The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Los Angeles, Fleet Mad, Sends
100000 Residents to
Greet Fleet
Wild Enthusiasm of Day Sur.
passed at the Nights
Illumination
Visitors to Seaside Forfeit
Chance to Sleep to Join
Demonstration
Today the BattIeships Will Be
;. Divided Among Four
Southern Ports

: Los ANGELES, April 1s.-Los
Angeles sent more than 100000 of its
residents to the ocean side today to
welcome the American battleship feet,
which steamed into San Pedro harbor.
p miles away, in the full radiance of a
midsummer sun and dropped anchor
st~5:3o p. N. The Is fighting vessels
and three auxilianes, leaving San
Diego shortly after 6 o'clock this
morning, had steamed up the 100
miles of surf beaten coast in single
Column formation, 400 yards apart,
and IN fun view OF thousands Of per-
sons who gathered at every vantage
point With the Connecticut leading
and with Rear Admiral Charles NJ
Thomas on the bridge. the long line
OF ships pointed within the breakwa-
ter OF San Pedro bay Just half an hour
behind their scheduled hour Of arrival
The Connecticut, Kansas. Vermont and
Louisiana took up their berths within
the sheltered portion OF the harbor,
where they are to remain the full seven
days OF the fleets visit while the
other twelve ships OF the second, third
and fourth divisions reached out into
the open sea in a line nearly two miles
long.
IMPOSING BEAUTY
The arrival OF the feet was accom-
panied by all Of the flashing colors and
embellishments that have made It's pres
tied IN the last four months a marine
picture unrivaled in imposing beauty.
The thousands Of people who made the
} occasion Of the arrival a holiday. and
who lined seawalls. breakwater. bluffs
and beaches surrounding the bay. fairly
went wild in their enthusiasm as the
feet steamed into its assigned POSI-
ton. They had watched the ships grow
from a miniature squadron. smoke en-
shrouded IN the distance, to the full
grown glory OF the near view offered
: in the confines OF the hsrbor, with In
creasing excitement, and when the
anchors dropped with a white splash
into the ripping blue waters whistles
blew in a perfect pandemonium OF
greeting. while cheers grew IN volume
until they could be heard on board the
Minnesota, the last of the big fighters
in the far reaching column
Tonight the feet was Illuminated
. bulls. superstructures, turrets and
yardarne being outlined in electric
bulbs The vast crowd that sought the
sesshors TO witness the day picture re-
:. NAMED 20 view the changed effect that
came with the closing In OF night, and
again there was an outburst Of cheer
ing when at o'clock the ships. which
a moment before had appeared in din
outlines IN the soft light of the moo
burst into brilliant view with the turf
ing on OF the current OF seif-gener
ated electricity. searchlights added
their picturesque effect to the night
scene for haif an hour. playing upon
the crowds on shore, upon the bluffs
OF Point Firmin. upon the gayIy deco
rated city Of Long Beach and flashing
crossed shafts Of white light toward
the heavens. The illumination of the
big feet Is a sight well worth travelling
miles TO see. and the discomfort the his
throngs had in returning to their homes
az a late hour tonight was borue with
out complaint by all who had yaxed
upon the glittering ships and sparkling
waters
WELCOMED BY MAYOR
Mayor A. C Harper. accompanied by
General Adna R. chaffee and other
members OF the Los Angeles reception
committee. went by special steamer
several miles down the coast to greet
the incoming feet. but did not board
the flagship Connecticut until the an
choring signal OF multicolored flags had
dropped from the signal yards. Ad-
nllrai Thomas received the visitors in
his cabin and thanked them in cfarac-
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