The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-04-20
CITY EMBRACES JACK
Los Angeles Fairly Goes Mad
When Sailors Land.
ALL WORSHIP jim JEFFRIES
Even Roosevelt Is Small Potatoes
when Compared with Big Pug,
Whose saloon Il Surrounded, Ten
Deep, by Admfring BIueJaciets.
Admiral Thomas Goes TO Church.

Los Angeles. Cal. April ls.-The feet
Of Los Angeles came near boil
ing over to-day; tomorrow it viii slop
all over the red-hot stove.
Jack tars came ashore by thousands
to-day, and although It was Easter, and
Los Angeles was most decorous, Jack
took possession of the place. The sa-
looms are not open, but it was always
possible for Jack 10 get one, and some
times another, and the ships police, who
are taking care Of irresponsible Jack
ashore, saw to i that those who fell
by the wayside were got out Of sight
as quickly as possible. There weren't
many derelicts when night came
The people almost literally embraced
the sailors. Each man was hero mag
nifed a thousand times. Jack did not
know why he was a hero. but took ali
that was coming TO him with a grim
and especially when an attractive girl
hove To and pinned ribbons or flowers
on his clothes. Arm in arm, Jack and
girls paraded the streets. None sought
any water to carry and the only load
that Jack carried. usually was what he
called a bunch Of California sweetness"
on his arm.
Jack rswarmed into town to-day from
four ports. At o'clock this morning the
fleet split up into divisions. One went
10 Long Beach. another to Redondo, and
the third TO Santa Monica. The first
division remained al San Pedro.
transportation Is Free.
Transportation was free 10 sailors, and
while tens OF thousands Of people poured
over, 10 the ocean front in four places.
twenty minutes away, to see the ships
and board them. Jack came rolling into
town.
His first comment was:
Gee The saloons amt open"
But this isn't a dry place When real
California hospitality is TO be dealt out.
and there was considerable dealing in
that line going on all the time.
X was estimated that more than 10000
people thronged the ocean front at Long
Beach and San Pedro when the feet
came in. The trolley and railroad service
was nearly swamped. and thousands did
not get back TO town until daylight
Hardly was the sun Up when the rush 70
the ocean front began to-day. It was
like Coney Island rush on the Fourth
Of July
Every ship in all the four stopping
places where the feet is now anchored
was open TO the public nearly all day
Visitors crowded them until the sailors
almost had to take to the masts to give
outsiders room. Scores OF boys on every
ship, as guides. told the visitors all about
the guns, about different ships. the Fun.
and their work.
All the Pets Petted.
All the pets we're petted. including the
dogs, cats, goats. parrots, 'coons. and
All the trophies were shown,
and many OF the tars had to bare their
arms to show the girls their tattoo
marks Visitors scarcely let Jack eat
his dinner, and some even begged bits Of
bread for souvenirs.
One can scarcely imagine the extent OF
this California madness over the fleet.
fore. Jack is an old and familiar sight in
these parts, but people have just gone
mad. and there's no limit TO their craze
or enthusiasm. Men wear red, white.
and blue ties, women are almost literally
dressed I'm the national colors, while Jack
tars are almost nightly embraced on the
streets. and, as for officers, If one APP
pears in uniform, he is practically mob
bed
Every house has some sort Of a feet
emblem displayed, and as for flags and
bunting, It looks as If all the Wholesale
n ff7fo.cro NoE
pleted Of their stocks. The streets are all
Illuminated effectively at night by
scheme Of lantern decorations. One street
will be literally canopied with red lights.
another with yellow ones, and another
with blue
Many Pictures of Evans.
The pictures displayed of Admiral Bob
Evans are such that If he could see some
Of them he would get well with indigna-
ton or amusement, and come down here
and clean out the town.
AS this is Jim Jeffries' town. as many
Of the bluejackets as could get to town
last night damned Jim's saloon until
there was no more room, and worshiped
the great and grand man. Jim's arm was
sorer from the Handwriting than it ever
was after a fight. Jim Corbett was here.
TOO. But say Corbett's a back number
With the sailors. Teddy Roosevelt, even.
S small potatoes compared with Jeffries.
10 the idolatrOus bluejackets All the
world may love lover, but the blue
Jackets must be excepted. To hear them
ak Jim Jeffries is the only Iovable thing
n California. Jim did q rousing business.
Even the sale Of town lots was forgotten
when Jack tar got his bearings. whether
{ was south-s0u' west, or Nor east
,or Jim's saloon So far as Jack was
this feet was brought here to
ylorify Jim Jeffries
Real Fun To-day.
Tomorrow win begin the real fun. The
BOOZE emporiums will be wide open. and
Jack promised his officer to be real good
md not patronize them too vigorously.
rheren be boxing contests in the morn !
ng at Chuns Park with jim. the only Jim.
Is referee. There viii be fencing, and a
great Spanish barbecue, TO "a followed bv
! wild West show. where the sailors will
be invited to try to ride bucking steers
md cowboy girls win dance on horseback
fherel1 be dancing at Chuns Park in the
evening, and grand fireworks. and Mavor
Harper and the fleet reception committee
viii give a banquet in the evening to Ad-
niral Thomas and the high officers" to |
he number Of fifty-five, at the Alexan-
lria Hotel
There'll be doings like this every day. |
With little stop for all hands The boost !
srs are going to boost everything they
ian in the boostiest way. and if even
he ships themselves don't sway suspi-
ciously a little next Saturday morning. |
when they get under way for another |
rip-roaring time at Santa Barbara. If |
won't be because Los Angeles hasn't done /
is best to deal out things that are moist |
Thomas Comes Ashore.
Admiral Thomas came ashore this
to be the guest of C. B. Booth |