The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-02-25
IN GOLD
PAID FLEETS men
tackles Won't Get Shore Leave
Until After Inauguration.
THE VERMONT GUARANTEED
Several Hundred Enlisted Men Whose
Terms Have Expired Were Sent
Ashore and Immediately Started
Homeward-Hae the Time Of Their
Lives In Australia.

Norfolk. Va. Feb. "a. Yesterday
was payday in the big .hattleship
feet. which returned on Monday to
home waters. The bluejackets and
mari0es were made happy In the pos
session OF so much ready cash. but
there were other things that took away
good deal OF the pleasure they felt.
In the first place word went around
that the enlisted men Of the returning
fleet were not to have any shore lib
erty until after the inaugural OF Presi-
dent Taft. in which several thousand
OF them will participate.
The men on the good conduct rolls
had expected to be given permission
to enjoy themselves In Norfolk. where
the buildings in the business section
are decorated with bunting in honor OF
the fleets return. 4 brigade from the
battleships will march in a parade in
Norfolk on Saturday. but will be sent
back to their vessels as soon as this
ends.
The Vermont Quarantined
The officers OF the Vermont were an
exception. A yellow flag flying from
the Nermont's foreyard told the ini-
uated that she had contagious OF in
fictitious disease on board.
An enlisted man is under observa-
ton in the supposition that he con-
tracted smallpox at Port Said. So no
body was permitted to go ashore from
this battieship.
The officers and men OF the Yer
mont. the Kansas and the Minnesota
were paid first
Eight hundred thousand dollars in
the shining gold pieces was brought
down from Washington in the feet
tender Nankton. which had come home
ahead OF the battleships. Pay officers
with their clerks and yeomen went
over TO the YanktOn from the other
vessels. and each was given the re-
quisite amount OF coinage done up in
bags which the Yankton's pay forces
took from three big chests. Every body
was paid in cash.
In forbidding shore leave to the en-
Used force OF the fleet Admiral Sperry
made an exception in the case Of the
fankton. This little ship served as
tender to the bigger vessels and. in
order to keep in touch with them when
they were in the many ports visited.
she had TO start in advance OF their
sailing dates.
Nankton's Men Ashore.
On that account the Yankton's men
saw little of the festivities in the
fleets honor. To compensate them for
their hard work and privations. half
the Yankton's crew we're given shore
liberty
Several hundred bluetackets and ma
rnes whose tecms of enlistment have
expired were sent ashore Most OF
them are from the middle west. and
with plenty of money in their peck
cts. they lost no time in starting home
ward
Ofhcers and enlisted men say that
they had the time Of their lives in
Australia Without intending to re
fleet on the entertainment provided
for their In other foreign countries.
they make II plain that the Australian
government and people were foremost
In displaying hospitality.
No explanation of the cause for Cap
tain Hamilton NJ. Hutchins' detach-
ment from the command of the battle
ship Kearsarge by Rear Admiral
Sperry at Gibraltar. nor the reason
for his coming home on a passenger
steamship has reached the navy de-
partment.