Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-02-23

OLD POINT COMFORT. Va, Feb n
With homewsrd bound pennants streaming
far behind them, twenty-eight bands play
ing the Star Spangled Banner and saluting
cannon roaring tribute TO the president Of
the United States, the battleship fleet Of
.the American navy ended it's worlds cruise
here today. After steaming in review OF
the president whose eagle-crested flag Of
blue was at the mast Of the cruiser yacht,
Mayf1ower. the sixteen battleships finally
cast anchor in the same fairway Of Hamp-
ton Roads whence they started fourteen
months ago on the notable journey of 4 900
miles The JOY Of home coming was writ
ten upon the face Of every jackey and Of
ficer on board the sixteen ships. The long
cruise. the visits 10 many Of the most
famous ports of the world. the homage that
has been paid TO the fleet by every nation
favored on the calling list, have been
sources Of intense interest 20 everyone
aboard the famous vessels. but unques-
tionably there was no scene in all the
world TO compare in beauty with the IA
miliar landmarks picked up by the battle
fleet as it steamed triumphant. self-reiant
and efficient force, through the Virginia
capes today and entered the hospitAble
waters of Chesapeake bay and Hampton
Roads.
The day Of the home coming dRwned with
prospects of weather as fair the cloud
/ less day in December. 1907. on which the
! fleet set sail. an overhanging shadow OF
/ gray clouds showing clearing streaks Of red
and blue 10 the eastward at sunrise. Just
before a. m. however. a fog bank sud
denly shut down and set the whistles and
bells Of the many craft in the roadstead
screeching and tolling their notes OF warn
/ ing. The fog lifted again within an hour.
but left a promise OF a gray day which
was anything but attractive 10 the thous-
ands upon thousands Of people gathered
here from all parts Of the country. and who
were either sfloat or lining the shores of
the water front today to help In the joyous
! acclaim 10 the homecoming ships and
I men
Booming Guns Open Day.
The boom OF the sunrise gun echoing
I over the moat Of picturesque Old Fortress
Monroe marked the beginning of day that
added another chapter OF thrilling beauty
and interest TO the historic waters OF HAmp-
ton Roads. first made famous by the battle
Of the Monitor and the Merrimac II re-
( quired a vivid Imagination TO look back
today over a span Of forty odd years 70
picture the fury Of that deadly conflict be-
tween the two first ironclsds OF their day
and 10 compare their tiny strength with the
modern battleship Of the class Of the Con-
J necticut.
4 In tho battleship and cruiser squadrons
that flied by the Msyflower today and
| saiuted the presidents flag at the main
Of the graceful little cruiser yacht thers
were represented 4soasO tons Of water dis
1 placement. Every battleship in commits
sion in the navy had a place in the long
/ line. There were twenty OF the heavily
belted vessels, fifteen being among the orig
/ inal sixteen that sailed away fourteen
months ago. the only vessel missing from
/ the line today being the Alabama She
came home with the Maine last October
and both Of these ships had the distinction
/ OF going all the way around the world. even
/ II they were excluded from the fleet itself
The Maine served today a. flagship Of the