The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-05-23
FLEET ARRIVES
! AT ] ! !. SEATTLE S .||::|| I!
THOUSANDS oFaPEoPLE GREET
UNCLE SANS BATTLEsHIPs
ON PACIFIC COAST. I

s SEATTLE. Wash. May 23.-In its
most virulent form. the fleet-madness
which has ragged as an epidemic In,
the cities OF the California coast to-
day seized Seattle In Its grasp and
transformed the populace. augmented
by thousands of fAvlsltors. into a fair.
Imitation of an army OF bowling der
wishes. All day yesterday and early
this morning the trains and boats
poured sightseers Into the city In an
cyer-1ncreasing flood that threatens to
swamp the hospltable provisions OF
Seattle's houses Of entertainment.T The
rush for. places of vantage to witness
the incoming OF the fleet began early
and continued until the, great fighting
ships poked their: noses into Elliott
Bay. to be welcomed by a pandomo-
mum OF cheers and booming guns
and ehrill.. jubilnnt whistles from the
craft in the harbor. taken up snni
echoed by myriad whistles in factory
and mill. :. ss5..z
Two great merchant vessels. bearln :
the reception committee OF the Seat
tie chamber OF commerce, the mayor
OF Seattle, the governor OF Washing
ton and executive officials of all the
States and leading cities OF the North.
west. headed the line of scores OF craft
that welcomed the fleet. Governor
Mead and Mayor Miller extended to
the officers and men of the fleet the
freedom of the State and the city. and
Admiral Thomas was presented with
a large key OF purest Alaska gold.
This evening the officers of the
fleet will be given a reception by the
chamber OF commerce. and the en-.
listed men will be the guests Of tha
city fire department at grand ball
at LeschI Park pavilion. at which
some OF the faircst daughters OF the
Pacific Northwest will dance with til.
gallant tars OF Uncle Sans navy.
Tomorrow special services will be
held in all church for the tars OF
religious proclivlties, and the others
will not lack entertainment. even, let
| 1t be whispered, II their desires should
take the form Of Indulgence In the
cup that cheers.
Next weeks entertainment will
open with great land parade tina:
will be one of the spectacular and
most thrilling features of the demon,
stration In this city attendance upon
the present visit of the Atlantic battle,
ship fleet. Sixteen thousand uni
formed men marching to the music
Of 40 bands, between double lines ol
several hundred thousand people, will
furnish the greatest military spectacle
ever seen In the northwest. 4
"A particularly brilliant feature o!
tho parade will he the immense re-
viewing stand at Second avenue AMI
Stewart street, before which the
marching men will salute the high of
Acinls of the army and navy, the gov
ernnrs of Washington Oregon, Idaho
Montana and Wyoming. Mayor Miles
of Seattle, and the executives Of many
other cities In the northwest The sec
tion OF the grandstand reserved fol
the official party will be brilliant with
the blue and gold lace OF the arm,
and navy uniforms and will form .
bright central picture In the sea o
bright-colered summer costumes ami
striking hats of the women who will
assemble upon the stand to cheer thi
passing troops. IS, q
T. ! ~