Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-17
FLEET RECEIVES
HEARTY WELCOME
MIGHTY BATTLESHIPS ANCHOR
AT HONOLULU
Japanese Fishermen Explode Daylight
Fireworks of Many Curious De-
signs in Honor of the
Event
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
HONOLULU, July 16.-The Atlantic
battleship fleet arrived here at noon
today, completing another long leg in
its world cruise.
Magnificent beyond anything ever
seen in these waters was the arrival,
as one powerful vessel after another
rose out of the eastern horizon and
came in the range of vision of the
thousands of spectators from the whole
Hawaiian group of islands who
thronged Diamond Head and the adj
joining heights that stretch beyond
Waikiki eastward from Honolulu to the
extremity of the island of Oahu.
The day opened cloudy and threaten
ing rain, but by 9:39 a. M, when the
lookout on Diamond Head, through his
telescope, first deserted the smoke of
the Connecticut, the southern half of
the sky was clear and only fleeting
clouds obscured the northern half.
Early the city was astir and the pill
grimage to Diamond Head and other
points of vantage began, with street
cars jammed, automobiles and gayly
decked carriages crowded with eager
people. Many rode on horseback, while
others hastened on board the excursion
craft in the bay.
Upon the first notification of the
sighting of the fleet the excursion
steamers hurried out of the harbor, and
as the fleet rounded Diamond Head and
came into view of the city their ap-
proach was beheld from roof and tall
building by a great cosmopolitan crowd
men. women and children of all the
races and nations that go to make up
Honolulu's opulation-Japanese Chi
nese, Koreans, Hindus, Hawaiians, Por-
tuguese, Spaniards, Porto Ricans, Fill
pinos and people from every European
country and every state in the Union.
Nearly all carried an American flag,
and from the house tops of the city
floated, beside the Stars and Stripes.
flags of almost every nation, Chinese
and Japanese flags predominating.
The formation of the fleet began to
be distinguished when it was about fif-
teen miles distant, and as it plowed its
course along the southern coast of the
island it furnished a magnificent spec
tacle, the vessels moving slowly in per-
feet column.
A wind fresh from the northeast blew
the smoke from the vessels off the port
how.
Just at noon the Connecticut hove to
at the outer entrance of the channel.
and the other vessels took position.
The Illinois, Kearsarge and Kentucky
anchored westward of the channel en-
trance, the George, Nebraska, New Jer-
sey and Rhode Island to the eastward
At 1890 the Connecticut slowly entered
the channel surrounded by Japanese
fishing fleet firing daylight fireworks of
many and curious designs
When the Connecticut was about to
enter the harbor she was greeted by a
salute from the naval station. The
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Vermont
followed after the Connecticut.
Immense crowds covered the wharves
and the most intense interest and pat
riotism were displayed, finding express
sion in cheers and the discharging OF
daylight fireworks.
After passing Molokai the third di-
vision, composed of the Louisiana. Vir-
ginia, Ohio and Missouri, proceeded to
I4ahoing on the island of Maui for coal.
OFFICIAL Visits Exchanged
This afternoon Rear Admiral Sperry
and Governor Frear exchanged official
visits.
During the entire run to Honolulu
the f1eef experienced pleasant weather
and smooth seas.
For two hours or more daily, except
on Sunday. the fleet had tactical evolu-
tions and at the same time routine
drills were carried on. No noteworthy
incident occurred on the entire voyage,
and as a matter of fact this first leg or
long cruise was rather more un-
eventful than is usual
The fleet never had to stop or slow
down nor did any of the ships have to
fall out of formation through accidents
to machinery or steering gear;
The health of the crews has been
verv good and there have been no
deaths or serious accidents since leav-
ing San Francisco.
The Nebraska, which was left behind
when the fleet sailed from the Goloen
Gate on account of scarlet fever cases
among her crew. overlook the fleet at
$3.50 a. m. yesterday -
Lahaina for coal, will come to Homo
lulu July 19 and rejoin the other mem
bers of the fleet.
Tonight the city is dressed in puntlng
and illuminated with thousands of in
candescents and the streets are nileo
with a holiday crowd.
Out in the harbor searchlights are
hashing, and the ships are lined in
white, their lights forming huge elec-
trio crosses against the sky.