New-York tribune., 1908-01-13
BATTLESHIPS ANCHOR
In RIO HARBOR.
4LL WE'LL ON BOARD THE
AMERICAN FLEET.
4 Pleasant Voyage from Trinidad
and Hearty U1eIcOme
to BrGlI.


de Janeiro 3 O'Clock this afternoon after a
passage from Port OF spain, Trinidad. mora
than three thousand miles unmarried by serious
accident repIete with interesting incidents and
ending with a royal welcome from the thou
sands Of persons who had gathered 10 greet the
visitors.
The feet weighed anchor at o'clock on ths
afternoon of December 20 at Port OF Spain. and
/ exactly at 7 o'clock to-day the vessels were
swinging at their anchors in this beautiful
/ harbor. All Of the battIeships are here. but ths
supply ships Culgoa and Glacier still at
sea, not having been able TO keep along with
/ the others The fleet has now covered about
1900 miles about a third OF the distance TO san
/ Francisco
/ Early in the morning the crowds began 70
gather in the streets OF Rio de Janeiro. and long
before the signal flags we're hoisted announcing
the approach of the American ships oS war
/ thousands OF spectators had taken points or
vantage on public buildings and the elevated
ouays The fleet steamed into the harbor- undar
the splendid mountains which frame the bays
the roadstead lying ike glittertng mirror be-
Meath.
Word that the fleet had passed Cape FRO.
about forty-five miles out. received at $50
O'Clock and Immediately scores OF tugs and
other small craft. crowded with spectators. set
out TO meet the visitors and accompany them To-
the anchorage Outlined against the horizon.
the great battleships. stretched out IN one long
line. came slowly through the passage into the
bay The Connecticut Rear Admiral Evans's
flagship was in the lead. with TIE Brazilian
cruisers. dressed in gala attire. either side-
Passing the fortresses. the Connecticut fred a
salute of twenty-one guns. which answered >
by the Brazilian warships. the German cruiser
Bremen and the shore guns. The yards and
fighting tops were manned. and cheer after
cheer was given for the splendid passage OF the
flagship and her sister ships
WELCOME TO ADMIRAL EVANS.
As soon as the anchorage was made the Bra
lillian Minister Of Marine. Admiral AIsncar. the
captain of the port. the American Consul. G E
Anderson. the conmandants OF naval divisions
/ and the civic authorities went on board the
/ Connecticut and extended a hearty welcome TO
/ Rear Admiral Evans. his officers and men,
Hundreds Of launches. tugs and small boats cir
/ cled about the battIeships until long after the
/ sun had gone down. No fewer than fifteen
/ thousand persons were aboard these boats. and
/ more than fifty thousand Others were gathered
/ on shore TO celebrate the coming of the feat
I Tonight the city is beautifully Illuminated IN
I honor Of the visitors
All the way down from Port Of Spain ths
/ voyage was pleasant. and all on board the ships
/ were well and seemingly happy The northeast
I trades were encountered as far Cape st.
I Rogue. with a long sea swell. the warships
DIrC6lEE
/ column. the Connecticut and the Minnesota. the
/ latter the flagship OF Rear Admiral Thomas.
/ leading To some extent the progress OF the
/ fleet was hampered by the strong currents and
the swell poor coal and minor arrangements OF
the auxiliary machinery OF several OF the ships.
Until Friday, January 10, a uniform speed ot
ten knots was maintained. The speed was then
increased 10 eleven knots and finally 70 twelve.
All through the voyage the battleships found
I MA aur rHar and ar M ir7a vas h. he
excessive, even while crossing the equator
The first land sighted from the time OF leaving
Port Of Spain was of Pernambuco, on the morn
ing of January 8 at a distance of twenty miles,
The next land TO be sighted vas-Cape Frio. this
morning. From abreast Of PernarnbUco there
were gentle. variable breezes, with a smooth
sea and a long swell from the southwark With
a favorable current the battleships successfully
completed she longest single passage they have
yet made. $500 miles. in which their capacity
was well tested.
FATHER NEPTUNE VISITS SHIPS
AT midnight on January 5 the feet crossed
the equator, and Father Neptune visited the
ships On the flagship Connecticut Neptune
surrounded by his various satellites, addressed
a warm welcome TO the admiral in command
Never before had many recruits crossed the
line at one time. numbering fully go per cent
of the crews. This great number OF green
lowers to put them through the initiation with
spirit Neptune's fag hung at the yardarns
during the ceremonies. All the newspaper cor
RESPONDENTS on the vessels paid the footing
with the officers and number Of midshipmeu
Who took the initiation There was the usual
Iathering and shaving by the BARRIERS and ths
ducking in the tanks which was administered
by the bears
Early on Friday morning a false alarm %
Man overboard,' was sent out from the MIS-
souri,. which brought the feet 10 quick stop
and boats were lowered It was an excellent
drill and well performed on the night OF the
same day brig showing no lights entered tha
column and caused a break the formation A
serious accident was avoided only by the sAilful
handling of the warships
Outside Of Rio de Janeiro a Brazilian feet.
consisting OF three cruisers. accompanied by the
American tender Yankton. met the American
battIeships OF Cape Erie. and after exchange
Of greetings steamed with them along the coast
and into the roadstead- A hearty welcome vas
extended 70 the officers and men BY The Minister
Of Marine in the name OF the Brazilian govern
n1ent and the navy Bands played ard Whistles
blew. with the waving OF many Tags as the
American ships steamed proudly through and
dropped their anchors
The newspapers here publish special stt-
tons describing the splendid welcome exten5ed
to the Americans. Several of the papers viii
issue daily editions in English during the stay
Of the feet and have made arrangements 70
secure long special dispatches from the United
states so that the men may have the news e
their own country.
Washington. Jan I2-In view OF the interest n
the progress OF the American feet around South