The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-13
Passage From Port of Spain Is
 Without Accident
THIRD OF DISTANCE COVERED
Fleet Steams into Harhorage at the Brazilian Capital Exactly at 4 o'Clock-Thousands Greet
 the Visitors.

Rio Janeiro, January 12.-The American fleet of 16 battleshps entered the port or Rio Janeiro at o'clock this after noon, after passage from Port of Spain, Trinidad more than 5000 miles, unmarked by serious accident, replete with inter- esting incidents and ending with d royal welcome from the thousands that had gathered to greet the visitors
 The fleet weighed anchor at f o'clock on the afternoon of December 29, at Port Of Spain and exactly at 1 o'clock today the vessels were swinging at their an- chors in this beautiful harbor. All of the battleships are here. but the supply ships Culgoa and Glacier are still at sea, not having been able to keep along with the others. The fleet has now covered about 46OO miles, about one-third the distance of the voyage to San Francisco.
 Early in the morning the crowds be- gan to gather in the streets of Rio Ja- neiro, and long before the signal flags were hoisted announcing the approach of the American ships of war, thousands of curious spectators had taken up the point of vantage on public buildings and the elevated quays. When the fleet steamed into the harbor under the splendid moun- tains that frame the bay, beautiful In the tropical sun. it was a spectacle in comparable to the eye
 Fleet Welcomed.
 Word that the fleet had passed Cape Erie, about 45 miles out, was received at 330 o'clock and immediately tugs and
 other crafts were preparing to sail out
 to meet the visitors, and accompany them to the anchorage Outlined against the horizon, the battleships, stretched out in long line, came slowly through the passage Into the bay. The Connecticut.
 Rear Admiral Evans flagship, was in the lead, with a Brazilian cruiser,
 dressed in gala attire, on either side.
 Passing the fortress the Connecticut fired
 saiupe ofk2l guns. which was resnend- ed to by the Brazilian warships, the
 German cruiser Bremen, and the shore l guns. The yards and fighting tops were
 manned and cheers upon cheers were given for the splendid passage of the flagship and her sister ships.
 As soon as the anchorage was made
 the Brazilian minister of marine, Ad- miral Alencar, the captain of the port, the American consul, G. Enderson, the commandants of naval divisions and the civic authorities went on board the Con- necticut and extended hearty welcome 1 to Rear Admiral Evans, his officers and men. Not less than 15,0O0 to 10000 persons
 were aboard these boats and more than
 5o,oo0 others were gathered on shore to l celebrate the coming of the fleet. To-
 night the city Is beautifully illuminated 1 aSi0 hnc bna f,, honor of the visitors.
 Voyage is Pleasant.
 1 All the way down from Port of Spain 1 the voyage was an enjoyable one and l all on board the ships were well and seemingly happy. To some extent the
 passage of the fleet was hampered by the strong currents and coal, and minor Arrangements of the auxiliary machinery of several of the ships. Until Friday the 10th. uniform speed of 10 knots was maintained. The speed was then increas- ed to Il knots and finally to F. At midnight on the 9th the fleet crossed the equator and Father Neptune visited the ships. On the flagship Connecticut, Neptune surrounded by his various as- sistants and satellites, addressed a warm
 welcome to the admiral in command. Never before had so many recruits crossed the line at one time, numbering Iully 9U per cent or the crews. me great number of green hands gave Fa- ther Neptune and his followers an un-
 usual opportunity to put them through the initiation with inimitable spirit. Nep- tune's flag hung at the yard arms dur ing the ceremonies. All the newspaper correspondents on the vessels paid the footing with the older officers and number of midshipmen who took the in itiation.
 Early on Friday morning false alarm of man overheard was sent out from the Missouri, which brought the fleet to quick stop and boats were lowered It was only a drill and we'll performed On the night of the same day a brig showing no lights entered the columns and caused a break in the formation. A serious accident was averted only by the skllful handling of the warships A body of a Brazilian fleet, consisting of three cruisers accompanied by the American tender Yankton met the Amer ican battleshps off the coast and after an exchange of greetings steamed with them along the coast and into the road stead