The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-05-06
river PILOTS SAY
IT'S DEAD EASY
No Trouble To Take the Big Fighting
Machine To the Points Up the River
To Which She Is Destined.-Will
Leave New Orleans May 12.

NEW ORLEANS, May 6.-In spite
of fears of disaster entertained ii
some circles, none of them local, the
big battleship Mississippi weighed hel
anchors this morning, passed through
South Pass as easily as a tug boat
and started on her way up the river
with 100 feet of water and more under
her bottom, almost all the way to
New Orleans.
Old river men laugh at the idea of
there being any danger, and say that
fifty Mississippis could be sunk in
the river of the same name, and re-
main there so far as navigators are
concerned. They cite the cases of
where big ocean going steamers have
gone down in the river with others
passing over them constantly without
fear of mishap. The worst part of
the trip, if there ever was any danger,
is now over, and the remainder of the
trim. from New Orleans to Donaldson
Vile. to PlaQuemine, to Baton Rouge,
to Bayou Sara and to Natchez, will be
mere child's play so far as the old
Mississippi pilots are concerned, for
they. and not inexperienced men, will
be the ones who will take the battle
d, ship to Natchez and bring her back
again to the mouth of the river.
The trip up the river was uneventful.
Manager Crawford Ellis, Of the United
Fruit Company, who was chairman of
the committee appointed to receive
the Mississippi. got into wireless COM
munication with Captain Fremont,
commanding the battleship, at an early
hour. He was informed that the big
shin would probably reach New Or
leans shortly before o'clock. Ar
rangements were then made for her
TO tie up to the wharf near Jackson
avenue, and this plan was carried out.
It was expected that the battleship
would anchor in the river, but the safe
horth at Jackson avenue permits visit
ors to walk right aboard her from the
wharf. without being held up by launch
mon who charge eXorbitant prices for
..l.ug peoDIe out to the battleship,
anchored in the river. The arrival of
the batrleship was the same old story,
there we're the footing of whistles,
fine ringing of bells, and all the other
accompaniments The battleship will
remain here until May y, when she
will resume her journey up the river.
If will be the first time that so large
a man-of-war has ascended the father
Of waters to a point hundreds of miles
above the mouth, and both officers OF
the shin and people living in the sec
tion through which the Mississippi
will pass are looking forward to the
trip with great pleasure.
The following is a list of the Off
GERS of the battleship:
Cant. John c. Fremont, command
ing: Lieutenant Commanders Sumner,
E. w. Kittelle, Benjamin B. McCor-
mick. Wat T. Cluverius, Lieuts. Will
liam p. Cronan, John P. Jackson, Gil
ford Darst, James A. Campbell, Jr.,
and Frank Roschach Ensigns Glenn
o. Carter, George S. Bryan, Walter B.
Decker; Midshipmen Carl T. Osburn,
Abel T. Bidwell, John c. Latham,
Francis ]. Comerford, John B. Staley,
Frank B. Berg, Frederick B. Bower
find, Walter lie R. Heiberg, Bernard
F. Hickey, William T. Boyd, ia, Doug
las c. Cordiner and John L. Doxey;
Surgeon Carl de w. Brownell, Assist
ant Surgeon Edward v. Valz, Pay
master Robert H. Orr, Chaplain Will
liam H. |. Reaney.