The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-15

ine social burden was not light one,
Admiral Thomas was plainly failing In
health when he succeeded Admiral
Evans, and he retained official COM
mand only from May 3 to Is, 1908. being
relieved at that time, ahead of the de-
partment's plans. in order that he
might enjoy rest. As the fleet was
sailing from San Francisco two months
later. Admiral Thomas died suddenly
at Del Monte, Cal.
Death of Two Captains.
Death has twice invaded the ranks of
the captains who sailed with the fleet,
but in both instances the officers had
previously been relieved from duty.
captain Henry McCrea of the Georgia,
a most popular officer, ed soon after
his return to the east, following relin-
quishment Of command at San Francis
co. Captain Greenlief A. Merriam. who
took the Missouri to the Pacific coast,
capable man, also died within a
comparatively short time after turning
MS vessel over to sucC essor
Rear Admiral Sperry who returns as
conmander-in-chief. sailed as COM
mander of the fourth division of the
neet, being ranked by both Admirals
Evans and Thomas Rear Admiral VIII
liam II. Emory was the fourth of the
While the ships were at Manila Cap
tains Seaton Schroeder of the Virginia,
Richard Wainwright of the Louisiana,
and William r Potter of the Vermont
were the captains who attained flag
rank during the cruise
Departure of the Fleet.
Leaving Hampton Roads on a cloud
less day in December, 1907, after a re-
view by the president from the bridge
of the Mayflower. the first run Of the
feet took 1t to Trinidad. 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 il was really Mr.. Roose-
velt's intention TO have the sixteen bat
tleships circumnavigate the globe At
Trinidad the first of the gayeties oc-
CURED. The officers and men of the
feet were welcomed with a hospitality
which set a mark for all succeeding re-
ceptions, and from that time on each
succeeding port tried to Guido its pre-
decessoT. The climax of lavish dis
plays, of parties and receptions, I'M
dOubtedly 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 pleasant one. Among
the men Los Angeles will always be a
bright memory, for it was there that
they first came into their own on tins
trip. and all entertainments were ar
ranged i'm particular for the enlisted
force. II was in Los Angeles also that
Jim Jeffries, champion of the world.
refereed the sailors boxing bouts and
mingled with them in all their sports.
EIa.f ~
From. Trinidad the fleet called next
at Rio. where the days of the visit
We're overcrowded with social events
AT Rio an unfounded rumor told of
plot By anarchists to blow up some of
the American vessels. The first thrill OF
fear which swept the nation was quick
~ dispelled when the story was shown
to be a pure fabrication. From Rio the
itinerary led to Punta Arenas. that
unique and interesting "farthesi
south" settlement on the Straits of Ma
gellan. Here again q hospitabie peo-
pie made the stay of the feet an ex
cee6ingly pleasant one. The Chilean
government sent a cruiser to accompa-
ny the sixteen battleships through the
treacherous waters of the straits. and
although the navigators of the Amer
lean vessels had already plotted their
o.
walled waterway. the courtesy of the
South American nation was fully ap-
prec.ated.
Trip Up the Pacific.
When the ships had safely cleft the
straits the department officials at
Washington undoubtedly 5reathed
sigh Of eratiied relief. although on the
sixteen big ironclads themselves there
-,
any officer or enlisted man as to the
safety of the sturdy fighting craft.
Sailing up the western coast of South
America the fleet passed i'm review Of
the pres dent of Chile in the harbor Of
Valparaiso. sweeping in a great curve
into the harbor and out again before
the admiring eyes of a deeply i'm
pressed people. No stops were made
between Punta Arenas and Caiiao.
where again the entertainments offered
the visitors taxed every days time 20
the utmost After Callao came Mag
dalena bay. where. for d month, the
ships were out of touch with the world
except by wireless biography. Drills
and record target practice filled tbs
time at Magdalena- Is was q month OF
real work-a month Of work enjoyed
by all. Record target practice s eager
" anticipated every year. 1t is a tim
that every sailor no matter now nov
ne may be in the service. gets a chance
At the guns. provided he has shown
any sort of aptitude in the ping
pong" trials which arc continuous
board the men of war in port and out.
II is at record practice that the men
attain the rank of gun pointers and
get a white star and crossed circle on
their blouse sleeve if they make Ger
tain mark To be gun pointer means
extra pay each month. according to the
class attained. and there Is prize money
for all &c the ships guns as whole
make a deserving record. The record
practice of last spring developed an &C
curacy and rspidity of fire never before
attained.
Along California Coast.
After Magdalena came the excursion
Of the feet 10 the California resorts.
and there was apparently a never end
Ing program of merrynak'ns. At San
Diego Coronado Beach,; at the ports
of Los Angeles. at Santa Barbara. at
Monterey. Santa Cruz and San Fran
cisco the people OF California received