The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-05-16
HOW SAN FRANCISCO
MET FLEET
CONTINUED from Page one.)

dearest wish that he might direct the
movements of his fleet when it finished
Its journey half way around the wcrld
lit was the climax to the career OF
one of the worlds greatest admirals
Days ago Evans said that he would
do this, and the doctor, knowing the
man, bent all his efforts to ge ting the
man ready for the triple knew the
trip was going to be made, so all he
had to do was to get his patient into
the best possible shape to make it.
| And so it came about that the day
| the fleet was to leave, the Connecticut
left the vessels at anchor and steamed
over to Monterey again to meet the
special train which was hurrying up
| from the South with the commander
in-chief aboard, The Yankton, which
was nearby, hoisted anchor and moved
| over toward one of the long wharfs,
while the crowd knowing that the adj
miral was to go on board the Con-
necticut bit at this bait and fastened
after the vessel, never stopping to
/ think that a boat which was flying it's
washing from the forward rigging was
| not in fit condition to receive the COM
handing admiral. Before the crowd
was aware of what was going on Evans
had been carefully lifted from his car
and taken down to another wharf
where he embarked in a smaller boat
for the battleship.
Late that afternoon the Connecticut
hove into view again steaming rapidly
toward Santa Cruz, and before the
watchers fully realized what was going
to happen a string of flags futtered
out from the Connecticut's signal hal
yards which read, Form exact column
and follow the flagship" Then it was
that those on shore were treated to
sample of what quick action means in
the navy. Some of the boats and
launches of the anchored battleships
were still scurrying about between the
ships and the shore. In five minutes
they were all alongside and we're being
hoisted aboard. Great clouds of black
and the distant rumble of engines and
chains indicated the hauling up of an
chors. Straight down upon the fleet
came the Connecticut at thirteen
knot clip, never slackening speed for
an instant the bone" in her teeth
growing larger with her approach.
Pointed directly for the fleet the great
battleshfp plunged on. swept between
the two rows of now slowly moving
vessels and took her place at the head
of the divisions, turned sharply to the
left and swung out toward the horizon.
The Kansas dropped in behind the flag
ship and soon the whole fleet was on its
way to sea- The Vermont had some
trouble with her anchor, and was de-
layed, but once started she put on full
speed and tore through the water to
take her place in the line. Ten minutes
later the fleet had disappeared around
the point and the last leg of the jour-
ney had begun.
THE TRIP UP THE COAST TO SAN
FRANCISCO.
The new Ocean Shore railroad, which
runs down the coast from San Fran
cisco, gave people an opportunity to
greet the fleet a. night before it reach
ed San Francisco, and as a conse-
quence hundreds went down to the
beaches to watch the vessels as they
came into view.
At eight O'Clock Tuesday night
watchers on the hills were startled by
a sudden shaft of light which seemed
to come from the far-off horizon and
pierce the heavens, chen sweep down
and rest for a moment upon the shore.
1t was the search-light from the Con-
necticut, a silent signal sent out to the
expectant thousands that the fleet was
approaching Suddenly the light dis
appeared, and nothing more was seen
for a half hour, when those with
glasses made out a long string of
swiftly moving lights in the distance.
1.-The fleet is coming" rang out from
the hill-tops and was answered back
by those on the shore. And then as
though by a prearranged signal great
fires burst out at different points along
the shore. Huge bonfires had been
built at intervals of a mile or more.
and these blazing up and throwing
their Pickering light against the sky
constituted San Francisco's first well
come to the fleet. On the ships came
until they were plainly discernible to
the naked eye. a line of lights which
seemed to stretch out to an indefinite
distance, and which moved quickly and
silently up the coast. When opposite
the long beaches some ten miles below
the cliff house the watchers were treat
ed to a display such as has never be-
fore been seen in Pacific waters. It
was a searchlight drill by the sixteen
battleships, started by the Connecticut
which was suddenly lighted from stem
to stern DIV Ine great udSuiiS
Immediately there came answering
CLEANS from the battleships strung out
for over a mile behind. Il was verify
night turned into day, and for five min
utes the great bars of light swung to
and fro in every direction, piercing the
heavens, centering on some point on
the shore for an instant, and then
switching away to the open sea. 1t
was a sight worth going miles to see,
and those who had gone the distance
were amply rewarded, and thankful for
the courtesy of Admiral Evans, who,
knowing the fleet was being watched,
had ordered the display. Suddenly the
lights dimmed. and then as quickly dis
appeared entirely, leaving nothing. but
the inky blackness all around. and the
impression that one had for an instant
seen a great meteor fash across the
sky and drop into the sea.
THE ENTRY AND NAVAL PARADE.
The fog hung thick over the Golden
Gate on Wednesday morning. and early
watchers at the Cliff House could see
L,,+ - distance hayAn5 the seal