Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-06
A GREAT THRONG
WELCOMES FLEET
Arrival of the Big Warships at
San Francisco.
HALF OF WORLDS CRUISE
Impressive Scene Reviewed by Sec
retary Metcalf.
ON HOUSES AND HILLT0PS
Magnificent Spectacle Is Witnessed
by Thousands From All Parts
ON HOUSES AND HILLTOPS

tic battle fleet sailed into San Francisco
bay today. and the first half of the
worlds famous cruise was completed.
Never in the worlds history has there
been such a magnificent spectacle as that
presented when the combined fleets, forty
four ships of war. led by the flagship
Connecticut, with Fighting Bob Evans
on the bridge, threaded their way down
the bay between hills and islands, black
with humanity. adding lusty greeting to
to the myriad artificial signals of well
come.
Four months and twenty days out from
Hampton roads, the Atlantic fleet Of bat
tleships and the second American torpedo
flotilla steam today within the Golden
Gate and cast anchor in the harbor Of
San Francisco, where a welcome charac-
teristic of truly, western hospitality
awaits them. All last night the sixteen
battleships lay at anchor off the outshfp.
gently rolling in the swell of the Pacific,
with the six accompanying black-huiled
destroyers bobbing about i'll their restless
manner and making life uncomfortable
for everybody aboard. The glow of the
city lights in the midnight sky could be
plainly seen from the ships. and made
officers and men alike impatient for the
completion of the last leg of the original
" planned cruise of the heavy squadrons.
The path to the Golden Gate lay to the
eastward while few miles away. in the
wake of the long-dimmed sun, the night
lights or the tiny Farallone Islands twin
kled their vigils in entire'ignorance OF the
immediate presence OF the most distin-
guished naval visitors ever sent to the
west coast of the United States. Wire
less dispatches sent from the ships to
the shore during most of the long night
hours told of the uneventful journey from
Santa Cruz. the last stopping place, and
OF the preparations for the impressive
entry into San Francisco bay under the
glare of the monday sun.
The movements of the fleet have been
so timed by the navigators that the Con-
necticut will pass within the headlands of
the gateway-Point Bonita on the north
and Point Lobos on the south-exactly at
12 o'clock.
Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, who
left the fleet after the first ten days OF
target practice at Magdalena bay and
treatment. rejoined the fleet yesterday at
Monterey. and took up his quarters In
the emergency cabin of the Connecticut.
where he spent most of his time during
the long trip down the eastern coast or
South America, through the Straits OF
Magellan. and on up the western coast
of the hemisphere. to be at the head OF
the line OF sixteen ships on this day or
their triumphal entry into the historic
bay OF the far western metropolis.
Many Governors Present.
The occasion of the fleets coming to
San Francisco has been made an occasion
unique in the history of the western coun-
try The governors of half a dozen pros
porous western states have arrived here
10 voice the welcome of the entire west
10 the battleships of the navy and the
more humble citizens of the various COM
1nonwealths who have flocked to this city.
10 Oakland. to Alameda and the many
suburbs of all three OF the cities In un-
precedented numbers
IL was estimated by railroad officials to-
DAY. that more than 30O,OOo strangers have
been brought into San Franc SEQ alone
during the last forty-eight hours. The
fleet has been the topic of every city,
town or hamlet within several hundred
miles of San Francisco during the past
Two months. and every person able to
make the trip-either by railroad or horse
drawn vehicle-has come to witness both
the arrival today and review of the fleet
in the harbOr by Secretary Metcalf Fri
ddy.
The Secretary has been in the city
for several days and on board his re-
viewing ship. the Yorktown. will see the
entry OF the magnificent line OF fighting
vessels today from just within the har-
bor gates.
Every hotel. boarding house and private
residence within the neighborhood of San
francisco is taxed to overfowing and
the crowded conditions are expected to
continue most Of the ten days program
of entertainment provided for the officers
and men of the visiting ships.
With the earliest streaks OF the coming
day the thousands who wished to view
the historic spectacle of the fleets en-
trance began this morning to- make their
way Ia points of vantage along the
shores running both north and south of
the Golden Gate.
Harbor a Lively Scene.
The harbor itself was Jammed with
pleasure craft from the earliest hours of
the day. The saluting cannon of the
Presidio, under special direction of Gen
Funston. will boom welcoming national
salute of twenty-one guns in honor OF the
ships as they pass within tile harbor
First will come the Connecticut. and then
viii follow at equal distances and in SIN
gle column the seven other vessels of the
Louisiana. Georgia, New Jersey. Rhode
Island and Firginia-augmented by the
first of the newcomers that are to join
the fleet permanently at this port. and
which We're picked up off the lightshio
the Nebraska
After the first squadron will come the
two divisions of the second. the flagship
Minnesota. with Rear Admiral Thomas
on the bridge. having resumed her old
time position at the head of the list Of
vessels. which include the Ohio. Missouri
Maine. Alabama. Illinois, Kearsarge and
Kentucky, with the second of the new
comers, the Wisconsin. bringing up the
rear.
After these eighteen battleships come
The six destrOyers Of the second fotilIa
The real little heroes OF the cruise around
the southernmost end of America. These
interchangeable little craft have had to
fight every inch OF their way from Hamp-
ton roads. even to the cruise up the usu-
ally calm California coast. which during
the past week has been upset and beaten
by laShing gale of exceptional intensity