The Washington herald., 1908-05-09
Order Is Accepted.

The naval men know Of no such official
as a personal representative Of the Presi-
dent. but the order was accepted in ac-
cordsnee with the full spirit Of thu re-
joicing that is going on here over the
feet And the naval officers said 1t was
all right If the Secretary wanted unusual
honoTs paid him
The Secretary boarded the gunboat
Yorktown In the morning. and exactly at
/ 10 o'clock she was seen standing UP the
bay toward the feet With the Secretary
was Mayor Taylor and most OF the mem
bers Of the feet reception committee. As
soon as the Yorktown approached the
Minnesota. Admiral Thomas flagship
she began to fire the first salute. In-
stantIy all vessels OF the combined feet
dressed ship. As the Yorktown steamed
between the sqUadrons each ship in turn
fired seventeen guns.
There was no policing Of the lines, and
the dignity Of the spectacle was marred.
to some extent, by a great procession Of
floating craft OF all kinds following the
Yorktown. 1t was like a crowd Of boys
trailing after a circus band. From ten to
twenty thousand people were on the scores
. If boats and they expressed their en-
thusiasm by waving flags and cheering
wildly. On some of the boats the passen-
gers would spell out In unison the name
of each war ship as she passed. It was
hilarious day afoat
Pay Respects to Metcalf.
After the Yorktown had gone the length
/ OF the feet It made turn and came back
between the torpedo fIotiIla and the first
/ squadron Of the bsttle-ship feet Then
/ it came TO anchor and the admirals and
captains hustled into the launches to so
TO the Yorktown and pay their respects
| to the Secretary.
| The Secretary received the admirals and
| captains on the quarterback and in about
an hour the formal function was over.
| Immediately on the conclusion Of the
| ceremony the excursion boats began TO
/ flock to the war ships with the visitors.
and then they were crowded with sight
seers. The approaches TO the landing
stages and the ferries were jammed, and
the whole city was in an excited condi-
/ ton.
Silver service Presented.
A silver service was presented to the
cruiser California and the battle ship Ne
braska this afternoon. Gov. Gillett did
the speechmaking on the California and
Coy Sheldon did it on the Nebraska.
| This evening the so-oRjled good mll-
/ lionsires gave a dinner in honor OF the
/ admirals and captains at the Hotel St
/ Francis. Numerous other dinners and
dancing parties were given all over town.
The bluejackets had athletic contests in
the naval pavilion.
Admiral Evans took no part in to-days
! function. He remained quietly at his hotel
and late this afternoon transferred his
command there TO Admiral Thomas.
Capt. Grant. chief Of staff viii look
after official ceremonies tomorrow when
Admiral Thomas hoists his flag
/ Admiral Evans leaves for Washington
| in a special car tomorrow afternoon.
Armored Cruisers in Line.
The armored cruisers of the Pacific feet
were anchored In the line nearest the
! Oakland shore. In the second line were
the ships Of the Second squadron Of the
| Atlantic fleet. Down between these two
lines the Yorktown first proceeded, and
on reaching the end Of the line sailed Up
the line formed by the battle ships Of the
First Atlantic squadron. and by the tor
pedo craft Of both fleets After return
ing to the head Of the columns. the York
town passed the Connecticut last OF all
and anchored
Admiral Evans relinquishes command
at his own request. because Of I'll health.