The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-04-15
FLEET ARRIVES
At SAN DIEGO
AGAIN IN Home WATERS AFTER
LONG CRUISE AROUND
HORN.
IN PINK OF CONDITION
Ships Better internally Than at Start
Might illumination Grand Spec.
tacle--Thousands See Yes
sells Enter Harbor.

San Diego, Cal, April 1.-THE Am
lerican battleship fleet, after cruise
Iof nearly four months around the
south end cf the western hemisphere.
cast anchor off here at 1871 y. m,
today.
The shores of Coronado Beach We're
lined for a mile or more with an en-
thusiastic throng gathered from AL
over tho west.
The spectacle as the ships took form
out of the distance and same near n
| and nearer was the st splendid
naval picture the coast has ever
visions of fours. The fagships steam
! abreast at the end of their respective
columns Nearest inshore came the
| Connecticut, flying the blue flag Of
Rear Admiral Thomas, senior in com
| mand,
Four Sister Ships.
| Behind the Connecticut were the
Vermont, Kansas and Louisiana, all
sister ships, and forming the heaviest
and most spectacular of the divisions.
Governor James II, Gillette was here
| to officially welcome the fleet. Local
committees also went TO the Connec
ticut to tell Admiral Thomas aud
through him all the men of the fleet,
how glad the people of California are
to see such splendid representation
| Of the American navy. Tonight Adj
mirals Thomas, Sperry and Emery
and the commanding officers and
members of various staifs were enter.
tanned at an elaborate but informal
dinner,
j Dazzling illumination.
| Tbe beauty OF the tlay's spectacle,
when, with flashing signals and wof
derfuIly executed mancuvers the
ships were brought to anchor in the
lazy rolling Pacific waters, was rival
ledtcnight when for three hours every
vessel was outlined in fire. Thou
sands Of incadescent bulbs We're
strung along the deck lines, up the
masts, far out on the signal yard arms
up and down the huge tunnels and
down to the waters edge at step and
stern,
In fairy like form the ships stood
out against the night and In letters
six feet high the name of each yes
sci was spelled across its forward
bridge The glow of lights flooded the
sea for thousands of yards away
cleaning outlines shimmering In
phantom-like reflections.
searchlieht Display.
During half an hour Of the periol
of illumination a search light dis
play was made adding infinitely to
the wonderful effect. On the shore
scores of red signal fires We're main
tanned throughout the evening as a.
welcome sign.
San Diego tonight was brilliantly il
hminated. the elaborate scheme Of de
eoration which has been carried out
including 4 night display of exception
al beauty.
In splendid Condition.
The splendid condition of the ships
vas manifested IN every way. Out
wardly they were the same sparkling
white and bun units of a powerful ag
gregation of the fighting force, tha:
pointed their way out Of Hampton
Roads, on a home coast $1,000 miles |
miles away, with the president show |
in gthe way on his cruiser yacht, the
Mayhower Internally the ships were
in better condition than when they
started.
The ships are to remain hero until |
according to the plans map |
ped out by the navy department at
Washington. The people of San |
Diego have complied elaborate ar
for the entertainment of !
the officers and men. The main |
streets are gay with bunting. and the |
are that the decorations !
tomorrow will be among the most |
elaborate ever seen on the Pacific /
coast. Thousands of visitors are ex
pected here to view the fleet.
Great Entertainments.
Coronado, the gem cf the Pacific
coast" will join with San Diego in
furnishing entertainment for the ma
val visitors. 1t is intended TO give
the officers and men the time OF
their lives. and there will doubtless
be such an outburst OF genuine Cali
fornia hospitality as has never be
fore been seen.
Extra Big Harbor.
The bay or harbor of San Diego is
13 miles long and has enough deep
anchorage to float ali the uayies Of the
world al one time The harbor is
acknowledged TO be enc of the bes'
in the world
To the west is the high promontory /
of Point L ma. the top of which is
l