The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-01-13
OUR BATTLESH|PS
REACH RIO JANE|R0
BRAziLIANS GIVE HEARTY WEI
COME TO YANKEE FLEET.
THE voYAoEFRoM TRINIDAD
To Rio Janeiro, Distance of 5000
Miles, Occupied ID Days-Father
Neptune Visited the Ships on
Crossing the Equator.

Rio Janeiro, Jan. 13.-The Ameri
can fleet of 16 battleships entered
the port of Rio Janeiro at 3 o'clock
Sunday afternoon after passage
from Port of Spain, Trinidad, more
that 5000 miles, unmarried by serious
accident, replete with interesting in.
cidents and ending with n royal wei
come from the thousands that gath
cred to greet the visitors.
The fleet weighed anchor at ID
o'clock on the afternoon of December
20 at Port of Spain, and exactly at
4 o'clock Sunday the vessels were
swinging at anchor in this beautiful
harbor. All the battleships are here,
but the supply ships Culgoa and Gla.
cier are still at sea, not having been
able to keep along with the others.
The feet has now covered about
1900 miles, about a third of the dis.
tance OF the voyage to San Francisco.
Early in the morning crowds began
to gather in the streets of Rio janet.
ro and long before the signal flags
were -hoisted announcing the ap-
proach of the American warships
thousands of curious spectators had
taken up points of vantage on public
buildings and the elevated quays.
When the fleet steamed into the
harbor, under the splendid mountains
that frame the bay, beautiful in the
tropical sun. it was spectacle in.
comparable to the eye. The road.
stead lay like a glittering mirror
beneath.
Word that the feet had passed
Cape Frio, about 45 miles out, was
received at $3.50 o'clock and imme-
diately scores of tugs and other
small craft. crowded with spectators,
set out to meet the visitors and ac-
companied them to the anchorage.
Outlined against the horizon the great
battleships. stretched out in one long
line, came slowly through the pass.
age into the bay This Connecticut
Rear Admiral Evans flagship, was
in the lead, with two Brazilian cruis-
ers on either side.
Passing the fortress, the Connect.
cut fired salute of n guns, which
was responded to by the Brazilian
warships, the German cruiser Bremen
and the shore guns. The yards and
fighting tops were manned and
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 ma
rine, Admiral Alencar, the captain of
the port, the American consul, G.. Il.
Anderson, the commandants of naval
divisions and the civic authorities
went on board the Connecticut and
extended a hearty welcome to Rear
Admiral Evans, his officers and men.
Hundreds of launches, tugs and
small boats circled about the battle.
ships until long after the sun had
gone down. Not less than $1,000 to
10000 persons We're aboard these
boats and more than $4,000 others
were gathered on shore to celebrate
the coning of the feet Last night
the city was beautifully illuminated
and a gala occasion was made In hon
or of the visitors.
At midnight on the 9Th the fleet
crossed the equator and Father Nep.
tune visited the ships. On the flag.
ship Connecticut, Neptune, surround.
ed by his various assistants, ad-
dressed a warm welcome to the ad.
miral in command. Never before had
so many recruits crossed the line at
one time, numbering fully 80 per cent
of the crews, This great number o.
green hands gaze Father Neptune and
his followers an unusual opportunity
to pat them through the Initiation
with inimitable spirit. Neptune's flag
hung at the yardarms during the cere-
monies. All the newspaper CORE.
spondents on the vessel paid the foot
ing with the younger officers and q
number of midshipmen who took the
initiation. There was the usual lath
ering and shaving by the BARRIERS and
the, ducking In the tanks. which was
administered by the bears.