The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-09-20
HOW SYDNEY FOLK RECEIVED
THE FLEET OF BATTLESHIPS

A lady living in Sydney, in a letter
TO Miss Mary H. Krout, has given tbi.
lively account of fleet week. She says:
We are sending you a parcel of news
papers-one for every day from August
20 to August %. So if you read them
all you viii have good deal of Fleet
week. -
We did not attend the reception on
board the Connecticut, so can not be
accused of kleptomania. What a ter
rible disgrace to Sydney to think that
all the spoons were stolen at that
party! I am afraid that there viii be
nasty remarks about the Esbirth-
stain" of the colony
1 am enclosing two photographs
which, Joined together, give a piano.
rama of what we saw from George IS
Head, August 90. You will see the
sixteen battleships. 4 The Prince Wal
demar can be seen outside, above the
gap The Dart can be seen, gaiIy
covered with flags, in front between
the Connecticut and Kansas.
We have been very gay lately, even
before the fleet arrived There
was quite feeling of expectancy in
the air, too, which was exciting. Wed
nesday morning (the day the fleet ar
rived) we all had breakfast before
seven and went up to meet our drag.
They sent a smaller affair than they
had promised. Twenty of US got into
trap built to hold eighteen at a
squash. Well, we arrived safely at
Georges Head after series of adven-
lures caused by having amongst our
four horses one that had been in har-
ness but three times before, and there
being such heavy load. He did not
like the steep hills and jibbed and
kicked. But we saw many such
horses that had only looked at har-
ness, and vehicles that had never risen
above the dignity of a carrier cart
were all pressed into service, the most
successful being large delivery vans
crowded with people sitting on benches,
and drawn by splendid cart horses.
Beside, the trans being so crowded,
many people who had never walked
before did their fourteen miles and sur
vived it. 1t was a wonderful sight.
When we got to the Mosman postoffice
the broad street was black with people
and it was very difficult to drive
through Then the stream divided, one
going up to Georges Head, which we
followed, and the other down to Mid
die Head. The bush was lovely, all the
spring flowers coming out, the air so
fresh that morning at 7:30, and the
crowds Of people about. Everyone
could see well on account of the steep
slope of the shore Unfortunately, a
mist hung over the harbor and thick
outside of the Head. We should have
seen the ships passing where the land
dips at Rose Bay, but our first view
was very faint above the Gap. Sew
eral ships moved slowly by-passed
like ghosts. But as they came out
above the South Head, a slight breeze
came up and the sun got brighter. So
we saw them all go right out to sea
and come in, making that beautiful |
semicircle you see in the photograph. |
The cheers of the crowd and the shrek !
ing of the steamer whistles seemed a |
very tame welcome. But if the officers |
used their glasses they could see
all the headlands black with people. |
1 missed the procession on Friday, |
but went in the evening to the ban
auet, where l had seat in the balcony.
There were several women knew |
there. and we had refreshments and !
were well treated. The banquet was !
most interesting affair-1200 men seat.
ed at the tables. The hall was beau
tifullv decorated with immense palms |
all round the balcony, and festOons of
greens, pink roses, white daisies and |
blue corn flowers to the central lights
in the ceiling All the five big arc
lights were shaded by pink paper, with |
a bunch of pink roses underneath.
What impressed me most about the
affair was to hear the 1900 men sing |
"God Save the King" 1t was inspir-
ing! Unfortunately, "The Star Span
gled Banner" was not SO well known !
and sounded feeble in contrast. On
Saturday evening we went very com
fortably to see the harbor illumina