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Photo # NH 85503-KN:  Great White Fleet battleships in a Brazilian anchorage, January 1908

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The 1900s

World Cruise of the "Great White Fleet", December 1907 - February 1909
-- Visits to Trinidad and Brazil, December 1907 - January 1908

After leaving Hampton roads on 16 December, the sixteen Atlantic Fleet battleships steamed southeasterly at ten knots. On the morning of the 17th USS Maine's Midshipman Harold Bemis commented: "The thermometer is going up every hour." He also noted that "Maine is having trouble with its consumption of coal. One order received before we started was for an economical consumption of coal, we are hardly doing that." Bemis diligently recorded the amount of coal on board, showing that during the voyage's first week his ship burned some 120 tons daily, about a half-ton per mile and a third more than the other battleships' average.

Late in the afternoon of Monday, 23 December, following eight days and 1800 nautical miles of steaming in generally beautiful weather, the fleet anchored off Trinidad. Six days there were taken up with diplomatic visits, shore leave (described as "rather quiet"), shipboard Christmas celebrations, boat racing (won by Kansas) and the stop's main purpose: coaling ship. Bemis recorded that, in 31 hours of exhausting work, Maine loaded 1375 tons of the dirty fuel.

Returning to sea at 4 PM on the 29th, the fleet set course for Rio de Janeiro, some 3400 miles distant. Along the way, as Bemis remarked on 7 January, "The usual drills are held every day, things are going along smoothly without much excitement, the ships are keeping good distance, now and then there is some minor accident which causes one to sheer out of formation for a few minutes but it is soon remedied." The Maine's crew celebrated the New Year with a parade on deck, the ship's band accompanied by others banging on tin pans and tooting on horns. Her officers' close attention to fireroom practices, and a reduction in fresh water making, cut coal consumption. However, it was still excessive, only occasionally dropping below 100 tons a day. On 6 January, the equator was crossed, with traditional ceremonies executed on each ship.

On Sunday, 12 January 1908, the American battleships were met at sea by ships of the Brazilian Navy which escorted them into Rio de Janeiro harbor. That was the start of ten days of vigorous sightseeing, receptions, parties, entertainments, sporting events and, of course, coaling. The Torpedo Flotilla's six destroyers arrived on the 17th, having called at San Juan, Puerto Rico (7-12 December 1907), Trinidad (14-25 December), Para, Brazil (30 December-3 January) and Pernambuco, Brazil (10-13 January). On the evening of the 20th the battleships dazzled the harbor with an electric light illumination. The next day, after the destroyers stood out to sea, the fleet's officers returned the Brazilians' hospitality with a dance and reception on board the Minnesota. Following a generally wonderful time, Rio was left behind on the afternoon of Wednesday, 22 January. The sixteen battleships then shaped course for the far end of South America.

Note: Remarks quoted above are taken from the scrapbook and diary of Midshipman Harold M. Bemis. (Lot NHF-037 in the Naval Historical Foundation's Collection, held by the Photographic Section of the Naval Historical Center).

This page features views concerning the "Great White Fleet"'s southbound voyage to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and its visits to that city and to Trinidad.

For further pictorial coverage of the "Great White Fleet":

  • World Cruise of the "Great White Fleet", December 1907 - February 1909 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 106082

    Sailors swimming


    Alongside a battleship, at Trinidad. A boat boom is serving as a diving platform.
    This view was probably taken during the "Great White Fleet"'s visit to Trinidad in December 1907.
    Three other battleships are visible in the distance.

    Collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69571

    "Shellback" Certificate


    Illustration and headline of a certificate issued to Harry Howard after he crossed the Equator in USS Kansas (Battleship # 21) in January 1908, during the first leg of the "Great White Fleet" World cruise.
    Howard provided the following text with this image: "On the eve of January 4, 1908 another importent event occurred which all sailors do not see often. A sort of stillness seemed to have fallen over the sea - not a breath of air was stirring, and the same phosphorescence waters seemed to radiate the heat stored during the day from the sun's rays. Weird it seemed as streaks of light here and there burst from the surface of the water as a porpoise or dolphin darted across the bow of the ship. So quiet and dark as we sped along through the night towards the Equator, as we expected to cross it before morning. Shortly afterwards I received from Neptune Rex, a message which read 'You, Harry Howard, being a landlubber serving on board the USS Kansas and daring to enter our Equatorial Region without due ceremony - you are ordered to appear in person before His Majestic Court of Neptune Rex on January the 5th to explain your conduct and to accept most heartily the penalties of the awful torture that will be inflicted upon you.
    (Signed) Neptune Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main.'"

    Courtesy of Harry Howard, 1969.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 188KB; 1200 x 615 pixels
    ===================================== NOTE:
    The actual date of these festivities was 6 January, not 5 January as indicated above in Howard's narrative. For more views related to them, see World Cruise of the "Great White Fleet" -- Shipboard Activities -- Equator Crossing Festivities.

     
    Photo #: NH 85503-KN (color)

    U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battleships at Anchor

    Painting by G. Dall'aros, 1908, depicting three battleships of the "Great White Fleet" in a Brazilian anchorage, January 1908. One of the battleships has a collier alongside.
    The Brazilian cruiser Almirante Tamandare is in the left foreground.

    Courtesy of Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf, 1977.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 157KB; 1200 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106086

    "Great White Fleet" World Cruise
    ,
    December 1907 - February 1909

    "First mail from home" is distributed to crew members of a battleship, after the Atlantic Fleet's arrival at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in January 1908.

    Collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106194

    "Great White Fleet" World Cruise, 1907-1909


    Luncheon given by the Brazilian Minister of Marine, Rear Admiral Alexandrino de Alencar, for the Fleet's officers and men, Rio de Janeiro, January 1908.
    Rear Admiral Charles M. Thomas, Commander of the Fleet's Third Division, is seated fifth from left. Rear Admiral William H. Emory, Commander of the Fleet's Second Division, is seated seventh from left.
    The original print bears an inscription to RAdm. Emory, dated 20 January 1908.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Captain Nathan Sargent, donated by Mrs. Helen L. Sargent, 1948.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 191KB; 900 x 675 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 101481

    Brazilian Torpedo Launch


    In Rio de Janeiro harbor, Brazil, during the U.S. Atlantic Fleet's visit there while en route to the Pacific, circa 12-22 January 1908.
    The Brazilian cruiser in the center distance is either Marshal Deodoro or Marshal Floriano. The torpedo gunboat in the left distance is a member of the Brazilian Tupy class.

    Collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 101480

    Brazilian Cruiser


    In Rio de Janeiro harbor, Brazil, during the U.S. Atlantic Fleet's visit there while en route to the Pacific, circa 12-22 January 1908.
    This ship is either Marshal Deodoro (launched 1898) or Marshal Floriano (launched 1899).
    A U.S. Navy battleship is partially visible in the right background.

    Collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     


    For further pictorial coverage of the "Great White Fleet":

  • World Cruise of the "Great White Fleet", December 1907 - February 1909 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


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    Page made 21 October 2008
    Coding updated 13 April 2009