The sun., 1908-01-12


ehronicled the leading incidents Of IN,
hrst lex Of the cruise After ono day'l
Steaming in four oolumns the feet was de-
ployed into two columns. For one day the
speed was increased to II knots
The little tender Yankton. which il to be
used az the Admiraps yacht in port and
for short journeys and which has been
running with the feet on the starboard
side OF the hagship, was sent on ahead 10
get good start. One days steaminG
at II knots brought her back to us and then
] the fieet resumed the slower speed
/ The weather was fine throughout When
the trade winds belt was encountered about
800 miles north OF st. Thomas the ships
| pitched a good deal. bIt there was little
rolling, Sea legs had been acquired by
that time and few on board were incapaci-
tated. There wss a squall now and then
in the Caribbean with a dash Of rain for
five or ten minutes. bit that was nothing.
On Friday, December 20. the Missouri
was detached from the feet to take a sailor
sick with peritonitis to San Juan. and later
/ that night the Illinois was sent to Culebra
with a sal lor who had pneumonia. OF course
both could have been treated on board ship,
but Admiral Evans Thought that il would
he more humane to give these men the best
treatment that could be had on shore and
so did not hesitate. Two great warships
were sent away from the heet formation.
all for the comfort of two men.
The ships joined the heet again hate on
Saturday There were only one or two
slight mishaps 10 ship machinery reported
on the journey down. really nothing worthy
Of note, pump or somethins Of that kind
being out Of order.
The feet went along in splendid style.
Three days out the intervals and distances
were almost perfect AZ all hours ~ the day
and night. The voyage soon became a
double procession Of warships. with just
the ordinary rou tine going on.
FIRST BURIAL AT SEA.
On Sunday. December %. the first death on
the feet was reported. 1t was that Of Robert
Eugenpipes, an ordinary seaman on the
Alabama, enlisted at Dallas, Tex. in August
last. He died OF spinal meningitis.
Nothing was known Of the death on the
neet until eight bells were sounded at p. NJ.
Admiral Evans had gone ahead Of the feet
at noon to make four or six hour test Of
the new fuel called briquettes, and his ship
was out Of sight. Admiral Thomas on the
Minnesota was in command. His ship was
leading the second squadron, 1900 yards to
port.
Suddenly the men on watch saw the ma
tional oolors being raised to the mainmast
There was a scurry on every ship to get up
the colors. Every one wondered whether
land or a ship had been sighted. Slowly the
colors went up and stopped at half mast.
All the colors on the other ships went 10
half mast.
The order for half speed was given and then
came a signal to stop. The rails Of the ships
we're crowded at once. Up and down the
columns the men looked and then il was
seen that the quarterback Of the Alabama
was crowded. The order had been given
there: -All hands aft to bury the dead!'
The captain read the burial service. An
opening in the lines Of the men on the lee
side was made and Eugenpipes's body, sewed
in hammock and weighted with shot, was
gently slipped over the side. II made very
little splash. Three volleys were fired by
the marines, taps were sounded the colors
were run up to the gan on the mainmast az a
final salute on all the ships and standard
speed was ordered again as the flags came
down.
The ceremony occupied exactly nine min
utes and Admiral Thomas sent a wireless
telegram to Admiral Evans notifying him
OF what had been done. The burial cast a
gloom for few minutes on all the ships.
Much TO the regret of many officers and
men, Admiral Evans took the Virgin in
stead Of the Anegada passage into the
Caribbean and then headed straight for
Trinidad. Many had hoped that he would
sail along the chain Of islands and Ghat
they might catch a glimpse at least Of
Martinique and some of the other historic
places. But business is business on a feet
as we'll as on shore. Coal must be saved
and the way to go to a place is to go on the
shortest possible line consistent with safety.
AT TRINIDAD.
So it was that on Monday, December %,
Trinidad, just OF the Venezuelan coast,
came in sight. the ships entered the Dragons
Mouth into the Gulf of PaTia and swung
around the point and anchored in the road
stead OF Port Of Spain just before sunset.
The usual routine OF entering port was
observed, and when the mud hooks went
down the officials came of and trafic with
the shore was begun.
The first leg Of the journey was over It
was merely the warming up stage. Sharp
work was done to-day in arrangi ng for the
renewal OF supplies, but more Of that later
To morrow will be Christmas A bunch
of mistletoe is already hanging in the
Bouisiana's wardroom. Some Of the ships
brought their Christmas trees and greens
along. Therell be sports Of all kinds
boxing. rowing by officers and men, athletic
contests on ship-good cheer generally.
just fancy a Christmas with the ther-
mometer at 90 degrees!