The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-02-15

one. q Admiral Thomas was plainly
falling in health when he succeeded
i Admiral Evans and he retained Off
cial command only from May to
Is, 1908, 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-
miral 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 Of
ficers had previously been relieved
from duty. Capt. Henry McCrea, of
the Georgia, most popular officer,
died soon after his return to the
east following REIMBURSEMENT of
command at San Francisco Capt.
Greenleaf A. Merriam, who took the
Missouri to the Pacific coast, cap
able man, also died with compare
lively sort time after turning his
vessel over to successor
/ Rear Admiral Sperry, who returns
as commander-in-chief, sailed as
commander of the fourth division of
the fleet, being ranked by both Ad-
mirals Evans and Thomas. Rear
Admiral William HI. Emory, was the
, fourth of the sailing admirals, and
he was retired while the ships were
at Manila. Captains Seaton Schroe-
der, of the Virginia; Richard Vain
wright, of the Louisiana, and Will
lam L. Potter, of the Vermont, were
!, the captains who attained flag rank
, during the cruise.
Leaving Hampton Roads on a
cloudless day in December, 1907,
, latter review by the president from
; the bridge of the Mayflower, the
first run of the feet took it to Trini-
. dad. 1t had been announced that
the practice cruise would end on the
west coast of the United States, but
> hardly had the ships got under way
than the fact became known that it
was really Mr.. Roosevelt's intention
to have the sixteen battleships cir
cumnavigate the globe. At Trinidad
the first of the gayeties occurred.
The officers and men of the fleet
were welcomed with a hospitality
which set a mark for all succeeding
receptions and from that time on
each succeeding port tried to Guido
it's predecessor. The climax of lavish
displays, of parties and receptions,
undoubtedly came in Australia and
Japan, although it would be difficult
for the officers and men today to say
just where it was the people tried
hardest to make their stay a pleas
ant one Among the men, Los An
geles will always be a bright mem
DRY, for it was there that they first
came into their own on the trip and
all entertainments were arranged in
particular for the enlisted force. 1t
was in Los Angeles also that Jim
Jeffries, champion of the world, re-
| fereed the sailors boxing bouts and
mingled with them in all their
sports.
From Trinidad the fleet called
next at Rio, where the days of the
visit were overcrowded with social
| events. At Rio an unfoundei rumOr
told of a plot of anarchists to blow
up some Of the American vessels.
| The first thrill of fear which swept
the nation was quickly dispelled
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 hospitable
people made the stay of the fleet
an exceedingly pleasant one. The
| Chilean government sent a cruiser
to accompany the sixteen battleships
through the treacherOus waters of
the straits and although the navi-
gators of the American vessels had
already plotted their own course
through the narrow, rock-walled
waterway, the courtesy of the South
American nation was fully appre-
ciated.
| When the ships had safely left the
straits, the department officials at
Warrington undoubtedly breathed a
sigh of gratified relief, although on
the sixteen big ironclads themselves
there was never a question in the
nina of any officer or enlisted man
as to the safety of the sturdy fight
| ing craft Sailing pthe western