Ahoy Shipmates

Fortunately the matter on the first night was resolved by the next day, and it was decided it was at not the fault of the sailors.

As a result Admiral Evans placed 4,000 men ashore.

Rio de Janeiro was more than ready to receive them.

The streets were decorated with American and Brazilian flags, there were information booths on every corner, and more that 20,000 maps were produced to help the sailor find his way to popular sites.

Members of the American colony in Rio de Janeiro coordinated a reception for the men of the Fleet through the local YMCA, the American Consulate General, and the Seamen's Society.

During the Fleet's visit, special cars left the Tramway Station from 9 to 11 am daily. The Tramway ran by the El Presidenti's Palace and stopped at the Botanical Gardens, boasted as the best in the world. It returned to Larangeiras where special trains were waiting to take sailors to the peak of Mount Corcovado at 2,300 feet above sea level.

Sailors visited downtown and were surprised by the metropolitan streets and boulevards of Rio de Janeiro.

Sailor William Burgess of the USS Kersearge stated to in a postcard to his family:

"This is certainly a dandy place and a modern city also very pretty but it certainly is hot. W.G.B"

There were no further incidents while the fleet was in Rio and the sailors all had a good time. Many of them even joined in local political parades, marching gleefully with the locals and shouting slogans they probably did not remotely understand.

Brazilian President Penna gave high praise to what he termed "the glorious American Navy," and Penna's Foreign Minister showered the Navy with praise and described the visiting fleet as "the pride of the continent."

During the Rio visit, Rear Admiral Fighting Bob Evans suffered an attack of gout, an affliction that plagued him from the start of the voyage and would be responsible for his being relieved of command when the Fleet arrived in San Francisco.

It was also in Rio de Janeiro that the first of many wild rumors about threats to the Fleet began circulating. The Rio de Janeiro Chief of Police had been advised, through unnamed sources, that anarchists were plotting to blow up the Fleet.

Nothing came of it, although Washington did cable for details.

These rumors would follow the Fleet throughout its voyage and eventually gave the folks back home the impression that the Great White Fleet was in constant peril.

The next instalment will cover the departure of the Fleet from the port of Rio de Janeiro.

Regards


Sean