The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-02-23
FLEET IS NEAR
HAMPTON ROADS
North Carolina and Mon
tana Join Them
ALL NOW IN READINESS

scores Of Officers Wives al the Hotels
at Fort Monroe, in Waiting for the
Return From the World Cruise
Thousands Crouuing Into the Vari-
Gus Cities Along Ocean.
Fort Monroe. Va. Feb. =
Saluti1g guns on the forward bridge
of the armOred cruiser North caro-
lima doomed thirteen times today in
honor Of the blue fag of Rear Ad-
miral SperrS on the battIeship Con-
nec:icut. the combination of the naval
forces that are to enter the Vii ginia
Capes on Monday morning, to be
reviewed by President Roosevelt in
celebration of the world cruise of six
teen American battleships, "a COM
pleted. Wireless signals received
from the North, Carolina and her
junior consort. the Montana. early to-
day, told of the approach Of the last
two ships sent to welcome the home
coming vessels to the main BODY of
the fleet.
The wireless station at the Norfolk
navy yard could not pick UP the fleet
direct. either last night or today. ow-
ing to static interference in the at
mosphere, but the messages from the
North Carolina We're sufficient to in
dictate that TIE fleet is near enough
to the Virginia Capes tonight to in
sure its arrival off the entrance to
Hampton Roads sometime tomorrow.
The feet will lay to or Vancouver Oft
the CapeS tomorrow afternoon and
evening and Will get under way Mon
day morning il time to pass into home
waters and begin filing by the May
flower exactly at the hour Indicated.
Scores of officers wives are already
at the hotels here. Among them are
about nineteen. who made the journey
all the way around the world on mer-
chant ships, and who overtoon or
awaited the naval vessels at the vari-
Gus ports visited. Some Of these wo-
men even went all the way to Aus
tralia, but most Of them remained in
Japan While their husbands were in
the Antipodes. There are other
wives here who went with the fleet as
Tar as CallfO. MIA. Still others are
here uho contented themselves with
Witnessing the departure from here
fourteen months ago. and who Their
returned to their homes in various
parts Of the country.
The social feature of the fleets re-
turn and stay in the roads is to be as
notable as the departure. From Wash
ington. Baltimore. Philadelphia. New
York. Richmond and Norfolk. large
parties have arrived for fleet week
and every room In the hotels is taken
and many persons were turned away
TO-DAY az the 1dIHDtTId NE prop
lem Of providing for the countless
hundreds who Will be here on Monday
is worrying the hotel managers and
authorities. Norfolk will be the mecca
of most Of the eXcursiOnists and elabo-
rate preparations are being made
thereto accommodate thrOngS with
rooms and meals
AS the time of the fleets arrival
draws near the excitement in all the
cities bordering on Hampton Roads
is becoming intense.
Washinston's birthday is to be cele-
brated as a holiday more general!
than ever before in this section and
all the residents Of Norfolk, Newport
News. Hampton and other cities, Whc
can possibly do so will either be afloat
or along the shores OF the roadstead
to witness the impressive arrival o.
the ships and the ceremonies attend
ing the visit Of the President.
Rear Admiral William Emory, who
commanded one Of the divisions OF
the fleet up to the time of his re
tire1neat at Manila, last November, ar
rived today to witness the home-com-
ing Of the fleet and to provide fol-
the transfer Of his effects brought
home on his old flagship. the Louis
lana.
According to advices received here
the Georgia is not the only one OF tn
sixteen battleships that is comins
home in command Of the executive OF
ficer. Captain Hamilton Hutch1ns
who sailed with the Kearsage from
here all the way to Gibraltar, becam'
i'll there and asked for relief. In'
command OF Lieutenant
Nathan c.. Twining. Captain Hutchfn'
returned from Gibraltar on the koenl
e.. gin I.uiSe.
A man who has an az to grind al
wa ,x ft~l W. ~ RI tlrn n