Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-12

from the Army and one from the
Navy, followed him and chung to the
sight of his ship, until long after
the sun had set for those on the
surface, but still visible to the men
in the air. when they reluctantly
turned about and headed for their
station, to be ready for Saturday
epochal entry into the Capital.
AT $3.50 o'clock Friday the Memphis:
thanked by four destroyers and tralied
by fifth, was plainly visible from
the dull white beach at Cape Henry.
and Is minutes later, when she had
moved more into line with the cape.
| the United States Weather Bureau
station on the sandy point broke out
t1uttering array of pennants in eX'
tending in international flag code, the
initial Welcome" from American
shores, while a fleet of smaller craft
moved seward to cruise in with the
|. Nays ships.
Guarded jealousy by the smaller
naval vessels. the Memphis was at all
times out of hailing distance from the
bobbing craft that swarmed about out
side the convoy, but one boat, the
Virginia Pilot Association station
ship Relief-a traditionally privileged
craft-sWung in astern of escorting
destroyers and headed up inside the
stately file. Capt. William Montague,
skipper of the Relief, hoisted the in
ternational signal, channel pilot
aboard" in extending his courtesy OF
the sea. The Memphis, however, had
taken aboard her bay pilot While stlii
offshore and she continued on her
way while the Relief hauled down her
pilot signal and ran up on the same
halyard the fluttering ZBH flags spell
IoA r lnffnf<G
well done" In answer to these and
the signals ashore the Memphis dis
played her thank you"
Memphis Passes Lighthouse.
With the Relief still blowing
through her wake and less significant
craft reaching out to her, the Mem
phis entered the Virginia Capes at AK
actly 4 o'clock. She passed within a
mile and half of Cape Henry light
houses. one the abandoned stone tower
erected atop a sand dune in 1891, and
the other, the newer shaft which, had
she approached after nightfall, would
have guided her safely into the. chan
mel. Witnessing the passage from
the open sea to inland waters thou
sand persons roved the white sands
of the dreary cape to climax the
the crowd that recently reviewed the
feet from the same vantage point.
The little escort of destroyers hav-
ing brought him into the Capes. the
Golf went ahead to Norfolk, and her
sister protectors steamed until dark
ness overlook them in the bay at the
mouth of the York River, when they
signaled for permission to proceed on
duty assigned and steamed to their
base at Yorktown, confident of a
work well done and happy they were
assigned to take part in such a his
torical event.
But onward the Memphis steamed
now slowly, for, she had hours to
spare before her scheduled entry into
the Nations Capital. Night closed in,
wiping her view from the shores, and
there was hardly swish of water as
she eased her prov up the bay, and
around Smith Point Light into the
Potomac River, her last leg of the
eventful journey. Then came Point
Lookout. and a short run she was at
Piney Point, the silence broken only
by the orders of the officer-of-the- deck
to the helmsman.
Celebrations Begun Again.
There was no celebration, for SO
easily did the ship slip into the river
CndC even tHoSe on the LOOKOUT ulu
not know that she had come and
passed. A few minutes steaming,
and then Piney Point. when a few
sharp commands rang out over the
placid waters, the anchor slipped
from her holdings and the great
chains went rumbling out, to hold her
firmly for the morrow. But it was
here that the celebrations were begun
again. Its identity became known
and fishing boats closed in, but kept
respectfully off. except one bearing
the venerable Capt. Luckett, pilot of
boats bearing famous men up the
river.
There she remained until the break