The Washington times., 1909-02-23

before being allowed ashore. No vis-
itors are allowed aboard.
NORFOLK. Va, Feb. 23-The great
( white triumphant feet and the welcom-
( ing gray squadron We're drenched from
! the skies again today; likewise the Of
1 flcial personnel Of the navy and their
naval aUxiliaries-their wives, mothers,
t sisters, and sweethearts.
! The seventy officers who were COM
I PEELED 10 be wined and dined BY the
I Navy League last night slept late today,
/ the fifty more who were sent 10 Rich
mond for more food and wine today
gave the turn for brief cave ashore
/ 10 others, who this morning left their
ships for the hTst time.
The reception they received in en-
braCing arms, by affect -Onate lips and
nappy tears eCllpsed all that OF yester-
day Many woman spent a sleepless
night, silently watching from her sea
side window IN the hotel, the blinking
( lights on the snip IN which her heart
centered.
E In fact there were many Watch Par
I ties" those whose rooms were away
. from the roads being invited TO others
/ for points OF vantage.
No visitors were allowed aboard to-
( day, except on officers invitations. this
day being reserved for the officers 70
I EllEIL Lu4L4 WIVES dAlG LLAEllta7- = AELC WIZ
Z dinners. receptions, and lUncheOns on all
/ the ships
No Shore Leave.
/ No enlisted men, except those sent on
I duty have yet been allowed ashore.
/ Their wives and sweetheaTts anxiously
await them on the wharves, less for
I tunate than their sisters on dress pa
/ rade IN the fashionable Chamberlin-
/ Their day viii come tomorrow, but only
a small per cent viii be granted tenn
pOrary leave. There will be no regular
liberty parties from the feet until the
ships go 10 their yards, except those
who viii be sent 10 Washington for in
guratiOn parade.
The feet returned hungry and
broke, so the CUlgOa began sending
its $4,000 worth of fresh provisions
aboard, and the YankLOn began the
distribution Of the months pay fer
the whole fleet, 100000 The men
and officers who visited Monte Carlo
received first consideration
4 special train bearing Admiral
I Sperry and fifty detailed officers went
70 Richmond 10 be the guests OF the
fLchncnd chamber OF Commerce, to
accept Firgln!a's welcome from the
capital
I An Imposing Sight.
Seldom has q more imposing sight
/ than that presented of Old Point today
. six battleships and armOred cruisers, in
/ addition 10 q number OF smaller craft
/ are lying AT rest after a nemOra ble
T cruise and the visiting public IS LOSING
4 no time in getting near the fighters
I whose decks are being put IN harbor
/ condition As soon as the deck clean
( ing and COaling IS complete me blue
4 jackets VIII be given their shore Iber-
+ Y InlS cannot be finished before Fri
/ day night
/ The exodus Of visitors from the CITY
{ began Immediately after the ships drO0-
I ped anchor, but several thousand viii
/ remain over for the entertainment Sat
I Urday and 10 attend the numerous So
I clal affairs given in honor OF the r.
/ turning officers, which includes a ball
I given by the ChamberIin Hotel one
/ night the latter part of the week.
A feature Of the all-dav parade and
. welcome Saturday VIII be civic pa
race TO take place along the brilliantly
/ Illuminated streets in the evening. This
. viii consist of numerous floats auto
/ mobiles and other vehicles auprcprI-
+ ately decorated and owned by CONNER
. cial and social folk OF Norfolk.
I ENgeDLng the accident on the elec-
/ trio line Of the Norfolk and Southern
+ railroad. which resulted IN painful. but
/ not fatal injuries 70 ffreen persons.
. handled remarkably welt the immense
4 crowds Of Yesterday
Norfolk Gets Ready.
( Norfolk today began the completion
. Of plans for the gigantic parade and
. luncheon on SATURDAY. when 1000 blue
+ Jackets viii be Eiyel shore leave for
. the first time The officers and mid
( shipuen are gradually being allowed
shore privilege, and each hour Old
Point Yields its share Of happy reunion
( The Norfolk hospitality committee holds
conference with Admiral Sperry
aboard the bartleshiP Connecticut this
afternoon. ar which the details Of the
Saturday celebration will De completed
10 Is now planned 20 have Admiral
SneIry. Governor swanson and other
high officials review the marching jack
.es from q stand placed at Commercial
place.
The enlisted men ar the NOrfOIk Navy
Yard are planning a large ball for the
returning sailors which $ TO be given
one uiEhr early next week The i'm
ruenSe sail loft At the yard. made Ia
nous as bail room when Norfolk
entertained the Grand Duke Alexis ana
the Russian fleet officers some years
AGO has been offered the enlisted men
rrr the occasion. Hundreds Of visitors
beLau ID 20 aboard the anchored men
Jr-WaT today.
Thousands Were There.
Estimates of the number OF visitors 20
Cape Henry, Ocean View. Old Point.
and other points where the incoming
vessels might be seen ran from Zs.ogo
to 1900.
There were at least eighty steamboats,
from Norfolk and vicinity in Hampton
Seaboard Florida Limited.