With the Battle Fleet

Easy to Sail Into This Bay of all Delights, but Very Hard to Sail Out-Jack Had a Fine Time Ashore and Behaved Properly-More Than 4,0

Louisiana, U.

eiro, J

judgment or of taste in employing the comparative degree, for strict accuracy compels the assertion that never was an American fleet greeted more cordially and nev

levity is intended when that expression is used. The people acclaimed the fleet and that aspect was so overwhelming, so constant, so omnipresent that it dwarfed everything else. No f

. No one doubted that Brazil would do the handsome thing. It was expected that the officials would exert themselves to say pleasing things and provide receptions and dinners, and would exchange calls and observe punctiliously all the niceties that internat

rom Admirals down to coal passers. From the hour of arrival to the hour of departure it was a constant, an incessant exchange of friendship's prisoners. Without this the American fleet

friends, to sail out. Any American President who may order a fleet of battleships into this harbor in the future should take that matter into seriou

rio, seventy-five miles to the east of Rio. Far back on the hills is a signal stat

, Americ

azilian warships were observed about a dozen miles out from Rio. On they came and bugles were sounded and rails manned and salutes exchanged. One, two, three, and so on, went the guns of the Brazilian cruiser that l

y said that the Brazilians reasoned that the Commander-in-Chief of any fleet the size of this should be a Vice-A

nto view. A dozen steam launches had ventured outside. Then came the c

up with the dignity of stiff salutes, and then came a peep into the narrow entrance of the harbo

rican has ever heard such a shrieking of vessels except at the international yacht races off Sandy Hook. The noise at Sandy Hook was greater because the number of boats about was greater; that's the only reason. How-de-do and welcome came from big and little craft all loaded down with people in their Sunday best, if they have such

eart of the city toward Sugar Loaf, all set out in artistic landscape treatment. It was black with the people. Then the fleet approached the city proper.

owd the neighborhoods of the harbor, the hills and islands around it, and all other points of view from the city of Rio and the Nict

nd far into the night tens of thousands had waited upon the hills and waterfronts. They were back, we were told, early on Sunday morning an

that Admiral Evans got the Rear Admiral's salute inside the harbor, the proper one that his two-starred flag requires. He got another Vice-Admiral's salute

, about a dozen of them, were anchored inside. Pratique was granted within half an hour of the t

he Brazilian ships illuminated in honor of the fleet. Fireworks were set off from the hilltops. Still the people stayed on the waterfront. Up to midnight they could be seen in thousands. They were there when daylight

ng. Every well-informed person knows that it is regarded as the finest in the world, that even Naples is dwarfed in these

s way back in 1843, and who has described the scene in his fascinating book "White Jacket." Nature is still the same. Old Sugar Loaf, the liberty capped Corcovado, literal

y of all Rivers, the Bay of all Delights, the Bay of all Beauties. From circumjacent hillsides untiring summer hangs

t two wild flowers in a prospect that is almost unlimited. For behold, far away and away stretches the broad blue of the water to yonder soft swelling hills of light green, backed by t

ee, but God did not build on you, isles, those long lines of batteries, nor did our blessed Saviour stand godfather at t

prows, beaked each other at Actium; of all the Danish keels of the Vikings; of all the mosquito craft of Abba Thule, King of the Pelaws, when he went to vanquish Artinsall; of all the Venetian, Genoese and Papal fleets that came to shock at Lepanto; of both horns of the Spanish Armada; of the Portuguese squadron that under the gallant Gama chastised the Moors and discovered the Moluccas; of all the Dutch navies led by Van Tromp and sunk by Admiral Hawke; of the forty-seven French and Spanish sail-of-the-line that for three months essayed to batter down

naced by a rock bounded fort. The channel between-the sole inlet to the bay-seems but a biscuit's toss over, you see naught of the landlocked sea within until fairly in the strait. But then what a sight is beheld! Diversified as the harbor of Constantinople, but a thousandfold grander. When the Neversink (the frigate United States) swept in word was passe

more recent times he might have included the fleet of Farragut and Porter, of the Austrians and Italians, of the Russians and J

ruz and all the other forts Melville mentions are still there and a dozen more besides, most of them inside the harbor, built, as one grim fighter on the Ame

enery all about is grand, they said, wonderful, but the city itself-well, hands were raised in deprecation, nostrils dilated, followed by a sad shake of heads. Didn't

