The sun., 1908-01-23
100000 SEE THE FLEET SAIL
PRESIDENT PENNA VISITS THE
MINNESOTA IN RIO HARBOR.


CeromOnnoe-AO HrAxhlkAn WAfships and
Many ExcursiOn CrAt Escort U. q.
Vessels to sea-Cheers and sAlutes.
Special Cable DsspascA to Tn SUN
RIO DE JANEIRo. Jan. 99.-The ten days
stay here Of the American battleship feet
expired to-day and at o'clock this after
noon anchors were weighed and tho ships
started on their ten days voyage to Punta
Arenas. at which place they are due 70
arrive on February.
The departure Of the warships was made
the occasion Of a great demonstration by
the Brazilians and the American residents.
Fully 10000 persons thronged the water
front and every harbor craft that would
keep atloat was utilized to carry thousands
more to locations close 70 the anchorage
grounds, where better view would be
afforded Of the feet.
The boatmen probably reaped the best
harvest they have ever known. as they
charged enormous prices for the use Of their
craft. Of which the supply did not equal
the demand. Some OF the small boats
great wonder that in the crush and excite
ment some Of them did not capsize
President Penna came down from Pc
tropolis this morning and at noon he crossed
the bay in the Presidential yacht, proceed
ing to the Minnesota, the hagship Of Rear
Admiral Thomas, who commands the
second squadron Of the third division Of the
fleet. and who. owing to Rear Admiral
Evans's illness. has acted in the latters
stead at all the offlcial functions here.
All the vessels OF the American feet
saluted the Brazilian President and they
were all dressed in honor Of his visit. The
Presidential yacht saluted the Minnesota
only. Rear Admiral Thomas personally
received President Penna as he boarded the
flagship. The visit lasted twenty minutes.
The President expressed his regret that
Rear Admiral Evans had not been able TO
attend the entertainments given in honor
Of the visit Of the Americans. He ON the
part Of himself and members Of his Cabinet
and the Brazilian people wished the fleet
bon voyage and reiterated his expressions
Of cordiality for the United States.
After bidding farewell to tho officers
Senior Penna boarded his yacht and pro-
ceeded to Fort Villogagnon, where he and
his party reviewed the feet as II passed out
TO sea. The feet sailed in inverse order OF
divisions from which 1t entered the harbor.
As each ship passed Port Villegagnon 10
| fired a salute in honor Of President Pcnna
and the rails were manned. The flag Of
Brazil was displayed At the msinmast-
head Of every ship.
Sixteen Brazilian warships followed the
! American vessels and escorted them for
| about twenty-five miles. Then farewell
| salItes were exchanged after which the
| Brazilian vessels shaped their courses for
various destinations Some of them ara
! hound for Buenos Ayres. while the cruiser
! BENJAMIN Constant started on far longer
| voyage. being bound for a trip around the
| world
4 large number of the more speedy and
! ssaworthy harbor craft followed the pro
c,ssion Of warships we'll pest the mouth Of
! the harbor and then lay 10 aad watched
| them until they were almost hull down on
! the southern horizon. Altogether the de
parture Of the feet wes a most imposin 9
spectacle and one which the people of Rio
! de Janero will not soon forget. There are
| many who believe H. was a greater spectacle
than that seen in Hampton Roads when the
lleet started on its long voyage, for here the
combined American and Brazilian warships
numbered thirty-two, Just twice the number
that sailed from the American port.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 22-Rear Admiral
Evans cabled the Navy Department that
the battleship fleet sailed to-day from Rio
Janeiro for Punta Arenas. The torpedo
fotills sailed from Rio yesterday for Buenos
Ayres The collier Sterling has sailed from
Rio for Hampton Roads by way Of San
Juan, P. r.
The battleships, according to schedule
will be ten days on the trip from Rio to
Punta Arenas.