Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-26
Anchors Beside the Old
Maine in Havana Harbor,
Steams Into Port on Anniver-
sary Of Other Names Arrival.
Is Followed by the Mississippi
Both Salute Cuban Flag.

versary of the arrival of the former bat.
tleship Maine on her Inflated mission tC
Cuban waters, the new Maine, with the
still more modern Mississippi in her wake
sailed into Havana harbor to be present
at the Inauguration of General Jose Mi
guel Gomez and the new Cuban govern.
nfent next Tuesday.
This is the first visit of the namesake
of the wrecked warship, and her coming
excited great interest, not only among
Americans but among all classes of the
residents. They lined the harbor walls
from La Punta battery, opposite Moro,
to Machina wharf, off which the two
American battleships are moored to an
chorage buoys.
The new Maine arrived at II A. M. pre-
cisely the hour at which the old Maine
steamed into the harbor on Jan. 25, 1898.
The old Maine saluted the Spanish flag
over Moro Castle Today the new Maine,
which is the flagship of the third squad
ron of the Atlantic fleet, commanded by
Rear Admiral Arnold, saluted the Cuban
pennant flying from the historic old fort
ress The salute was returned by the
Cuban battery on high hill overlooking
the harbor. This afternoon calls were
exchanged by Rear Admiral Arnold, Gov.
Magoon and the American minister, Ed
win V. Morgan.
The Maine and Mississippi joined COM
pany at Key West yesterday morning,
the former coming up from Venezuelan
waters and the latter down the coast
from the Philadelphia navy yard. Sailing
out of Key West at an early hour this
morning, the two warships engaged in
maneuvers for several hours off the Gu
ban coast. The Mississippi Won a COM
pliment from the admiral for the facility
with which she followed the signals, al
though she is newly commissioned and
has just joined the squadron.
The time of the arrivals of the warships
was communicated to the authorities at
Havana by wireless telegraphy and the
people poured out to the water front to
witness the spectacle. The day was per-
feet. the blue of the sky and the waters
adding to the beauty of the picture as
the vessels with vari-colored signal flags
flying from their mastheads sailed by
Moro and steamed into the harbor close
enough to the Havana shore for the peo-
pie to hear the Cuban national anthem.
which was played by the ships bands
drawn up in white uniforms on the quar-
terdeck of the incoming vessels.
The Maine led the way and was the
| only vessel to fire q salute. Both ships
appeared massive and formidable rs
they swept close to the shore, and in
their new dressing of dull gray paint
they recalled the days of the Spanish
war Cubans and Spaniards residing
in Havana who have been accustomed
of late years to the white American
warships, were surprised at the grim
color of today's visitors, but they were
| informed by the evening papers of the
new order Of the navy department that
all American warships are to be this
color in the future.
Occasional applause and some cheer.
| ing greeted the ships, but for the mos
part the Cubans looked on silently. AL
shipping in the harbor stopped as the
| two big vessels threaded the channe
| to the anchorage buoys assigned tt
| them by the port authorities. Thes'
| buoys are the nearest in the harbor t
| the wreck of the old Maine, which
| naturally attracted great interes
among the officers and men on the tw'
ships During the afternoon, partic
| from both vessels maze CLOSE lhSpeC
ton in small boats of the visible por
| lions of the wreck.
| Tonight the streets of Havana
| down town section are filled with aun
dreds Of blue jackets on liberty. Lieut.
Commander w. T. Cluverius of tn
Mississippi, is a survivor of the oil
Maine, on which he was serving as
midshipman at the time of the eH
| plosion which destroyed her. Lieut.
Commander Sumner E. w. Kittelle
navigator of the Mississippi, is a son
in-law of Rear Admiral Sigsbee. re
tired. who was the commander of tn
Maine.
The Maine and Mississippi will re
main at Havana until Jan. %, whe
thew will accompany the scout cruise
Salem, on which Gov. Mageon will tax
his departure from the island. immedl
ately after President Gomez is swor
into office and the affairs of govern
ment formally turned over to him. III
Salem will arrive here tomorrow.