The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-15
Beautiful Spectacle Is Presented By Batueship Fleet An-
 chOIed At San Diego
SPLENDID WELCOME GIVEN
 BY OFFICIALS OF THE CITY
Governor GilIett Is Also on Hand To Welcome the Fleet In the Name of the State-Vessels Bril-
 IiantIy Illuminated.

San Diego, April 14-The American bat
 tleship fleet sailed today on summer
 sea. Water refecting the deep blue of
 cloudless southern sky; tropical islands
 jutting boldly out of the ocean in the
 path of the western horizon, a mile of
 sandy beach crowded with enthusiastic
 patriots, proud to welcome the navy 70
 California, and the green lawns and
 Towering gardens of Coronado formed
 the setting for the most notable marine
 spectacle the west coast of the United
 States has ever known. In four regularly
 intervaled columns, with fagships lead
 ing abreast and pointing the way to the
 four home anchorages the fleet has found
 in its four months of cruising around
 the southernmost end of the western
 hemisphere the 16 ships swept into the
 sheltered cove of the sea behind the
 towering headlands of Point Loma and
 halted for four days of merrymaking for
 men and officers.
 Governor James N. Gillett was here
 officially to welcome the fleet. Local offi-
 cials also went to the Connecticut to
 
 all the men of the feet how glad the people of California are to see such a splendid representation of the American navy as the .'battl~ onstitutes. Tonight Admirals Thomas, Sperry and Emery and the commanding officers and members of the various staffs were enter tained at an elaborate but informal din- ner at the Hotel Del Coronado. The beau- tiful days spectacle. when with flashing signals and wonderfully executed ma neuvers, the ships were brought to anchor in the rolling Pacific waters, was rivalled tonight when for three hours every yes gel was outlined in fire Thousands of incandescent bulbs were strong along decklines, up masts, far out on the signal yardarms, up and down the huge tunnels and down to the waters edge at stem and stern. In fairy like form the ships stood out against the night, and in let ters six feet high the name of each yes sel was spelled across it's forward bridge. The glow of the lights flooded the sea for thousands of yards away, the gleam- ing outlines shining in phantom-like re- factions.
 During half an hour of the period of illumination a searchlight display was made, adding infinitely to the wonderful |ieffect. The flashing shafts of powerful white lights were sent dancing over the waves, playing now and then on the | crowded beach of the brilliantly illumi- mated hotel, then reaching far away to the south to conjure from the night the al of "a Q1ls which mark the boundary line between Mexico and the United States On shore scores of red signal fires were maintained throughout the evening as a welcome sign.
 The fleet let go its anchors-all splash ing in the water with precision at 12:47- just IS minutes before the anchoring hour arrived For two hours the ships had been in sight and their coming had been watched with wonder by the waiting throngs So engrossed were they in the lay of the scene that they forgot to cheer. Never before have armorclads of the Connecticut type, displacing more than ! 16O00 tons of water in their occupancy of the sea, been seen along the Pacific coast, and the occasion of their visit is to be made a memorable event.
 The splendid condition of the ships was | manifested in every way. Outwardly they | were as white as when they left Hampton Roads. Internally the ships were in bet ter condition than when they started. Rear Admiral Charles M. Thomas, com- manding, was on the bridge of the Con- ! necticut as the fleet steamed to its an- | chorage The absence of Rear Admiral Evans, who is i'll at Paso hobles, is deep . ly regretted on all sides. Admiral Thomas at the dinner referred to the matter with much feeling.
 As Governor Gil1ette's party went on
 board the flagship from the starboard gangway, the ships were manned and | all the officers of the ship were drawn up again on the forward deck. Gov ernor Gillette was shown to the cabin, Jwhere Admiral Thomas received him. They returned immediately to the deck and, standing there under the muzzles . of the 12-inch guns of the battleships, Governor Gillette made brief address
 of welcome to California. At the con
 clusion of the governors address Ad-
 miral Thomas called for three cheers
 for the governor and the people of Cal ifornia. They were given with a will,
 the admiral himself leading. As the
 governor was piped over the sides of
 the Connecticut in beginning his return Itrfp to the shore, a salute of IT guns
 was fired in his honor from the three
 pounderNs on the after bridge.
 Mayoh John F. Forward of San Die
 70; M N. Clayton, director general of the feeh celebration comimttee and u. s. Grdnt, chairman of the reception bommttee also went aboard the Con hecticut( during the afternoon and re- eeiyed al cordial welcome from Admiral
 rhomasl San Diego tonight was bril- Iiantlyf illuminated, the brilliant scene If de3oration which has been carried but, Hncluding a night display of excep-
 ion& beauty.
 Cocaine Caused Murder.
 Id kxington, S. O., April 14.-Ned and