The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-02-27
BIG GUNS BOOM
FORTH SALUTES
Battleship Fleet Reviewed by
President Roosevelt.
MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE

'WeneJ-F'Nc LcNatndnS OF war, Gar
ryIns 10000 Men and 1900 Death
Dealing Cannon, Pass Before the
President on the Yacht MayfIower-
Din Of saIutes Added to by Steam
Whistles and Cheers from Thou
sands Of Threats.
Prepare TO hoist anchor!"
Hoist anchorl"
Follow the motions OF the flag
shipl'
Rear Admiral Charles s. Sperry
commander OF the greatest battleship
feet ever assembled under the Amer
lean flag, sent these signals In rapid
succession from the battleship Con.
necticut, lying OF the tail of the Horse
Shoe south OF Cape Charles. Va. I'm
mediately twenty-five leviathans of
war, carrying 10000 men and 1900
death-dealing cannon. began to move
slowly forward
Roosevelt on the Mayhower.
Just inside the Horse Shoe lay a
steam yacht, the Mayiower Standing
on her bridge was President Roosevelt.
commander In chief of the army and
navy, the man who conceived the
cruise and sent on It's journey around
the world fourteen OF the battleships
then approaching him. After an abb
sence OF 435 days he was there TO wei
come the fleet home after a voyage OF
42,250 miles. Beside him stood Secre-
tary of the Navy Truaman III. New.
berry.
Immediately behind the Mayhower.
carrying the president. lay a convoy
Of vessels. each loaded TO the gunwales
| with humanity Congressman, diplo-
mats, navy widows" and navy sweet.
hearts" lined their decks. From every
masthead was flung the signal "Wel.
come Home" Revenue cutters and
torpedo boats sped hither and thither.
keeping the roadway clear.
Salute to the President.
Now athwart the Mayfiower a black
muzzled gun belched forth a pun OF
white smoke and a tremendous ex.
plosion woke the echoes along the
shores OF historic Hampton roads COW
cred with people as far as the eye
could reach. Twenty one guns fired
from both broadsides In rapid success
sion from the flagship Connecticut
bearing on the bridge Admiral Sperry,
commander OF the feet, saluted the
president. Her streaming "Homeward
hound" pennant and the long lines OF
jackies manning her yard arms and
fighting tops and dressing ship along
the decks were soon wreather In
smoke.
From every vessel In the welcoming
feet rolled back volume OF cheers
{ such as was never heard In Hampton
! roads before. II was a burst OF pa
: triotlc enthusiasm In which the human
; voice was matched against steel and
gunpowder. Every sea captain grabbed
: his whistle line and tore loose at a
. rate that threatened TO leave his yes.
J sci stranded on the shore for lack Of
steam 20 get home
President Extends Thanks.
After the ceremonial greeting OF the
battleships and their escort the May
9 flower steamed at the end Of the long
column into Hampton roads, and when
4 the homecoming craft had anchored
I she took up position in the center
; OF the fleet.
Admiral Sperry and the other flag
: officers, together with captains com
4 handing. were received on board, and
J, TO them President Roosevelt extended
the cordial thanks which he afterward
expressed anew 90 the officers and
crews OF the four divisional flag ships
the Connecticut the Louisiana, the
Georgia and the Wisconsin which he
. visited late I'm the afternoon.
Tribute TO the Fleet.
! In thanking the officers and men OF
z the fleet the president said:
you have falsifed every prediction
J. OF the prophets OF failure. You left
I. this coast In a high state OF battle ef
ficlency. and you return with your ef
! ficiency increased You have borne
yourselves so as 10 make us at home
proud OF being your countrymen. You
have shown yourselves the best of all
possible ambassadors and heralds Of
!, peace.
I'VE are proud OF all the ships and
n all the men In this feet. and we wei
!. come you home 20 the country whose
a good repute among nations has beer
, raised by what you have done"