Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-25
On Mems and Boys
Fall and Winter
Clothing
GA Rn Err (
COM PAnY
27I4 WASH; Ave.
~s33eG<N GEEGE<'s

was February 18th. and the point
OF rendezvous was designated as iati-
tude S5 degrees north and longitude
So degrees west.
To the land lubber this might mean
the wide ocean To the mariner 1t
meant Il point about 500 miles north
eastward Of bermuda.
The Idaho. fresh from the Phila-
delpha navy yard. joined tn" wei
Coming squadron of battieships on the
10th near the point OF rendezvous.
The scout scruiser Salem was next
to fall in line.
The welcoming feet drifted for
some time about the point of meet
ing and INDUCED in various manOeu-
vers to pass the time away.
Finally on the eth there was much
excitement aboard when patches of
tlack smoke en- the horizon told OF
the approach Of the world famous
white squadron 4 forest of mastS
grew out of the water inch by inch.
then came the buff superstructure
and white hull Of the Connecticut.
leading one column of ships, and the
Louisiana. flagship of Rear Admiral
Schroeder. leading the second column.
Gray Stay-at-ttomes.
Rear Admiral Arnold, of the wei
coming fleet, which created much
common, aboard the home coming
vessels because of the battle gray
which the stay-at homes wore, by
virtue of seniority became second in
command in joining Admiral Sperry's
force and his squadron with the
Maine at the head. took up 4 posi-
ton to the right of the Connecticut.
which was now the center Of three
of the most formidable columns OF
warships the world had ever known
in one command.
Placed end to end the ships in the
fighting line of steelprctected decks
and guns. one mile and half IN
length. When they manOeuvered in
to single column cruising distance
they formed line nearly seven miles
long.
The benefits Of the cruise were
most notable when the. home ships
joined company with the fleet.
The veteran vessels held their posi-
| ton in line rigidly and exactly as
though glued there. while the newer
ships struggled with youthful enthu-
| sasm to do the same with creditable
! results con .idering their short period
| in squadron.
When the ships had formally joined
| company informal signals were fash
ed back and forth from friend TO
friend from classmate to classmate.
giving a CHEEKY welcome home.
| The morning of the meeting was
beautiful with light northwest breezes.
but toward afternoon IL began TO blow
fresher and fresher from the south
west. piiing up q considerable sea SO
! that by nightfall the weather was
rough for any but large vessels
Man Overheard.
Just az the time when a series OF
searchligh' and range finding manoeu,
vcrs were being started. the New
Hampshire fred gun signal man
overheard" and she went cut Of the
column. throwing out her two light
life buoys.
The ships Immediately following
the New Hampshire did likewise. 7;
was a night in which y very power
ful swimmer might have kept aiosi
for q shor: tine but for any weaker
one or one stunned by the fall. there
, was no hope from the first
Captain Fremont. OF the MississiP
ri skiilfu!ly brought his ship within
ave minutes immediately alongside
TIE floating life baoys and hundreds
Of eager eyes were scanning the sur
= rounding turbulent waters under 'h,
I. rays Of powerful searchl!gh;s. whil'
? boats were lowered from the New
Hampshire. Idaho and Mississippi {,
make n mere extended search Fo
n two hours the work was kept M Z,
4 vain. no trace OF the lost man beini
:. found
The mcn IN the He boats pulle,
= gal,sntly against the heavy seas u
= IN exhausting effort Finally al
e boye being gone the third squadron
3 ressus9 It's course.