Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-09-19
BIG PACIFIC FLEET
SALUTE TO WILSON
FROM THE DECK OF HISTORIC
OLD OREGON PRESIDENT RE-
VIEWS BIG ARMADA.
HIS LAUNCH IN COLLISION
Incident Nearly Results in Serious
Consequences to Presidential
Party in Boat-Presiden
Merely Smiled.

Seattle Marking the first time a
president of the United States has
flown his flag in Seattles harbor,
President Wilson Saturday reviewed
the great Pacific fleet from the decks
of the history-famed battleship Ore
gon. The review followed upon the
presidents arrival from Tacoma, and
suited in serious consequences for
the presidential party when the pres
dent's launch collided bow on with a
naval whaleboat.
Arriving at the dock it was found
the barge of Admiral Rodman, which
was supposed to be awaiting the pres
ident, was not on hand. Commander
p. w. Foote, personal aide to Secre-
tary of the Navy Daniels, promptly
took over naval launch on hand.
Into this launch went the president
and Mrs. Wilson, Secretary and Mrs.
Daniels, secret service men, and sec
retaries and newspaper men travel
L. w
Foote ordered the launch showed off
the small craft heeled over till the
port rail was nearly under water.
Starting ahead them the craft ran
bow on into another launch, giving
the presidetial party a severe jar. The
president, however, sat serenely in
the aft part of the launch and smiled.
The jar of the collision sent those
standing in the presidents boat to
their seats, but aside from the shak-
ing up no damage was done. stiff
breeze over the sound blowing at the
time made a choppy sea.
The review, first and most magnifi-
cent spectacle ever viewed by the
hundred thousands gathered here
from all over the northwest, had an
other angle of the unusual when, at
its close, the president, as commander
in chief of the navy, virtually took
charge of the Oregon, superseding
Secretary Daniels.
Guns Boom Salute.
Promptly at 2:45 the Oregon lifted
anchor and moved majestically down
the bay, passing in order the dread
naughts New Mexico, flagship of AID
miral Rodman, comminder in chief oil
the fleet Mississippi, Idaho, Texas
and New York. From each huge fight
ing ship roared salvos of 81 guns in
salute while above over the sparkling
water circled two airplanes. Passing
on, the Oregon laid to, and the scout
cruiser Birmingham, flagship of Rear
Admiral Wiley, flashed rapidly into
view at an 1S-knot speed, leading the
destroyer divisions of 81 vessels spac
ed about 800 yards apart. From her
sides began the presidential salute, to
be taken up by each passing destroyer
until the bay for several miles was
alive with cracking guns. The presi
dent stood bareheaded throughout
most of the review, from his vantage
point on the forward turret of the
Oregon.
Arrive From Tacoma.
President Wilson arrived here from
Tacoma Teh presidential party wa.
welcomed at the depot by Secretar.
of the Navy Daniels, Governor Louis
+. Hart and naval and state officials
Immediately after the arrival of thu
presidential train the party took auto
mobiles for hotel.
Seattle Chinese are showing specia
interest in the visit of the Pacific flee
here. A vessel was chartered by tn
Chinese association and went out t.
meet the warships entering the han
Dor. Downtown six Chinese girls il
native costumes dispensed nuts, ric
cakes and oriental sweets to the sal
ors from booth.
Review at Tacoma Also.
Tacoma-Review of the Pacific flee
by Secretary Of the Navy Daniels Il
Commencement bay Monday saw al
the ships of the fleet in line, NOR
than took part in the review at Sal
Francisco by Secretary Daniels or a
Seattle. Saturday, by President Wi
son