The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-05-06
BatHeship Fleet Sails Into
Golden Gale Hdrbor
THOUSANDS view SCENE
NOISY AND PATRIOTIC WELCOME
RENDERED EVANS AND
BIG FLEET.

/ SAN FRANCISCO, May 6.-The an
cnors of the Atlantic battleship fleet
splashed into San Francisco bay today
and the first half of the world famous
| cruise was completed.
Prosaic is the statement but far from,
ant circumstances. for never in the
worlds history has there been such {;
presented when the combined fleets, Al
ships of war. led by the flagship Con-
necticut. with good old Fighting Bob
Evans on the bridge plowed its way
down through the Golden Gate between
the high cliffs, black with humanity,
adding a mighty flesh-and- blood well
come to Me myriad artificial signals of
welcome to the ships and men upon
whom Gevolves the task of upholdinS
| the nations honor at home and abroad.
First Glimpse Of Fleet.
| Ali night long hundreds of people
slept in the open on the hills, on the
military reservations and both sides
Of Golden Gate and on the beach in the
vicinity of Sutro Heights. With the first
gray streaks of dawn they We're up. and
before their eyes were half open they
were looking seaward to catch the first
glimpse of the great ships of white and
buff which were riding at anchor near
the lightship, eight miles off shore
A slight mist hung over the sea and
at first only a faint outline of the yes
sells could be discerned but with the
fitting of the haze the monster sea
fca:ers stood out in bold relief, tug
eine at their anchors is though anxious
to be slipped and be permitted to sail
nj once into the magnificent barber 70
/ which the ey4s Of officers and men
have been longingIy turned for months,
hui the. time had not yet come for the
signal from the beloved commander
i'll chief to up-anchor.
Crowds Pour Into City.
The crowds. preceded by thousandS
ttat had come to the city three, tour
I anG even five days ago. began to pour
! into San Francisco as soon as the
/ r.. = started. and trainload after
IN .n,oad began to pour into the depot5
OF, both sides of the bay. By CLOCK
/ n',lsides housetops. excursion boats
from tiny. Wheeling launches to great
ocean liners. were crowded with pat
riots. their bosoms beating with eS-
/ pectancv and enthusiasm
1 Excursion Beats Filled.
i The excursion boats their decks
crowded with passengers and ther
masts and sides gaily decorated WIFI
hrntinp and the national coiors. were
ctaam;nr towards the Golden CATE
early in the morning. saucy lauhch'7
vieing with huge black-huiled lihera
for tho honor Of being the first to ger
outsifc and give noisy welcome sree'
,,gs % Ill.,. warships. Arrived at the
ontr..,.te The eyes of the people on 'iio
boats fell upon scene caicuia'eu ~
,,rn the ice in the coldest-bloooed il"''
into warm surging blood. The sifenS
shrieked. passengers and crews chee''0
and waved hats, flags and handkei
chiefs tut even in the excess OF tiie'i
.,ov conld not overcome that trem l.
r,ousnees of speech. the peculiar choh
;na sensation. that come when the emo
,ro oroused 10 the highest degree
Pacific Fleet Joins.
Early in the morning the Paclhc net =
.dn,ira, Sebree. which was anchored
in the bay. accompanied by the tor-
nedo tlotil!a and the other warshlpA
that were to ioin in the great naval
narade. crept out through the GOLDEN
Cato to ioin the Atlantic fleet near thc
,irhtship. Here they maneuvered un'l
Admiral Evans ships started for the
bav. and then they fell into line.
Fleet Enters Gate.
Il was a little pest II when the up
anchor signal was given to the nee
still, resting lazily on the Pacifcs hol-
ION. 1t was the signal. too 1o'
cheers for those who could see the mrs.
movements of the war dogs that sWep
from Point Lobos down past the Pre-
sidio to the crowds on waiting cra1t' W
both the Marin and San Francisco sides
of the Golden Gate and all along th'
water front to the southernmost POM
where il was possible to secure vie"
of the ships. Slowly the CONNECTICUT
swung around and pointing her nose u
the north made her way from 'ii'