U.S.A. FLEET.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1925, Page 3

U.S.A. FLEET.

[Australia A X.Z. Cable. Association.]

BERTHING THE SEATTLE. .MKLBOCRNE. July 21. It i- estimated that, over hall a million people gathered at vantage points along the 90 miles of tbe bay front to welcome the Heel. Admiral Cooutz’s squadron comprises forty-four vessels oi various tonnages. It took nearly two hours for the whole fleet to puss tlie heads. The journey up. by following on the heels ol the pilot was very slow owing to the mudbanks and other dangers. Tbe monster flagship Seattle had to dp considerable manoeuvring he I ore she I; Ttbod at the Princess Bier at Port .Melbourne. It was late in the afp-rnoun before the Admirals Ir.nde.'f to pay their ollicial calls. Subsequent Iy four ibou-arel men were given shore leave and invaded the city at night, enjoying ihem-elves lively, hut the full toned welcome which Sydney was to have given the parading navy was reserved lor to-day. SENSATIONAL A( Cl DENT. .MELBOURNE. July 21. The Fleet festivities, which the late arrival held up yesterday, are in lull -.wing to-day. The procession of the sailors was the chief lealurc. It was marred by a sensational accident. Enormous i rovvds gathered along the route of the pioccssioii, and others watched from windows, verandah tops, roofs and oilier points oi van t age.

Some fifty persons were standing on the cantilever verandah of Hoyts Picture Theatre, in Botirke Street, when il suddenly collapsed just a- the procession was passing. The sound ol rending timber warned the people, who were packed on tee sidewalk below, but the crowd was so dense that many were unable to get clear. Amid a terrified rush and screams from the spectators, the proces-imi was stopped, and the seamen ami marines from tlm warships rushed to help the injured, and assisted the police to keepthe crowds back.

As the verandah gave nay. a number of those upon il were hurled on those below, amid a seme of the wildest excitement. Disorder follow, <l. The rescuing of (be victims from the debris oi eupit il a , on.-ii lera tie time.

...any of those bmealb the eraiulah. besides those u ! o 1011, sustained cuts and injuries. A number were removed to tbe hospital, where pathetic scenes were witnessed. People are visiting there iu crowds in search of relatives.

After the rescue work was completed the procession return,cd tbe march. Hundreds were eolleeled directly beneath ami around tbe verandah, when it crushed, and otin is were thrown lor ward among the dense crowd lining the street. In the wild scaLter for safety, tin barriers guarding the street broke down. People tumbled poll mell into the road. ’I He police and Ibe men 1!»• 111 tlie Fleet gradually pushed back tin crowds into Swaiistou and ( ollins Sts., and when some order was restored, ambulances and nurses were quickly on the scene attending tbe wounded. Over one hundred were more or lc»~ injured, and were removed to tlie .tlelootune Hospital lor treatment. Luckily no one. was killed, though til. injuries m a few (uses are serious. Llioy are mostly slight. tor an hour alter the accident, amliulanees were removing people Irom the iimx up and attending to minor injuries, due to crushing, mostly when the crowd was loreed hack Irom the Resides Hoyts t era ndalt, that ol .S|ieneer’s drapery premises adjourning was involved iu me collapse. I lie crash came at the height ol the excitement, when evert body was cheering and applauding the passing procession. Il was simultaneous with the blowing of a. whistle for the Americans’ Band to strike up. Instead, there came the screams of frightened women and excited men. and the cries of little children, following by the piteous groans ol the wounded. With miltary precision the Americans halted, moved off the road, unfixed their bayonets, and. with the assistance of the - police, they quickly threw a barrier round the scene <>i the disaster. Others, holding their lilies in front of them held hack the crowd and prevented a threatened stamped', to the spot. TER BIBLE SCENES. -MELBOURNE, duly 2-1. There were terrible scenes ol disorder as the wounded ITniu Ihe collapsed verandah were carried to the ambulances. Crowds rushing to the scene were impeding the resellers’ gig. The verandah collapsed as though made of paper, and the people standing on it were hurled on Lite heads of the crowds below. The casualty rooms in the Hospital resembled war cleaning stations, the injured on stretchers crowding the premises. A later report slates four men. and one elderly woman have died Irom their injuries. .MIDDY M ELI’OCRNE STREETS. MELBOrUNK, July 21.

The march of the Americans through the city was marred, not only by , the regrettable verandah collapse. but tbrouirh the streets being made sodden and muddy by rain. Tile decorations presented a. forlorn appearance. After their march, the seamen enjoyed a bounteous lunch at the Exhibition Buildings. (Received this day at 8 a.i11.) MRLBOUH XE. duly 27>. When a verandah collapsed the stage bands' and .dike staff of the Tivoli Theatre right opposite rushed to the scene and carried the injured to the theatre where first aid was administer* ed. One old man died at the theatre The paucity of the details may he explained by the fact that many ol the injured were taken to the surrounding buildings where they received attention without being reported to the hospitals. So far the names of the dead are unknown. SYDNEY, duly go. Advices received at a late hour from Melbourne state that there were no deaths in the verandah crash. Three of cue. hundred, arc injured seriously. SHORE I.F.AYK AT SYDNEY. SYDNEY, duly 24. In fine weather, one thousand of tin personnel ol the American fleet ai. to-day enjoying a taste ol shore leave The streets are everywhere enlivened bv group- of dark-blue uniformed an' white-capped sailorinen. with a sprinkling of the marines, distinguished by their light blue nether garments, undei dark jumpers.

All the sailorinen are busy shoppers discussing the goods in the shop via (lows, and sight seeing. Altogothei they are a fraternal crowd, readily co li versa ting with the people in the streets, and Ireely expressing their opinion on things Australian. Mostly thev are complimentary in their opm-

ions. A number of them are taking advantage of being outside the hounds ol the dry regime, and are finding then way to the hotels. On the whole, the visitors display less uniformity of stature, are thinner in the flank, not so well up. and are decidedly of a more niixfd nationality compared with the personnel of the British navy. Three parties, totalling seven hundred strong, have left on picnic excursions, which will be continued daily.

SYDNEY, July 21. Over live thousand men of the American Fleet six'll! a long day making themselves acquainted with the city, and enriching the shopkeepers by freelv spending their money. To-day’s and to-niglil’s hmciioiis included a turtle i exchange of official call-. and a Parliamentarv reception to (.be Admirals and officers by the English speaking Luioii. The Lord .Mayor, Alderman P. Stokes, gave a smoko concert to the warrant officers. 'I here was a dance at Government. 11 m e.

PR ESI DENT < 001.1 DOE'S STATEMENT. NEW YORK. July 23

President Ooolidge has is.-ued tlm following oils la I sfateilieni ; I he 1 v-.ei-como pel ordod to the American Fiord on its arrival in Australian v.aieis bv the Government and people ol the Con, moll wealth is mod -..red Hying. -My hope is that ti- vi'it of the American f.T-.et to the far Pm ifie will . iKpha sitin' cordial relations which now exist between tie- Failed -lade- and ether nations of the world.

Rll \AYLS AND DRINK EXNT.SS. (Receive! this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. July 23. The American Jack ashore failed to Impress the Sydneyites tavoiuabß . Perhafs Ibis was due to the small minority. but there were mnnv regrettable brawls and cases of drunkenness the first tree day the visitors’ experienced .