The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-06-20
Letter from Midshipman Ford.
rs Colorado, Tou.on Franc

Au.Dralo. IDu.ul- Fft-ilfr
Nay g. 1896
The last letter ] wrote yOa was nom
Naples. Vel. We left that placeior Kaierno
in the island u Sicily. Palermo hasa good
harbOr. and the city 4 very nice. a soon
az / got ashore there found guide aud
carriageanItold him 20 take me 70 all he
places o. curiosity and Interest FIRST We
we're driven 10 me CatacomOs. u presume
YOU have heard Of the CaiacomDs OF Pal
emo, Ne vent into a la-se, building. al4
through long hail, that took us up 10 the
wall. when the Porter opened little door
disclosing q long fight Of stone Steps. We
le-rended these about sixty feet, coming
70 a long Pas age, and as Be Ra.Aee a.caS
there were Skeletons on each side Of the
subterranean passage. We walked Tor
about one hour turning all manner Of corn
ers and crooks, and al along vas nothing
but dead bodies aud finally We found our
.eives az the foot OF the stairs where We
had first started, and ascending we drove
away. The next place We went 10 was the
Kings gardens. and while we were walking
through, al " a sudden Little streams u
rga.er seemed 20 spring out Of the ground
and wet ns an over. Pretty soon 10 stop
ped. and come 70 ind out they we're water
ing the Garden while We we're there. We
then walked 10 q little house with three Or
four leading up 20 o. Well, rs we put our
feet on the steps. 10 70 NJ 70 the house
door opened, and there stood wax figure
all Id Rb.te--Ii w. -OOk our ieet oil. tne
door would close i We put them Oh, j
yOnid OPEN Il was managed hy clock
work. We eit the gardens and went
aboard. While lying 40 Palermo, We found
i. d ufaN
examinai on lt appeared that the propeller
vas wearing q hole in the -hips side, 80 Tie
Admiral thought he had better have Aer
nut on DRY dock. The sl0op OF war
TicOnderOga was sent 10 Toul0n 10 make
arrangements 10 receive the Colorado. and
On MAJ 2nd al O'Clock ID the morning the
Colorado babe adieu 10 Palermo, and pOin-
fed her bow toward TOuiOn. We had
-plendil weather, but were Decaimed two
LAYS, and The Admiral getting tired oil such
slow wOfK, llOr We did not Dare % steam
up az we might spring q ieak. ordered the
4. = FrOlic four cOnsOrr 20 take Us 10
town. She did so and az We had splendid
weather.. every night alter supper the band
would play and altogether We mad a line
line. May 5th ne passed through the
straits Of BOuiiaciO, and along up the coast
% ONi-lidr AIf l1AdIu NllFlt -NAIDiNOu FAT
born and Onthe morn OF the sth we reached
TOulOn. There are great many men Of
var and iron clads here. We expect to
stay here about two months, aud are going
on ;he stocks about the 10th Of Nav. We
have got 20 getOnt all Of the coal, the great
guns, shot, she'll powder &c, before We
can 90 on the dock. There are men that
come out and dive 20 measure the bottom
ID the ship, 80 as TO have every thing ready
for her 20 20 on the dOck We shalt all 20
ashore and live until everything is ready
for us to 20 20 sea again. The vessels that
belong TO this Fleet are the Flag ship Colo
RADIO, TicOnderOga, Canandaigua and the
Gun boat kearsage. (the one that sunk the
Alabamal. This ship was sent TO cruise
around the coast Of Africa, and they caught
the fever, and lost seven men and six Off
GERS. she is now lying IN Lisbon The
was sent TO cruise around
Ireland think have seen q little of the
world, Int after al there s no place like
Ivy own home
NELLY FORD.