finished.
During the week drills on board ship
have almost been dispensed with.
Staff officers of the fleet are busy in
the midst of all the festivities pre-
pairing for the continuation of the
cruise up the coast and concluding
| preliminary arrangements for the trip
around the world.
Tonight the California Club enter
tanned several hundred officers and To-
cal guests at reception and ball in
the club rooms. The Jonathan Club
also gave a similar function. the date
being set aside particularly as ladies'
night. A grand ball and banquet was
| held at Virginia hotel at Long Beach
where Admiral Emery, commanding
the second division was the guest of
honor
Tomorrow the flagship Connecticut
has been reserved for the use of the
members of the Los Angeles reception
committee and their families. Many
of the ships are receiving large dele
cations from the different state socie-
| ties in Los Angeles.