The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-05-14
SAW THE Big FLEET.
A Decatur County Citizen Writes
Interestingly of the Fleets Re-
CeptiOn at San Pedro.

G. w. Hoadley, of Garden Grove, who
has been visiting in California for sew
eral months, writes the following very
interesting letter about the United
States fleet which recently arrived on
Express and we take the liberty of re-
publishing it so that all our readers
may have an opportunity to read it:
UPLANDS, CALL, April u, 1908.
Dear old Friends of Garden Grove and
Decatur county:
have been requested to write de-
scription of the arrival and appearance
of the greatest fleet Of Battle Ships
ever seen on the Pacific Ocean as they
enter San Pedro Harbor Saturday after
noon, April IS, at precisely three o'clock,
!, coming to anchor upon schedule time.
In order, dear reader, for you to see it
in your minds eye as | saw it you must
draw upon your imaginative powers
and | will try in my humble way to
draw a pen picture of this matchless
spectacle. First a description of the
harbor of San Pedro. AS you all know
the coast line is very irregular and at
San Pedro the ocean makes a turn inland
and sweeps around in mighty circle
embracing Long Beach and then circl-
ing out. Just as the ocean starts to
curve inland there is high bluff all the
way into the barber. This bluff is sew
eral miles in extent and rises abruptly
from the waters edge to height of
probably 100 feet, then little plateau,
then gradually rises in gentle slope
to probabably 200 feet above the ocean,
thus commanding one of the grandest
views of lofty snow capped mountains
and the rolling pillows of the mighty
deep. At this point is the great govern
ment Breakwaters, which has been
years III building and cost millions of
dollars and on the bluff called Point
Firmus, the government is going to
build large Notifications costing mil
lions of dollars, which when built will
protect the reakwater and the ship
ping in the harbor and San Pedro and
Long Beach from any foreign foe.
Upon this bluff Saturday afternoon
April IS, there was probably gathered
{ at the lowest estimate seventy five
thousand people, the high, the low, the
3 rich, the poor, all intent upon
one event, the arrival of the fleet.
AS the time drew near hushed expect
ancy pervaded the vast throng, and all
eyes looked to catch the first glimpse of
the approaching monsters. The sun
shone brightly, the day was lovely, the
X air was clear and you could see great
distance. Finally the outlines could be
discerned in the far distance and when
the vast throng realized that they were
approaching, instead of noisy shouting
crowd they were hushed into silence at
the magniticence of the mighty spec
N tacle, but soon when they fully realized
NOV IL y,
! arose mighty shout, and such scream
4 ing Of whistles you never heard. AS
they slowly drew nearer, the vast
size and powerful guns could be more
D distinctly seen. They came in perfect
4 line up the coast toward the harbor
then at some signal they made turn
every ship at a certain spot in the
ocean, like company of soldiers when
the captain says "File right, March!
The vancouver filled everyone with ad.
miration. Then when they were all in
line in their new position they cast
anchor making line of battle ships
4 four miles from the first to the last
the ships being as close together as il
is safe to maneuver, there being sixteen
As | sat and saw this mighty fleet AND
it's powerful guns what thoughts they
did suggest and how my heart die
swell with pride and admiration when
realized they were Uncle Sans anc
4 Uncle Sans boys were handling them
The vast throng sat in silence looking
upon the scene before them.
Then as the afternoon was drawing tx
a close myself and party consisting
Of Charles Smith and wife, Misses Flor;
and Maud Smith, these being children
of our townsman, F. E. Smith and wife
Hook a launch and went out the ships