The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-23

The Connecticut was about two miles
away from the Mayfower when belch
Of fame from her sides. with q pun OF
gray smoke following, told the watchers
that the days ceremony had been begun
This meant that the Connecticut was
within signaling distance Of the May
flower. and that her signal quartermas-
ter had been able 10 distinguish the in
sigma and stars on the Presidents flag.
II was then Just one minute before II
O'Clock.
The other war ships followed the Con-
necticUt's lead. Pretty soon the whole
twenty-five vessels were banging away
Ike good fellows. These little three
Founders can make some noise. too.
Across the water came the sharp crash
Of the artillery, each gun giving the sig
nal for its report BY the flash and the
puff Of smoke
The Connecticut had finished her TWEEN
ty-One guns-that is the salute 10 which
the President Of the United States WIS
entitled from each ship-bef0re she got
abreast OF the Mayfiower. of in the dis
lance OF other srmorclads were keeping
II up
When those nearest the Mayfower
ceased firing the spectators on the yes
sels Of the excursion hotiIia could see the
flashing and putting farther down the
lie - when the rearmcst ships. lost
IN the mist ans the distance. were still
booming away the sound carried forward
20 the welcome home" craft vas ike
! the cracking Of sharp but remote
thunder
7 There vas much mere saiutiag before
+ the day was over Wicked-iooking little
/ toTpedo-boat destroyers. black as imps.
( ran alongside the feet TO keep trespas-
sing excursionists out Of the way
+ The big ships themselves came on
slowly They were moving at a rate OF
only six knots an hour. Between each
+ ship and its nearest neighbors a distance
/ Of 4o0 yards was maintained. ard il vas
a marvel 70 the uninitiated how evenly
T they kept IL
( frock coat. stood on the Mayfover
I bridge to review the fleet With him.
/ frOck-coated and siIk-hatted also. we're
I the Secretary and Assistant Secretary OF
+ the Navy. The blue uniformed sgure was
I Commander Sims. The ladies II the
+ party and the other men stood in group
on the quarterback.
1 With her white sides and her bun SUI
/ perstrUctsre. the Connecticut made 4
I sslperb appearance On the forward
I bridge were Admiral Sperry. Capt. Oster-
! hsus. and the other officers Of the flag
/ snip.
! The Mayiower dropped her coIors q
{ the flagship. and President Roosevelt
/ dofed MS hat
1 The Counecticut's band struck Up The
+ star Spangled Banner" as she passed the
. Presidents yacht Bands OF the excur-
sion ships took Up the air. The Kansas
came along. 40 yards behind the Con
+ necticut. Her officers were on the bridge
I each attired as we're their brothers OF
the leader. and each Saluted- Her men
! 5lUe-unifOTmed. lined the stagbOard side
So It was on al the vessels Of the home,
coming feet and the escort squadron
/ Bands Of the other four fagships played
I The Star Spangled Banner"
/ In the wake OF TIE Connecticut, viii
only 100 yards separating her bows from
/ those OF the flagship. came the Kansas
The eIesneSt ship in the navy" tn,
I Kansas Is a counterpart Of the Connecti
cut in every detail.
As she passed the same ceremonies Sc
by the flagship we're followed. The band
played. the men manned the rails. and q.
the salUting guns cleared the bridge o.
TIE Nd lluNe e. WHERE Aiit EE6SlLeElL $1,000
the Individual salute Of twenty-one gun:
to the Presidents flag was fred.
i The Minnesota and the Vermont il
turn. both sisters 70 the Connecticut
completed the passing Of the first division
As Rear Admiral Sperry. commander
in-chief Of the feet, had stood upon th'
after bridge Of the Connecticut. so STOOD
Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright upoT
the after bridge Of the Georgia. flagship
Of the second division. which included
also the battle ships Nebraska. New Jer
sey. and Rhode Island.
Following the second division, whicl
i completed the first squadron, came th'
second squadron. composed Of the thirC
I and fourth divisions. The second squad
ron and third division are commanded b,
Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder. who. lii'
Admiral Wainwright. sailed with the fee
fourteen months ago as a captain. Th'
other three ships Of the division are thi