four years, was well paved and beautified and they expressed the hope that the Americans would like it. More expressions of polite surprise and assurances that the city always was attractive, with more nudges beh

and then a lovely little spot where nature has displayed her beauties unhindered and the environs of the city are filled with the luxury of tropical vegetation; but there are only a few fine residences, a few pleasant promenades, and a few clusters of regal palms which look down upon the filth and squalor of the town with dainty indifference. The p

hat kind of a city they were going to see. Hadn't some of them been here before? Didn't some of the surgeons on

is part of what the Americans saw;

l smell in evidence. There was even no West street or South street odor along the waterfront. Where the streets were not of asphalt they we

o enter. But the great surprise of all was the magnificent Central avenue, built within the last four years right through the heart of the city from north to

centre are lofty lights on artistic poles, each group set in a little isle of safety filled with flowers and grasses and

none like them. If she had, the psychopathic ward in Bellevue would ha

h), others swing here and there; others are straight, until you feel that all you need is a brass band to make you march; others take you in swoops this way and that; arrows and daggers point themselves at you; bouquets in stone attract you until you almost f

e afternoon after he had been drinking too much. He s

on the head! It's the brig fer me when I get back. Take me away, Bill! Think o' the disgrace o' gettin' the jimjams in a

athered around and some of them thought Yankee sailors either had queer ways of investigation or of making thei

public library and other Federal and municipal buildings that are being erected back of old Castello Hill, where the first settlers squatted, and the remains of their huddled manner of living still present themselv

resenting the gold and other mineral wealth; the broad, banded globe of blue in the centre, representing the dominion of Brazil, with one star above the equator for its single State in the northern hemisphere, and other stars

ips of Brazilians. His visit made the deepest impression here. It is still talked of, even on the highways. That visit, the Monroe Palace and the visit of this fleet are b

ul and imposing. One might combine the beauties of the waterfront of Naples and Nice or of any spot in the Riviera with those of the Shore Drive of New York's Narrows and Riv

the forehead of the bay. No one who has ever seen this highway of miles with its palatial dwellings fronting upon it and set b

part of town run little mule propelled tramways with the narrow rails so close to the sidewalks that when the tram is crowded to the side steps there is danger of sweeping the passeng

visitors saw the many crowded cinematograph shows, the crowded shops, the powdered, and what Americans

xtensive, harmonious and comprehensive building that is going on. It was declared to be part of a broad policy that has been in progress for four or five years, part of a plan to make Rio one

e a city as

of Collie

at Rio d

ike some of them headed for the saloons, but the people expected that and were surprised that more of them didn't fall by the wayside. Most of the men, however, went in f

. They went to the best restaurants and hotels. Everywhere they were welcomed. "English spoken here" was a frequent sign. They were even allowed to loll on the grass of the many beautiful parks, an act that costs a na

led with pride over them. They were clean, intelligent, manly, open, as fine a brand of sail

ded at the beautiful park that used to be an eyesore in t

Bureau for Am

lish residents, aided by those of other countries, had been busy preparing for weeks for the visit of Jack ashore. Every safeguard, every assistance that was possible

dants anxious to answer all kinds of questions. Men and women worked there from twelve to fourteen hours a day for ten days in the stifling heat, all eager to be of assistance to Jack ashore. A pamphlet was provided giving a map of the city and displaying all the chie

, mucilage, and down he sat to write to sweetheart or wife. Then he went to change his money. Here he struck a snag. A dol

ee, whiz! Me for Wall Street! When kin I get a steamer hom

o pay 300 reis for an ordinary postage stamp, 400 reis for a glass of limeade, about 800 reis for a handkerchief or a collar, and as for a bottle of beer, that was good for a thousand reis or so, and the money began to me

committee had provided him with guides to all sorts of places free of charge, had made up excursion parties all over the city and the surrounding country, had provided rubbernecks-and how Jack did

cially active was the acting Consul-General of the United States, J. J. Slechta, and Myron A. Clark, the Y. M. C. A. secretary. The Y. M. C. A. here is affiliated with the Sands street branch in Brooklyn. The plac

ould if she'd known about

ork was done for our sailor

5,000 postage stamps sold, nearly 2,000 meal tickets sold, 3,500 special excursions provided, these in addition to the many general ex

to the Rocky Mountains. Jack and his mates went to Corcovado in throngs, starting on trolleys that crossed the famous old aqueduct back of the hills right in the city and climbed on and up around the city for miles with scarce a hundred feet of straight track. Then they took the steep cog railroad, and after a time found themselves poised on the peak 2,300 feet above the city, w

