The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-08
Sails Out Of Golden 8Gatesfor
Longest Trip Ever Taken
by Such Naval Force.
FIRST TO HONOLULU;
WELCOME AWAITING.
Elaborate Preparations Made to
Show Attention to American
Officers and Men-Nebraska
Quarantined on Account
Of Scarlet Fever.
The Route.

AN FRANCISCO. CAL. July L.
The battleship feet, except the
Nebraska, held here In quaran-
/.tine, weighed anchor this after
noon at 3 O'clock and an hour
later passed out Golden Gate bound
for Honolulu. thence for Australian
and Japanese ports, and finally for
Hampton Roads.
The hour OF departure was Just two
months and day from the time the
fleet took up Its anchorage in the bay.
and while It's coming was more im-
posing pageant than its going, this de-
parture was still a grand naval spec
tacle, and one fraught with much im-
port. The comins+of the fleet marked
the end OF the first part of the voyage.
Its going marked the beginning OF
the second part. and It's departure
from Manila next October VIII mark
the beginning OF the third.
Thousands OF persons witnessed tho
arrival OF the fleet where score gath
cred to see 1t depart. A few OF the
wharves near the ferry were crowded
with spectators; several hundred con-
gregated at Fort Point, while num-
bre Journeyed out to the beach, bul
their combined numbers were few as
compared with the million spectators
that cheered the feet as !. iss saileo
through the Golden Gate on the altet-
noon OF May 9Th.
The fleet Itself was less Imposing
than on Its entry to the bay. The SIX
destroyers and the Ave torpedo boats
were absent. The auxiliar!es, Giacier'
Culzoa, Ajax. Relief. Arethusa ana Pan-
ther. and the tender Yankton, had gone
on before the battleships. The oattle-
ships Maine and Alabama are now on
their way 10 the Orient. while the Ne.
braska is held here in quarantine. but y
the fifteen battleships that got away
formed spectacle worthy OF the nag
| they flew.
They Move Ont Gracefully. ss
Promptly at 2 O'Clock the signal to
weigh anchor was flown from the Con-
lnectIcut. the flagship Of Admiral spe1ryi
| and was taken up BY each OF the yes
lies down two long lines OF warships'
The speed cones indicate ten knots,
but 1t was several minutes before this
speed could be developed.
| The last division presented a queer
contrast to the others. The Wisconsin
and Illinois have their tunnels placed
abreast, while the low freeboards OF
the other two battleships makes them
appear inconspicuous. compared with
| the massive warships tina led the line
out Of the bay.
When the vessels rounded Telegraph
Hill each came for short time into
the path OF the brilliant sunshine that
brought out vividly the cleaning white
Ihulls and every line Of the upper
works. The perfect order maintained
when the fleet came in was not per-
ceived in going out. AS the fleet
steamed up the bay the Ohio sfailed to
maintain her position. dr6pping back
until three times the required space
was between her and the flagship Vir-
4 ginia Of the second squadron. This
drought the Missouri up SO close that
she Tapped the Ohio and was forced to
go nearer in slore.. This break in the
Line continued until long after Alcatra2
| was passed. Then the Ohio got extra
steam on and closed up the gap. AS
4 the vessels neared Fort Point a heavy
| fog came in from the ocean. and the
Eexact conditions OF their entrance into
! the harbor were repeated. The our
Trent was strong and the water rough
SO most OF the ships carried fine
bond in theirsteeth as they steamed out
4 of the sbayStoward the Golden Gate.
NNns Launched ON Friday.
The Nebraska was left behind be-
!, cause OF an outbreak OF scarlet feve,
Eamong the crew. sne will be placed
Hin quarantine three days and thorough
4 ly fumigated, after which she Will joir
her sister ships at Honolulu.
The failure OF the Nebraska to sal
with the remainder OF the fleet simply
4 proves the Sailors superstition tina
a vessel should never be launched or
Nebraska defled this superstition lay,
1 ing the keel launching and turning
over the Nebraska to the government
all on Friday. AS this is Nebraska.
first sea service. her Ill luck bears ou1
4 the superstition OF the bluejacket.
and helps to confirm them In It. 4
The Four Divisions.
Fifteen battleships were In the line
divided into four divisions and twi
squadrons. In the first division O
4 the first squadron were the hagshipo o
land her sster8ships, the Kansas, Min
nesota and Vermo ont. This division
as we'll as the entire fleet. is unde
A the immediate command OF Rear Ad
miral Sperry. The second division
1.-THE first squadron is commanded j b.
Acting Read Admiral Richard Vain
4 wright, and consists OF the flagship
4 Georgia and her sister ships. New
iliJersey and .sss Rhode sland Rea
tl5Adnira 5SsNVl nam H. I'm oryS com
i|fmands the second squadron and thir,
i |sdiyision, and Is board OF the flag
u ship Lou siana. The Virginia, Ohiosan,
issouri also are In this division
I The fourth Vision, under the commany
Z |oI} Acting. RI a dntral3 Seaton Schroed
4 err! Is made up the flagship p Wiscon
! sin and thu Illinois, Kearsarge an
I Kentucky. FheS N ebraska and yvtscon
!. sfn, tormerl OF the Paoih 40 fl leet, hav
\ taken the 1places Of the Maine an!
4 I:Alaba,na, OF the Atlantic fleet whic
!, are en- route to 1 Hampton Roadat as
!. special service ssquadron. la3s5
The feet h auxiliaries preceded TIL
]; battleships BY a wee X, a nd are y 5noy
!. .lnearlng Honolulu, where they wi s8nn
!, load 4 supplies and sail away for Ney
4 Zealand Sbe fore the "a iva ssof the! stiese
!, Mt Homo IL, ses sau xi 10 Ia re TIL
!. Pdnther, repair shi q n lacler i, ref h! ger
4 ator supply ship 8cp ge "a sllp MY shin
III