New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-18
YANKTON FIRST HOME
ATLANTIC FLEET UNITED
At SEA.
About 1000 Miles off Virginia
Capes- Rough Experiences of
the Little Tender.


On Board the Flagship Connecticut, Feb. IL
The position of the Atlantic feet at o'clock to-
night was latitude 84:27 north. longitude 57:57
west. 962 miles east of Cape Henry. The Maine
the New Hampshire the Idaho, the Mississippi
and the SaIera. of Admiral Arnold's squadron,
Joined the fleet at noon to-day. The weather Is
good. and the fleet is proceeding in the forma-
ton of line of squadrons. With fair weather
the fleet should arrive off TIE capes on the even
ing of February 21.
Fort Monroe. Va Feb. IA messenger from
the battleship feet. the yachtlike tender Yank-
ton put in here to-day and began to take on a
full supply of coal preparatory to proceeding at
the earliest practicable moment to Washington
in response to a wireless summons picked up as
the little craft was passing in the Virginia
Capes.
The Yankton will return to Hampton Roads
in time to greet the feet. and then will journey
back again to the capital. being used to convey
some one of the score or more Of official parties
which to be present at the entrance ana re-
view of the feet next Monday.
From the moment of the departure of the SIX
teen pattleships on December 16. 1907. the
Yankton has hardly known a moments rest
With a displacement of only 9T5 tons. as against
the 16 600 of the Connecticut and her class, the
little Yankton has been hammered and pouhCsu
by giant seas. Even to the last DAY Oh tlie
voyage the fight of the sturdy dispatch ooaC
against the elements continued, and when the
anchors were let go in the roadstead TINS
morning Lieutenant Commander McNay had
practically his first relief from constant duty
on the bridge for three days and nights
The safe return OF the Yankton Is one OF the
distinct achievements of the cruise. Anchored
Carolina and Montana whose gray sides tow
cred far above her the Yankton appeared mere
" a white dot on the surface OF the wind swept
waters. Wherever the feet has gone the Hahk-
ton has also fought her way. and while the
larger ships have been lying safely and idly III
hospitabIe ports, the Yankton has been sent on
n dozen different errands. not the least OF when
was mission of mercy to Messina after the
earthquake had laid the city in waste
MANY TIMES IN PERIL.
Tvphoons. monsoons and all the other varie-
ties of storms known 10 mariners have oeeh
encountered by the Yankton. her officers say
the longer periods she spent at sea placing the
tender in greater jeopardy than that experienced
by the main body of the feet For three days
going ineo Yokohama the Yankton was believed
10 have been lost in terrific storm The
Yankton was due at Yokohama two days ahead
OF the feet but nothing was seen or heard or
her until three days later, when she steamed IN
with the battIeships, which had been delayed by
the gale Under all the power her engines could
develop the tender made only four knots an
hour IN the height OF the gale and 1t was feared
evarv minute the timbers would give way or
the engines be Jared out of gear, leaving the
tender helpless In Australian waters the Yank-
TON ran into series of storms that kept officers
and crew constantly at their posts
The boat was shipshape and immaculate tey
white when she steamed into the roads to-day
There was no welcome prepared fer her and
few Of the hundreds already gathered here knew
that the tender had slipped by the government
,i.r and anc hored far out in the roadstead IN a
convenient spot for coaling- The officers and
men of the crew are pretty well worn out. how
ever. and have been looking forward to good
long rest.
Two Of the officers Who left Hampton Roads
on the Yankton made the entire voyage. They
are Passed Assistant Surgeon Allan Stuart and
.r9assed Assistant Paymaster Brantz Mayer.
The only other commissioned officer on board
when she sailed was Lieutenant Walter X.
c,berardi in command. who was relieved Wheh
the fleet reached California by Lieutenant COM
roander Charles r McVay. Gherardi now
lieutenant commander, is on duty at Washing-
ron The complement Of officers on the Yankton
,.ae increased to seven for the long journey from
san Francisco
The coaling Of the Montana and the North Car
,,ir, was seriously interfered with yesterday by
bieb winds and they were not able to leave
mort 70 dav to join the incoming fleet They VIII
get away some time tomorrow. however anu
bv a fast run will meet the hattleshlps ABOUT
three hundred miles off the coast
The supply ship Culgoa. which accompanied
the fleet around the world slipped into Hampton
Roads tonight. The Culgoa LETT |iprdi'dr oIi
February 10. one day ahead or the meet anu
stopped for coal at Funchal. MADEIRA me Oul-
,.,a encountered Yesterday and Monday the
ear,a storm that pounded the Yankton SO hard,
and at times had a ifty-degree roll.