The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-16

The battleship Florida, the pride Of
the navy, is at anchor in Pensacola
harbor off Palafox wharf, where she
arrived at o'clock yesterday after
noon and will remain until after the
presentation by the people of Florida
of the magnificent silver service. With
Pilot w. A. Bell aboard, the big ship
crossed the bar early in the afternoon
and steamed up the bay, viewed by
| thousands who had gathered along the
waterfront to witness the arrival of
the largest vessel ever to enter gulf
port. The fog partly obscured the
view OF the ship, but at times she
could be clearly seen and presented
a grand spectacle. The Utah, the sis
ter ship of the Florida, will come
into port this morning if the weather
is clear.
Shortly after the Florida had an
chored a committee composed of Col.
X. NJ. Cary, grand marshal of the
naval and military parade scheduled
for Monday, DR.. NJ. e. Quina. one of
his aides, Collector w. II. Northup,
and Capt. !. Fl. Aiken and C. E. Dob
son, representing the reception com
mittee, went out on the cutter Penrose
and called on Capt. Knapp regarding
monies, which will be opened with the
parade of fifteen hundred or more
soldiers and blueiackets
capt. Knapp stated that three hun
dred or more bluejackets and band
would be sent from the Florida for the
parade, and that possibly as many
more would be sent from the Utah
though arrangements regarding this
matter would be made by. the COM
mander of the Utah, who is the senior
in rank of Capt. Knapp. The Petrol
will send a hundred or more and the
German ship Hansa about the same
number. Col. Cary will TODAY confer
with Capt. Benson of the Utah, when
that ship comes into the harbor and
complete all of the arrangements.
The plans for the receptions and
presentation were discussed, but those
aboard the Florida have not definitely
been decided upon.
A PUBLIC RECEPTION.
However, Capt. Knapp says that on
Tuesday there will be public recep-
tion aboard the ship for the general
public. AT present the orders are for
the battleships to leave here Wednes-
day, but If possible the Florida will
remain for one more day, so as to
have the public reception cover two
days, thus giving all residents and
visitors an opportunity of boarding
and inspecting the Florida.
An immense crowd will be in the
city for this occasion, as all railroads
in the state and many running into
Alabama have made very low excurs-
ion rates, and by Sunday thousands of
visitors will have arrived, and all will
be anxious to go aboard the great
ship.
THE CITY PREPARING.
The city is putting on holiday dress
for the big event. Thousands of in
candescent lights are already in posi-
tion to be turned on tonight, illuminat-
ing Palafox street from one end to the
other, while decorators were at work
all Of last night and by tonight the
decorations will be completed.
In the meantime preparations are
nearing completion for the silver ser
vice presentation and the banquet on
Monday evening at the San Carlos ho-
tel, which will witness the largest
gathering of notables in the history
of this city. for the Commercial As
sociation is in receipt of numerous
| acceptances from mayors and others
prominent in cities in the south, to
whom invitations were extended
BLUEJAcKETS ASHORE.
About one-half of the bluejackets
from the Florida were given shore
leave last night the first they had en-
joyed since the ship left Hampton
! Roads a month ago for Guantanamo.
The boys received their monthly pay
! only a few days ago and they were
out for a good time, which they ap-
parently had. Several guards from
the ship were sent a shore to assist
the police in preserving order. AS
themselves. did not overstep the
! bounds, but on the other hand were a
well behaved lot fmen.