urch. It will be the finest setting for the finest bride in the world. The newspapers needn't take the tro

ressions. The people's gracious mood matched their city and the

uch drinking. Occasionally a man or two would overstep the bounds, but the au

rrect misapprehension. It was on the first night of liberty. It was merely a saloon brawl. A native negro had a row with another and threw a bottle at him. The second dodged it

mped in to fight. Stones were thrown and three of the peacemakers were hurt. The local police didn't size up the situ

the authorities 2,000 men were sent ashore instead of 1,000 daily as had been planned. The men were warned to conduct

nowing what the parades meant, good natured Jack of course would go along. About twenty of them joined each of two processions and had the distinction of carrying the flags and hurrahing every other step. It was great fun. The naval officers on shore heard of wh

geons. Had the bluejackets remained innocently with the parades they would have been in the thick of it and terrible reports would probably have been cabled to the Un

t was the largest liberty party of American sailors ever known. New York never saw so many of our men ashore at one time. It made

me of the Brazilian Government. The one regret was that Admiral Evans, because of an attack of his recurre

rst day when he met the officers at Petropolis. Then Vice-Admiral Cordovil Maurity voiced it in English on the top of

er of Marine, Gallant Admirals, Captains and o

feel very happy in this moment, to speak to you, American sailors, in the name of my Government, of the Brazilian people and of my comrades of the National Navy, in order to salute and give the hearty welcome to Admiral

hers of the great Navy of the United States of America, as a general and sincere greeting spontaneously born from the core of the Brazilian's hearts. The real proof of this true assertion of mine you have just met during the sole

d all other points of view from the city of Rio and the Nictheroy side, in order to greet the passage of the American fleet and to better appreciate the interesting display of her man?uvres. So, I may assure you, gentlemen, with my experience of a sea man, that the splendor of the scener

ews of her men-of-war across the largest and deepest oceans, is certainly an act of very right naval policy, chiefly on the behalf of order and discipline of industry, labor and trade, of d

mightiest and more illustrious of the world, whose sacred emblem in command and perfect sisterhood with ours, let God

en he said at his luncheon the day following to

e American fleet which is now visiting us ought to prove how deep and sincere the sympathy and

ur of our birth as a nation and are ever growing in strength. Every day the

young American republic gave them strength by solemnly declaring the intangible unity of the peoples of the new world through the declaration o

itating as it does the doubling of the American continent, is a fresh and splendid evidence of

ndly fleet I drink to the glorious American navy, to the prosperity of the republic of the United States

at banquet given to the officers later in the Monroe Palace

n last year the unequivocal demonstrations made to our officers, which the American Government so expressly associated itself with, caused the Brazilian gratitude and indebtedness; and it is to-day with the greatest satisfaction that in the entertainments promoted by the Brazili

ding to the fine expression of President Roosevelt, are messengers of friendship and good will, commissioned to c

a toast to the gallant American navy, an example of skill and military discipline, a model of devotion to the

f the fleet at the Park Fluminense, an outdoor music hall with a mere roof covering and a stage, set in a garden. It was like the outdoor suburban amusement places in which S

cigars were served, and soon things began to warm up. When a medley of patriotic American airs was played the cheers began to rise. They could have been heard for blocks. Soon Annapolis songs and yells and shouts were being given. In the inte

cheers followed after every man had ceased to stand at attention. The Brazilians were beside themselves with joy. Then came "God S

d and yelled. Hats went into the air. The Brazilians and English could not be contained. A score of men were on tables, each trying to take command of the occasion, each

rs rolled out and the Brazilian thought he had taken the place by storm, and was as happy as a child, but the cheers were simply a part

re the bandmasters who struggled through the bars of the Brazilian national hymn. No disrespect is meant, but those Americans who are clamoring

me ships to shorten up if the other ship was out of hearing and save the wind of the players. Then too it is queer music. It goes hippety hop-it seems a combination of waltz and march, of anthem and jig. It may be music, but the writer of this is fr

"No Italian musish players. A

a mess of it as when they pronounced the name of the High Life Club here or the Light and Power Company. The Brazilian name for the High Life Club is Higgie Leaffie Cloob.

t of the show will be in honor of another President than our own. When the last gun has boomed it will mean not only good-by to President Penna and Brazil, but it wi