Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-01-17
AMERICAN FLEET
AT RIO JANEIRO
BATTLESHIPS ON WAY TO PACIFIC
COAST WELCOMED IN BRA
LILLIAN CITY.
SHIP mikes UP" SQUADRON.
Merchantmen Sails Into Fighters, but
No Harm Results-Gay Time
When Equator Is Crossed.
FIRST DISORDER is REPORTED.

RIO JANEIRO, Jan. 13.-The sixteen
vessels composing the American battle
ship fleet OIL the way to the Pacific. Rear
Admiral Robley D. Evans commanding,
arrived here Sunday afternoon.
AS the fleet passed the lighthouse on
cape tno signal, set by the order of
the government. conveyed a welcome
from the Brazilian people. The vessels
were met by cruiser and two torpedo
boats belonging to the Brazilian navy,
which had been dispatched by Rear Ad-
mllar Alexandra de Alencar, minister OF
marine, TO escort them up the bay. There
were twelve Brazilian warships and one
German cruiser, the Bremen, in port.
AS the Americans passed the FORTH
cations national salute was fired, which
was repIled to, gGa for gun, by the bat
tleshlps. linen followed the salutes be-
tween the Brazilian, German and Amer
lean warshIps, and for a time the noise
was thunderous.
The news of the approach of the fleet
mad spread through the city long before
the WarshlpS We're near the town and
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 cheered and shouted cries of good
will.
Delayed by Trade Winds.
The newspaper world of the capital
was wldeawake 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 al
Trinidad, strong trade winds and heavy
sWellS were met with as the warshipS
passed along the northea stern coast of
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 that
there were 1880 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, which
made them immune from the attention
of King Neptune, who had the greatest
day in his career.
The sea monarch's royal flag was dis
played from the mainmast of each of
the ships, and he came aboard in the
time honored manner over the bow to
see that all the neOphyteS were duly i'll
ltIated into the mysteries of his court.
Discretion was indeed the better part of
TalOr in treating with his majesty. Did
any Of the uninitiated attempt to resent
the rather rough attention paid to them
by the kings courtiers they only called
down on themselves much worse tres t.
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 cOndeScended to
announce that special honorary certih
Gates would be forwarded to President
and Mrs. Roosevelt in due recognition of
the fact they had visited Panama, which
was near the royal domain
On the night Of January 8 a north
bound barkentine 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. The
barkentine passed between the Louisiana
and the Georgia, the latter being the
flagship of Rear Admiral William H.
Emory, commanding the second division
of the first squadron. Then the sailing
vessel ran back to its original course.
The battleships were thrown into some
confusion by their efforts to avoid a col
ision, but as soon as the danger was
past they speedily resumed their align
ment LEle barkentinc had a mira culous
escape. On the night of January there
was a spectacular searchlight drill, last
ing half an hour, ninety-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 We're 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 in every
direction. Then the boats were signaIed
to return to their respective ships and it
was discovered that it had been a 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 Off
Ger of the deck, who Immediately caused
the signal gun to be fired.
AS the fleet was bound out from Port
of Spain Admiral Evans signaled from
the Connecticut an extract from a fare
well letter sent to him by Sir H. NJ.
Jackson. governor of Trinidad. in which
he congratulated Admiral Evans on the
conduct of his bluejackets while st Port
of Spain. He added:
They have established reputation
which it would be hard to equal and i'm
possible to beat