The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-02-25
FLEET
IS WELCOMED HOME
FROM WORLD CRUISE
Led by Flagship Connecticut,
Vessels Parade Past the
Mayfiower.

Old Point Comfort, Feb. 24.-Wlth
bound remnants streaming
far behind them, 20 bands playing h
Star Spangled Banner and saluting
with cannon-roaring tribute the presi-
dent Of the United States, the battle
ship feet of the American navy ended
its world cruise here today.
After steaming In review before the
president on board the cruiser yacht
Mayfower, 16 white battleships finally
cast anchor In Hampton Roads, whence
they started IA months g on h
notable journey of $4,000 miles.
AS q spectacle the arrival OF the
feet was marked by a steady rain
throughout the day, making the weather
30 thick on the water that the range OF
vision Of the thousands on the shore
vas limited to a few hundred yards.
Rain could befog vision but it could
not dampen the spirits Of those who
gathered about the roadstead to wel-5
come home the ships and men. The
shore lines were black with umbrellas.
Every point that offered vantage held
its groups OF dozens or hundreds. For
eign attaches, immense parties
Of government officials, high officers
Of the army and navy were aboard the
fleet which steamed out to greet the
incoming vessels and witness the re-
view by the president at the tail Of the
horseshoe.
y The Mayfiower. which came down
from Washington last night with a
distinguished party on board. cast her
anchors in the same waters today
where she took up a position at the
sailing of the fleet.
After the ceremonial greeting of the
battleships and their escort the May
flower steamed herself at the end OF
the long column into Hampton Roads,
and when the homecoming vessels an
Nhnrn1 che tool nm a nnGtftnn In khAF
center Of the fleet. Admiral Sperry
and other flag officers, together with
the captains commanding, were on
board, and to them President Roose-
welt extended the cordial thanks which
he afterward expressed anew to the
officers and crews of the four divisional
fiagships Connecticut, Louisiana,
Georgia and Wisconsin-which he vis-
tied later in the afternoon. <&.
MayfIower Arrives.
Norfolk, Va, Feb. 24.-The Mayfow-
er, with President Roosevelt aboard,
arrived at 1915 o'clock this morning.
The weather was very thick, becoming
thicker all the time. At 10:45 o'clock
the fleet was passing through the
capes.
At 1888 the flagship Connecticut
reached the Mayfiower. The "a incom-
ing w~arships fired a simultaneous sa-
lutte Of Fl guns in honor Of the presi-
dent. y
The Mayflower at IL: rs weighed an
Choir, followed the feet to its d~estina-
ton, Hampton Roads. off Old Point
Comfort, where a reception on the
Mayfiower was held. The fleet fired
another salute OF reaching Fort Mon
roe. " r. ~.
The inability Of the wireless appa-
ratus to work well On account of at-,
mosphertc conditions has resulted in a
congestion of outgoing messages at the
Norfolk station which probably never
will be fully Strengthened out until the
fleet actually is in port. :
Hundreds of the messages are from
wives, s~weethearts and relatives OF the
officers of the various ships. Others
have to do with the details of the en-
tertainments being planned for the Of
ficers and men of the fleet. Scores OF
officers wives are already at the hotels
here. Among them are about 10 who
made the journey all the way around
the world on merchant ships and over
took or awaited the naval vessels at
the various ports visited.
Some of these intrepid women even
went all the way to Australia, but most
OF them remained in Japan while their
husbands were In the antipodes. There
are other wives here who went with
the fleet as far as California. Still
others there are who contented them
selves with witnessing the departure
from here IA months ago and then re-
turned to their ZONES in various parts
OF the country. --