Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-05-14
FLEET AT FRISCO
THE ATLANTIC RATTLEsHIPs
PASS THROUGH PORTALS or
THE GOLDEN GATE.
WELCOMED 70 the WEST
Anchored In the Harbor Of the
New Built City 10 the HeavI'
est Fleet Ever
4 Assembled.

San Francisco. May 7.-Through the
towering, rocky portals Of the Colder
Gate-heavy laden with the romance
OF centuries--into the harbor OF the
city Of hundred hills; into a new
San Francisco risen from the'ruins Of
two years ago, the Atlantic battleship
/, feet steamed Wednesday in review Of
O multitude unnumbered. 1t was the
same imposing pageant Of immaculate
white ships that sailed from Hampton
Roads nearly Ave months ago In the
wake of the presidents flag but with
the splendid accomplishments Of o
record-breaking cruise Of more than
$4,000 miles and three weeks Of won
derful target work behind 1t. Wednes'
day the white anchored, four starred
blue flag of the secretary of the navy
flying from the main mast Of the trim
little gunboat Yorktown, fluttered the
welcome of the navy, while the gov
ernor of California, the mayor OF san
Francisco and the people of hundred
towns and cities voiced the greetings
OF the enthusiastic west.
San Francisco, Oakland and other
cities nearby all took a holiday to wit
ness the coming OF the fleet. There
was a complete cessation Of business
and the streets In the downtown Sec
lions we're absolutely deserted, More
people came into the city Tuesday
night and Wednesday morning than
left during the terror and homeless
days following the fire.
A few remaining scars OF city
shaken and burned appeared rose-tint-
ed Wednesday in the Joy of the gen
eral celebration. A welcomed sign
spelled in letters 80 feet high topped
the heights of Telegraph Hill. The
sun, which all morning long had been
obscured by heavy gray clouds, broke
through just as the ships were pass
ing by the gateway and shone In noon
day brilliance on the pageantry Of
fighting craft.
Wednesday night the city was gay
with merrymaking and the long pro-
gram of entertainments planned In
honor Of the feet was well under way.
Streets and buildings were Illuminated
for the first time in the history Of
the new city, many of the giant sky
scrapers that have risen upon the sites
Of less imposing buildings destroyed
being outlined In a fire Of electric
bulbs. The still crowded hills Of the
city were flooded now and then in the
flash and play Of scores of search
lights trained from fighting tops and
flying bridges. Below them in the an
chorage grounds the Examinations of
the heaviest feet ever assembled un-
der any flag made brilliant the waters
Of the bay for thousands Of yards
around.
Official dinners, band concerts and
reception and ball at the FairmOnt
hotel with 5000 invited guests were
features OF the first evening Of the
fleets stay.
The feet threaded its way through
the crowded harbor, past the islands
and ferry lanes and reaching far out
to the Oakland shore, turned at last
when opposite Hunters Point and
pointing back toward Golden Gate to
face the incoming tide steamed into
anchorage formation.
The battleships, having the right Of
line, were first to let their anchors go.
The 16 veterans Of the Atlantic cruise,
augmented by two battleships recruit
ed here for the remainder Of the trip
around the world-the Nebraska and
Wisconsin-occupy the two inside
lines Of the four columns Of ships now
in the harbor. The armored cruisers
Of the Pacific feet have the line near
est the Oakland shore while the little
black destroyers Of both the Atlantic
and Pacific fleets are berthed close in
toward the San Francisco water front.
The excursion feet was kept out Of
the warships pathway by patrol Of
revenue cutters and all ferry service
was suspended during the parade.
Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, CON-
mander-in.chlef Of the Atlantiuc feet
and Just now In command Of the as
sembled ships Of both oceans, stood on
the after-bridge Of the Connecticut as
the famous flagship led the way
through the harbor's gate.