Aug. 29, 1908 (Saturday)

MELBOURNE GREETS THE FLEET: The U.S. Navy's fleet has reached Melbourne, Australia. The ships began passing Port Phillip Heads and entered the spectacular Port Phillip Bay (shown above, as seen from space -- long after the fleet left!) about 11:20 a.m. on the 29th. Along the entire 30-mile stretch to the anchorage, the ships were greeted by "a continuous ovation from the shore and a vast excursion fleet."
To get a sense of the effect the visit had on Aussie-U.S. relations, here's a description, from the Times, of the greeting:
Turning the Headlands and pointing their noses toward the city the vessels of the fleet were greeted by fifty Queenscliff fishing boats, gayly beflagged, and the British cruiser Psyche, which boomed a welcome of thirteen guns and dipped its flay to the Connecticut, which was in the van. Simultaneously there belched forth from the American flagship an answering salute and her flag at the fore was dipped to the British Union Jack. The small populace of Queenscliff had been augmented had been augmented by thousands of visitors, all of whom crowded the shore to witness the passage of the American armada.
Craft of every kind doted the bay, and there was a constant exchange of salutes between them and the American ships. Sirens screeched a welcome and small cannon boomed from the decks of the Australian pleasure craft, while the flags of the visiting ships were constantly dipped in answer. The procession up the bay was stately and imposing. The fleet was sixteen minutes passing a given point as it steamed in accurate alignment toward the city. The guns of the shore batteries and the ships resounded over the placid waters of the bay and were re-echoed by the surrounding hills.
All that flag-dipping seems totally appropriate and relaxed -- very unlike the flag-dipping position the U.S. has taken at the Olympics.

ERRONEOUS NEWS REPORTS LEADS TO 500 MARRIAGE PROPOSALS: A drawing is scheduled to take place in Duluth, Minn., on Sept. 15 for LAND at the Fond du Lac Reservation. One of the people who has been dutifully keeping space in line is Mrs. Anna Rowe. She is holding the spot for her husband. However, news reports in Duluth, St. Paul and Minneapolis papers have said hat she is UNMARRIED. During the past two weeks, she has fielded nearly 500 offers to get married, "and they are still coming in," according to an article in today's New York Times. She's not paying attention. She is holding the place in line for Mr. Rowe, her husband.