The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-02-28
FLEET AT CALLA0
American Battlesnips Received an
Enthusiastic Welcome to the
Peruvian Port.
The CITY IN HOLIDAY ARRAY
The Ships viii Remain Ten Days Dur
ing Which Time the Authorities
Plan Various Means of
Entertainment.

Callao, Feb. 21.-The American bat
tleships, looking clean and trim and
powerful in the tropical sun, came to
anchor in this port soon after o'clock
Thursday morning. The booming Of
salutes announced the arrival of the
fleet, but there was no need to send
out signals for every resident of
Callao and great crowds from Lima,
that stands back on the hill, had
awaited with expectancy the first
glimpse of the advancing column.
Callao was in holiday array, wishing
tn show that Peruvian hospitality was
second to none in South America, and
many thousands reviewed from the
wharves, the headlands and the ships
on the harbor, the imposing scene.
Enthusiastic crowds went down the
bay on excursion steamers and
cheered the American men-of-war.
The Peruvian cruiser Coronel Dolog
nesi, bearing the first official welcome
to the fleet, joined the American YES
sells Wednesday morning $50 miles to
the southwark, having the day before
exchanged greetings by wireless with
the Connecticut and acted as an es-
cort up the coast She led the way
into the harbor with the flagship of
the fleet close behind, and soon the
sound of guns gave notice that the
American sailors were the republics
guests.
The only regretable feature of the
entertainments arranged in honor of
the visitors, is the fact that the COM
mander himself, Rear Admiral Evans,
will not be able to attend. 1t was
stated that Admiral Evans, who has
been suffering almost from the begin
ming of the voyage from rheumatism,
was slightly better, but he does not
feel that he should risk the danger of
coming ashore.
Rear Admiral Charles NJ Thomas,
commander of the second squadron,
will represent him at the official cere-
monies.
The battleships will remain here
probably for ten days and will be
Joined by the torpedo boat flotilla near
the close of their stay at Callao. Ar
rangements have been made for fes-
tivities of all kinds, including bull
fight, which not less than 5000 of the
bluejackets will see and a regatta for
which preparations have been going
on for several weeks. President Par
do will give a public reception to the
officers Friday afternoon, and Wash
ngtons birthday will be made a gala
occasion.
The American warships had a sue
cessful and uneventful passage up
from Punta Arenas. They left Punta
Arenas at II o'clock at night Febru-
airy 7.
Saturday the Sth the sky was over
cast. The weather was cold and the
wind blew squally and fresh, forcing
the low flying clouds aside for occa-
sonal flashes Of brilliant sunshine.
The snow clad peaks on either side
of the strait made a fitting setting
to the wild weather.
AS the vessels finally cleared in
safety the last head lands and the
dangerous islands that bar the en-
trance to the open ocean every man
in the fleet was filled with sense of
pride in the successful accomplish
ment of difficult and dangerous piece
of navigation. Once in the Pacific the
fleet ran into drizzling rain and fog
and the head lands and mountains
marking the western entrance to the
strait were quickly lost to view.
The warships then had fog for four
days, during which time they kept in
touch by the sound of their whistles.
On the fifth day the weather cleared
and remained fine until the fleet
steamed into Callao Thursday morning
under a warm tropical sun.
The hearts of the officers and the
men of the fleet were made glad soon
after the arrival of the ships here for
SS7 mail bags, containing messages
from home were Immediately put on
board for distribution. kilograms to
the number of $50 also were distri-
buted, and as the Central Gable COM
pany admits gratis to the United
States the replies to kilograms to the
officers, the movement at the cable Of
flee Thursday was tremendous. Al
most every man on the ships was re-
ioicing over the receipt Of news from
his family.
j. {. Brady Indicted.
4