The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-13
EVANS REACHES
RIO JANEIRO
American BattleshipS Come to
Anchor in Brazilian Waters
Amid Cheers of Natives.
NO ACCIDENT MARS TRIP
TWO SUPPLY SHIPS ARE STILL
AT SEA.

Rio de Janeiro, Jan. 12.-The Ameri-
can fleet of sixteen battleships entered
the port of Rio de Janeiro at o'clock
this afternoon, after a passage from
Port of Spain, Trinidad, more than
&, 600 miles, unmarried bv serious acct
dent, replete with interesting Incidents
and ending with a royal welcome from
the thousands that HAD gathered to
greet the visitors.
The fleet weighed anchor at o'clock
in the afternoon of Dec. 20 at Port of
Spain, and exactly at O'Clock today
the vessels were swinging at their an
chors 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 of the distance of
the voyage to San Francisco.
Went Out to Meet the Fleet.
Word that the fleet had passed Cape
Frio. about forty-five miles out, was
Teceived at $3.50 o'clock, and immedi-
ately 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 battle
ships, stretched out in one long line.
came slowly through the passage into
the bay.
AS soon as the anchorage was made
the Brazilian minister of marine, Ad-
miral Alencar; the captain of the port,
the American consul. G.. Z. Anderson;
the commandments 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.
Voyage Enjoyable.
All the wa down from Por. OF Spain
the voyage Ras an enjoyable enc and
all on board the ships were well and
seemingly happy.
To some extent the progress of the
fleet was hampered by The strong cur
rents and the swell, poor coal and mi
nor arrangements of the auxiliary ma
chinery of several of the ships. Until
Friday, the 10Th, a uniform spsed of
ten knots was maintained. The speed
was then increased to eleven knots
and finally to twelve. All through the
voyage they encountered pleasant
weather, and at no time was the heat
excessive. even While crossing the
equator.
The first land sighted aom the time
of leaving Port of Spain wSs off FER
nambuco on the morning Of the Sth,
at a distance of twenty 'hil-s. The
next land to be sighted was Cape Frio
this morning. From abreast of Per-
nambuco there We're gentle vadsble
breezes, with a smooth sea and a long
swell from the southwark. With q ia
.vorable current the battleships sue
cessfully completed the longest single
nos l1Qr ~nf
miles. in which their capacity was well
tested.
Equator Crossed.
At midnight on the 9Th, the fleet
crossed the equator and Father Nep-
tune visited the ships. On the flagship
Connecticut. Neptune surrounded fy
his various assistants and satellites,
addressed a warm welcome to the ad-
miral in command. Never before had
so many recruits crossed the line at
one time. This great number of green
hands gave Father Neptune and his
followers an unusual opportunity to
put them through the initiation with
iniuitable spirit Neptune's flag hung
at the yard arms during the ceremO-
MES. All the newspaper correspond
ents on the vessels paid the footing
with the older officers and a number OF
midshipmen who took the initiation.
There was the usual iathering and
shaving by the BARRIERS and the duck
ing in the tanks, which was admins
terel by the bears.
Early on Friday false alarm of man
overheard was sent out from the Mis-
souri,, which brought the fleet to a
quick stop and boats were lowered. 1t
was an excellent drill and we'll PER
formed. On the night of the same day
a brig showing no lights entered the
column and caused a break in the for
nation. A serious accident WAS avert
ed only by the skilful handling OF the
warships.
Hearty Welcome.
Outside of Rio a Brazilian fleet, con-
sisting of three cruisers, accompanied
by the American tender Yankton. met
the American battleships off Capt I'rio
Continued on Page 2.