Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-23
From Rio With Best Wishes
Of the Brazi|ianS.
Pres. Penna and High Officials
Bid All Pleasant Voyage.
Visit at Rio Janeiro Has Been One
Of the .Happiest Kind.

Rio Janeiro, Jan. 22.-To the BOOM
ing OF guns and the cheers OF tnou-
sands on The accompanying pleasure
crafts, the American warships sailed
from Rio Janeiro this afternoon. bound
for Punta Arenas, on the Magellan
strait. Ten days will bring the fleet
almost to the midway point of the H.
O00-mile cruise to San Francisco and
the ships ard the men carried with
them today the Godspeed and good
wishes OF the whole Brazilian nation.
Not an unwanted incident had mark
ed the visit of the American ships.
They were feasted and feted, officers
and men, during their sojourn in Rio
and half the population turned out
early in the morning TO give them a
fitting scnd-on AS on the arrival so
on its departure the Quays. the public
buildings and the hills We're crowded
with thousands watching the warships
until they had disappeared through
the mouth of the bay into the open
sea.
The President Of the republic. DR..
Pcnna, came to Rio Janeiro from Pc
tropoIis at about II o'clock and pro-
ceeded On the yacht Silva down TO
where the warships were lying. He
went aboard the cruiser Benjamin Con-
slant, which was in readiness to accom-
pany the American fleet, together with
Is other Brazilian warShipS, and made
z tour of the entire American ships.
Accompanied by Admiral Alencar, the
minister of marines, and DR.. l.. Muller.
minister of public works, and other
high officials he visited the flagship
Minnesota, remaining there over an
hour. Admiral Thomas, Capt. Hubbard,
commander of the flagship, and the
American ambassador. Irving B. Dud-
ley, received the President with all
honors. the band playing the Brazilian
national anthem. In the saloon OF the
Minnesota there was a mutual eX-
change of greetings, Admiral Thomas
making speech in which he expressed
his best wishes for the prosperity OF
Brazil and her President and conclud-
ing: Brazil, God bless her forever
more" The President responded with
Thousand wishes for a good voyage for
the splendid fleet, prosperity for the
United States and the health of Pres
i6ent Roosevelt
Minnesota and during his tour among
the vessels, salutes we're exchanged,
and On his departure from the flagship
81 guns were fired. DIR. Penna then re-
turned 20 his yacht, which proceeded TO
a point off Fort Nillegagnon to watch
the departure of the ships.
About 8 o'clock the American fleet
began to move, passing out in single
column and inverse order, according to
divisions. the Alabama leading. Three
divisions Of the Brazilian navy follow
ed. composed of three battleships. sew
en- cruisers and six destroyers, and in
the vicinity Of Fort Villegagnon many
steamers circled, having on board
thousands Of spectators from shore.
hundreds of launches and small craft
from the sporting clubs, all gaily dec
GRATED. forming q stirring spectacle.
Slowly at first the great warsnips
moved but as they disappeared from
view they were moving at a 10-knot
pace. One by one as they passed the
Presidents yacht they saluted with Il
guns. and the forts replied in kind.
There was much waving OF small flags
and handkerchiefs and the cheering
ing of 100 whistles from the steam
craft. About this time 4 tremendous
shower fell but the majority of the
spectators held to their posts until the
last warship had disappeared on the
horizon.
Capt. +. i. Ingersoll, chief of staff
to Admiral Evans, interviewed before
the departure of tho fleet. said that he
had no special plans for the passage
Of tho ships through Magellan straits.
They will so through, however. he said.
as a solid fleet.
The German cruiser Bremen. which
has been here for some time past,
and which recently was ordered to re-
main until the departure of the Amer
lean fleet in order to give the German
officers additional time to make obser-
vations. left today along with the