The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-11-17

It was quite a sail to the foot of Fiji
ty-ninth street where the head of the
battleship column rested. On board
the flagship Connecticut sharp look
out had been kept down the harboc
and as soon as the presidential flag
was made out in the distance the flag
ship let go with her saluting guns.
The white puff from the first gun had
hardly cleared the muzzle when the
other vessels in the line, following the
motions of their leader had begun
the firing Of the presidential salute
of twenty-one rounds.
Admirals Pay Their Respects.
The last dying echoes of the salute
were drifting down the river from the
far end of the line as the Mayhower
crept to an anchorage place near the
Connecticut. Here her engines had
scarcely stopped turning when half
score of sturdy little steam barges
were headed for her starbOard gang
way. The admirals of the fleet were
on their way personally to pay their
respects to the President. Rear AID
miral Hugo Osterhaus, commander-in-
chief of the fleet, sailing from the
Connecticut, was first to board the
Mayflower.
He was attended by his aids, and
as he passed up the gangway there
was flourish of trumpets, a rufhe Of
drums and a strain or two of a lively
march by the marine band. Admiral
Osterhaus soon was followed by the
other flag officers of the fleet who
went aboard in accord with their di-
visional rank The President and Sec
Rotary Meyer stood on the quarter
deck. Mr.. Taft had a cordial express
sion of greeting for each of the Off
GERS.
When the reception had ended and
the admirals had sailed away in their
waiting barges, the President prepar-
ed to return the courtesies with a
call on board the Connecticut.
The guns of the flagship Numbered
a salute as he came aboard, and again
when he left
Ships in Full Dress
1t was from the Connecticut that the
President got his best view of the an
chored fleet With the sounding of col
ors at 8 a. m. great transformation
had come over the dull gray vessels.
Their gaunt yardarms and skeleton
masts which had stood out bare and
ungraceful against the skyline, sud
denly doomed with the varicolored
| flags of full dress. The long strings
of fluttering bunting, stretching from
waterline to waterline across the mast
heads, had appeared as if by magic
The Connecticut's dressing probably
was the most gorgeous in the fleet,
the usual single line of pennants be-
ing supplemented by others that arose
athwartship to the yardarms.
The exchange of calls completed, the
Mayflower picked up her anchors and
started down the water lane formed
/ by the battleships on her starboard
quarter and the slender little destroy
ers to port. With the presidential flag
| again on the move the saluting began
anew. This time it was not in chorus
/ however. AS the Mayflower's bridge
/ cleared the Connecticut the flagship
| let go with twenty-one guns. Next in
] lin 40 Ae IA
| flower cleared her after gangway the
| Michigan took up the tribute of the
| speaking cannon. So it was with the
Delaware, the North Dakota and the
other ships down the line. Each in
it's turn paid compliment to the Presi-
dent. Mr. Taft stood on the bridge
and lifted his hat as he passed the
colors of the various vessels.
Sides Manned with Bluejackets.
On board each battleship and on
board the destroyers, the sides were
manned with bluejackets, giving a liv-
/ ing outline to the steel-belted hulls.
| On the quarterdecks the officers in the
gold and lace of special full dress uni
/ forms were assembled and at atten-
ton. The marine guards also were
drawn up on the quarterdecks, and the
ship bands, uniformed in scarlet stood
out a bright patch of color, in the
grouping on the afterdecks AS the
Presidents yacht passed the battle
ships close aboard there were trumpet
Aourishes and drum ruffles from each
of the ships just before the bands
crashed out with the national anthem,
"The Star Spangled Banner"
From near and far there came the
sound of bugles to mingle with the
music Of the bands and the crash of
the guns. It was a spectacle that sent
a thrill through all who saw and
heard.
To Disband After the Review.
After making a round trip of the
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