The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-01-22

from letter written by Midshipman
R. F. Lopez to his father and mother,
in this city. 1t will be seen that he
had quite rough and exciting voy-
age. We trust we will be able to
give other letters from him soon.
U. s. S. QuENNEBANG,
Orr VILLEPRANcHE, FRANCE,
Dec. %, 1879.
* * x
From the time | joined the Constel-
lation in New York, up to the hour of
sailing, I had as much as / could do,
as the ship was fitting out for sea.
When this was accomplished, we left
New York harbor, with the intention
of going directly to Gibraltar. but had
to come to anchor off Sandy Hook.
There we remained about week wait
inr for a favorable wind; at last 1t
came, and on Nov. Sd, just as the
sun was setting behind the Highlands.
| took a last LOOK at my native land
for two years. The first part ct the
voyage was very pleasant, but after
we had been out two weeks, we were
caught in one of those terrible storms
which prevail around the Azore Is
lands. This lasted about five days,
during which time life aboard ship
was very disagreeable. | wish you
could have seen us eating meals. One
morning, l took nay breakfast, which
consisted of piece of bread and a cup
of coffee, holding ON to a post, as the
ship was rolling SO it was impossible
to sit at the table. Sometimes all the
dishes (although..we had racks to Sc
cure them) would roll off the table on
the deck. About the fifth day after
the storm began, we met with quite
an adventure; just before day, light
was reported astern of US, and when
day broke, it proved to be an Austro-
Hungarian bark who signalled us for
assistance. The life boat was lowered
ana sent off to her. and, as the sea
was running very..high, this was quite
dangerous. The boat returned with
the Captain and several Of his crew.
He informed US that the bark's name
was "Oliva," bound from New York
to Trieste; that she had been caught
in the same gale through which we
had passed; that his rudIer had been
carried away and the ship was leaking
rapidly; his men having been at the
pumps night and day for three days.
lie wished to abandon his ship as she
would sink in few hours. We sent
the boat back for the rest of the crew,
finally all were gotten safely aboard
the Constellation, and more thanks
ful set of men | never saw in my life.
We set fire to the bark and when she
sahk, we continued on.our course. On
the 81 of Dec, we came to anchor III
the harbor of Gibralter. The rock
as you enter the harbor is certainly a
grand sight. From distance the
outlines resemble a crouching lion,
but when you get nearer, the resem>
blance is not 50 plain. At the foot
of the rock is the town of Gibralter,
quite picturesque little place; the
houses being very old and the streets
narrow. The inhabitants ale of rather
motley character, consisting of Span
iards, English, Moors and Turks, all
dressed in the costumes of their re-
spective countries. The fort is cut
in the rock. / think in all there are
about three hundred guns in it. Six
thousand men are stationed there al!
the time. One of the regiments is
the 18th Highlanders. They wear
the Highland dress. l don't think |
ever saw a finer looking body Of men.
There is an old Moorish castle here,
which know would interest you. 1t
is about thousand years old, having
been built sometime in the 9th centu-
ry. have not visited it, but shall
probably go the next time We are in
Gihralter. From that place we went
to Barcelona and remained two days.
| did not see much of it. This city
is renowned for its bull fights. If we
had remained until Sunday, should
have had Il chance to see one. dc
not think, however, | should have
gone. We arrived here three days
| ago, and will probably stay two or
three weeks. Villefranche is not
much of place, but it is only two
miles to Nice, and about half an
hours ride from Monte Carlo.
have not yet been to Nice, but went
to Monte Carlo last night. This, you
know, is the great gambling spot OF
Europe now. 1t has taken the place
of Baden. 1t is owned by the Prince
of Monte Carlo, vino rents the grounds
to the propriesors of the gambling ta'
hles. The building and grounds are
the most magnificent that | have evel
seen. You go there at night and see
crowds of ladies dressed in the mos
elegant style, sitting around the table:
playing. | don't think any womer
in the world have So much taste il
dress as the French. Then they have
| IL = e.a,t o,ob o.tr, =. D.. N;tl