Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-15

his CABIN Tor a greater part VI Tic "e'S
! he retained command until San fran
cisco was reached and the first stage
Of the long trip had been accomplish
ed. Rear Admiral Evans found 1t nee
lessary while the ships were at the tar
gets in Masdalena Bay. to leave the
feet and seek treatment at Paso Ro-
| bles, Hot Springs, Cal. His flag lieu
tenant went with him and retained his
rank of COMMUNICATIVE hief. When
| the ships reached Monterey bay, the
last stopping place Oh the Pacific coast
| pricr to the entry into San Francisco
harbor. Admiral Evans was helped
aboard his old flagship and was on the
after bridge " hen the Connecticut en-
tered the Golden Gate at the head OF
the most Formidable array of fighting
| vessels ever gathered under one flag
The Atlantic and Pacific Fleets Joined
| in the bay and there were more than
| forty ships in the four long columns
| that came to anchor under Evans blue
ensign Three days later Admiral Ev-
ans hauled down his flag for all time.
| He was succeeded as COMMANDMENTS
| chief ny Rear Admiral Charles Fl.
| Thomas. who sailed from Hampton
Roads in command of the second
squadron. because of Admiral Evans
illness, the burden of the diplomatic
calls. the speeches and the entertain
| ing ii the trip around South America
and up the California coast, fell upon
| Admiral Thomas. Coupled with his
duties as second in command, with the
commander in-chief i'll, the social bur
cen was not light one. Admiral
| Thomas was plainly failing in health
when he succeeded Admiral Evans and
| he retained official command only FROM
May to 18th. 1903, being relieved at
| that time. ahead Of the departments
| plans, in order that he might enjoy a
rest AS the fleet was sailing from
san Francisco two months later, Ad-
iniral Thomas died suddenly at Del
Monte. Cal.
Death has twice invaded the ranks of
| the captains who sailed with the fleet
| but in Both instances the officers haG
previously been relieved from duty.
Captain Henry McCrea, of the Georgia,
! 4 most popular officer, died soon after
| his return to the east following re-
| Iinquishment of command at San
| Francisco. Captain Greeen!ef y. Mer-
l
citic coast, a capable man. also died
| within q comparative short time after
| turning his vessel over to successor.
| Rear Admiral Sperry, VINO returns
as communicating chef sailed as COM
| mander OF the fourth division Of the
fleet, being ranked by both Adnirals
Evans and Thomas. Rear Admiral Will
| liam II. Emery, was the fourth of the
| sailing adnlirals, and he was retired
| while the ships We're at Manila. Cap
| tains Seaton Schroeder, Of the Virgin
| ia; Richard Wainwright, of the Louis
| lana. and William S Potter of the Yer
| mont. were the captains who attained
| Gag rank during the cruise.
Leaving Hampton Roads on a cloud
| csS day in December 1907, after Il re-
view by the President from the bridge
Of the Maynower. the first run or the
| fleet took it to Trinidad. 1t had been
announced that the practice cruise
WOIllG end on the west coast of the
| United States, but hardly had the
| ships got under way than the fact be-
| came known that it was really MI
| Rooscvelt's intention to have the six
| teen battleships circumnavigate the
| globe. At Trinidad the first of the
| sayeties occurred. The officers and
| men of the fleet were welcomed with
| / hospitality which set a mark for all
| succeeding receptions and from that
time on each succeeding port tried to
| ,utGo its predcct Ssor. The climax of
| lavish displays. of parties and recep-
| tons. undoubtedly came in Australia
md Japan, although it would be diff
l II, al.
say Just wher" it was the people tried
hardest to make their stay a pleasant
| one. Among the men. Los Angeles will
always be 4 bright memory. for it was
| there that they first came into their
own Oh the trip and all entertainments
were arranged i'll particular for the
| enlisted force. 1t was in Los Angeles
also that Jim" Jefffies. champion Of
The world. refereed the sailors boxing
bouts and mingled with them in all
| their sports.
From Trinidad the fleet called next
ut Rio. where the days of the visit were
| overcroWdcd with social events. AT
| Rio an unfoundcd rumor told of 4 plot
by anarchists to blow up some Of the
American vessels. The first thrill of
| fear which swept the nation was
| quickly dispclled when the story was
| shown to be a pure fabrication From
Rio the itinerary led to Punta Arenas
that unique and interesting "farthest
South" settlement on the Straits Of
Magellan. Here again a hoSoita BILE
people made tn" stay Of the
| fleet an exceedingly pleasant one. The
| Chilean government sent Il cruiser to
| accompany the sixteen battleships
| through the trcacherous waters of the
Straits and although the navigators of
| the American vessels had already
| plotted their own course through the
| narrow. rock-waled waterway the
| courtesy of the South American Ma
ton was fully appreciated
When the ships had safely left the
Straits. the department Officials at
| Washington undoubtedly breatbed
sigh of gratified relief although on the
sixteen big ironcladS themselves there
| was never a question in the mind of
| any officer or enlisted man as to The
| safety of the sturdy fighting craft
| Sailing up the western coast of South
| America the fleet passed in review of
| the President of Chile in the harbor Of
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