The Washington times., 1909-09-25
BOATS IN ShASH-UP
AT BIG CELEBRATION
Half Moon Crashes Into
Clermont-Both Badly
Damaged.
Continued from First Page.)

much the worse. as instead of heading
the line under her own steam. as had
been planned she was forced to accept
the aid OF a tow-line so that the hun
dredS Of thousands Of spectators who
lined the haTbor and river banks might
not be disappointed.
While the responsibility has not yet
been placed IL seems to have been due
more 70 the elements than any human
error. The new Half Moon was travers-
Ing the upper bay, running down to take
her position, alongside OF the Clerynont
when the wind and tide carried her
against the Clermont at a smart pace.
The sailing craft hit the steam vessel
on the portside just aft OF the paddle
wheel and tore away part OF her rail.
A load of wood piled on deck for use
as fuel was knocked overheard and the
engines of the Fulton replica jammed.
Guests Are Frightened.
The Half Moon had a number II in
vited guests on board. including several
women, and they screamed as the crash
took place, causing spectators in the
adjacent bay to imagine the damage
greater than it actually was. When the
boats had been pulled apart by tugs
II was found that the cut water OF the
1 Half Moon had been jammed in nearly
I 10 the water line, but as II Is chiefly
ornamental. the sea going qualities Of
the craft were not impaired.
The ClermOnts rails for fifteen feet
abaft the paddle wheel on the portside
was carried away. she had lost her deck
load. and the paddle box was dented
and scraped. II was decided. however.
[ that the parade should proceed a. plan
ned. and both the Half Moon and the
Z ClermOnt should he towed the entire
length Of the route.
Down the bay the greatest peace feet
that ever gathered Ia this hemisphere
was waiting 10 escort the two diminu-
tive craft up the Hudson river for nine
, miles, the greatest war feet, with one
I exception, that was ever gathered,
/ ire as it saluted its predecessors.
Slowly, tmprcssiVeiy, the Clermont
I and the Half Moon made their way
down the bay, the din abatlng none.
/ on Stapleton they were Joined by the
/ commanding officer Of the feet, Capt.
I J. w. Miller Of the New York Naval
/ over the Bay Ridge shore Of Brooklyn,
/ where the cscorting feet was waiting.
/ Wicked-lOoking torpedo boats and de-
/ strOyers. dumpy-loOking submarines,
! dollars, powerful tugs, big excursion
I steam ers that carried thousands, steam
/ lighters, pulsing motorboats-1.O0 power
] craft Of every description waited IA
I the great line 10 escort and pay tribute
/ 10 the fTst' ship that naVigated the
Hudson, and the first steamboat that
| rufficd it's waters.
The Parade Moves Out.
The signal was given and the great
peace feet fell into line and followed the
towed CIermont and Half Moon. Back
up the bay they came, impressive in
their greatness. For miles they stretch
Cd alOnE and by the time the two little
/ boats thcv escorted had turned north
into the mouth OF the Hudson river. the
tail end OF the peace feet had not gotten
lOpder way.
Up the hudson they pIouEhed. cheered
. and salUted on every hand. OF Fifti tn
street the Clcmout and the Half Moon
passed the iirst OF the great war fleet.
tho little Newport. flying the Stars and
Stripes. and her guns bsrked out salute
A moment later the guns OF the Mexican
guubOai Morales burst INTO a booming
salute. The French battleshiDs took 10
the boom. and the Germans and the
Dutch ano the English and the Ameri-
cans
Up through. this niue-mlIe stretch of
[ warehips the peace feet passed. There
were hfty-three American war vessels,
four English, four German. three
French. one Dutch, ono Argentine, one
Mexican, and one Cuban, with guns
enough, n fired in one broadside. 10
wipe out a city or sink 4 nations navy.
There were 1000 officers and men 10
man the 500 high Caliber guns ana the
lnunbcIiess smaller ones. and those sail
Ors who were not firing the saiut as
manned the rail and choered Justify as
the cookie shells OF tho past centuries
Cravelv passed and accepted the honor
due them.
Little Boats Received
The Half Moon and the |lermont were
Their towcd up the New York side Of the
river 10 Il0th street where they hove
10 one Of the official landings, and were
officially received by the Hudson Fulton
commission.
The great escorting feet In ten
/ sauadro1s, proceeded uD the Jersey side
| Of the river to tho head OF the waT
/ fleet. au SpuytOu DuyVii creek. above
/ 2pOth street, where II swung around Ia
! the New York side Of the river, and pro-
| ceeded on down The way it had come
( Tonight, beginning at Z o'clock the
| same parade, i'm every detail, will be
| repeated. but this time every vessel
! in the peace feet and the war feet will
{ be a myriad OF lights, which flashing
over the water I'm fhe glare OF hun
dreds Of scarchlighis and tons OF red
! fire, will make a sight rareT than any
! thing ever seen before IN these waters
Every public building IN New York
; and scores OF the big SKI scraners and
river bridges will tonight be outlined
1 In electric lights, while from the dom,
Of Grants Tomb a battery Of twenty
| powerful scaTchiights Will iilumina Il
the river below.
Special services have been arrange
IN all the syna gogues Tor all who wor
ship on Saturday.
Crowd Gathers Early.
4 There was a big crowd even for flev
York. which Is used TO crowds, on hsnC