Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-13

lleel VI 10 DdltleSnlpS entered the port
Of Rio Janeiro at O'clock this al
ternoon. after a passage from Port Sof
Spain, Trinidad, more than 800 miles,
unmarried by serious accident, replete
with interesting incidents and ending
with a royal welcome from the thou
sands that had gathered to greet the
visitors.
The fleet weighed anchor at o'clock
on the afternoon of Dec 20 at Port Of
Spain, and exactly at 4 o'clock today
the vessels were swinging at their
anchors in this beautiful harbor. All
of the battleships are here, but the
supply ships Culgoa and Glacier are
still at sea, not having been able to
keep along with the others. The fleet
has now covered about 1900 miles,
about a third the distance of the voy-
age to San Francisco.
Early in the morning the crowds
began to gather in the streets Of Rio
Janeiro and long before the signal
flags were hoisted announcing the APP
proach of the American ships of war
thousands of curious spectators had
taken up the points of vantage on pub
lie buildings and the elevated quayS.
When the fleet steamed into the har-
Dor, under the splendid mountains
that framed the bay, beautiful in the
tropical sun, it was a spectacle lncom-
parable to the eye. The roadstead lay
like a glittering mirror beneath.
Word that the fleet had passed Cape
Frio, about As miles out, was received
at $50 o'clock, and Immediately
scores Of tugs and other small craft
crowded with spectators, sat out to
meet the visitors, and accompanied
them to the anchorage. Outlined
against the horizon the great battle
ships stretched out in one long line,
came slowly through the passage INTO
the bav. The Connecticut, Rear Adj
miral Evans flagship, was in the lead,
with the Brazilian chuisers, dressed
in gala attire on either side. Passing
the fortresses. the Connecticut fired a
salute of q guns, which was respond
ed to by the Brazilian Warshlps, the
German cruiser Bremen and the shore
guns. The yards and fighting tops
were manned and cheers were given
for the splendid passage of the nag
shin and her sister ships.
AS soon as the dilcioiaSe
the Brazilian minister OF marine AZ
miral Alencar, the captain OF the port
the American consul, G. r. Anderson
tho commandments of the naval olVl-
e;ons and the civic authorities We're on
h,,.r, tho Connecticut and extended a
,,o.rtv welcome to Rear Admiral
E.,.ns his officers and men, Hundreds
~ 1.unches, tugs and small boats cir
c,ed about the battleships until long
after the sun had gone down. NOT less
than $4,000 to 10000 persons were
aboard these boats and more than Soo'-
0OO others were gathered on shore 10
celebrate the coming of the heet. 70
night the city is beautifully illuminat-
ad and this has been made a gala oc-
"a sion in honor of the visitors.
All the way down from Port OF
Snain the voyage was an enjoyable one
and all on board the ships were Wen
and seemingly happy. The nortneast
t-aaas were encountered as lar as
cane Saint Rogue, with n long sea
swell the warships, pitching graceful
Iy They steamed in double column
tba Connecticut and the Minnesota, the
latter the flagship of Rear Admlra
| Thomas. leading. To some extent the
massage Of the fleet was hampered by
| Tho strong currents and the swell, poor
| coal and minor arrangements OF the
auxiliary machinery of several of the
sb;ns Until Friday, the 10th. uniform
snaed of 10 knots was maintained. The
snnad was then increased to IL knots
and finally to II. All through the voy'
| ,Nla "
and at no time was the heat excessive
even while crossing the equator.
r,e first land sighted from the time o
leaving Port of Spain was II Pernam
huco on tic morning or the Sth. dis
tarce Of % miles. The next land to b.
sighted was Care Flio this morning
From abreast of Pernambuco there wer'
variable gentle breezes with a smootl
sea and a long swell from the south
ward With a favorable current the Bat
t,eshins have successfully completed tn
longest single passage they have ye
made $500 miles. in which their capabii
Iity was we'll tested
A. midnight on the 5th the fleet crossed
tho equator and Father Neptune visite'
tho ships On the flagship Connecticut
Neptune, SuIlouilueu " ne
addressed a warm welcome to the ad
miral in command Never before had $
m,ny recruits crossed the line at on
time. numbering fully 90 per cent. OF IN
crows. This number of green hands CAV
Father Neptune and his followers a'
unusual opportunity to put him through
,ra initiation with spirit. Neptune's MAJ
lung at the yardaIms during the cefe
,,onies. All the newspaper correspon
aerts on the vessels paid the footing WIT
.ho older officers and a number of MID
.L;nnoen who took the initiation. Ther
vas the usual lathering and shaving o.
,he barbers and the ducking in the tank
which was administered by the pears.
Early on Friday morning false aiari
If man overheard was sent out from III
Missouri. which brought the heet 10
i ,;o,, e+on and boats were lowered