Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-10-07
CHAPTER Ill


in the southerly third of California, a
tains one hundred and fifty thousand.
At that rate but very small portion of
the vast area of this extreme western
state was under cultivation; in fact
most of 1t seemed only fit for cattle
raising. Who could have imagined that
such a brilliant destiny awaited this
faraway region, whose only communica-
ton with the world was by the wagon
trains of overland routes and the sim
gle line of coasters touching at its prin-
cipal seaports? And yet as far back as
1860 there was little nucleus of town
few miles back from the coast north
of the bay of San Diego. Hence the city
Of that name may justly claim the honor
OF being the oldest settlement on Cali
fornian soil The bay of San Diego is
q superb one. Twelve miles long by
two wide it not only affords necessary
anchorage for merchantmen but sufh-
cient accommodation for q squadron,
the port ranking as a naval station.
Oval in form and having narrow en-
trance opening TO the west between
Island point and Iona or Corando
point the harbor Is shut in on all sides
The off coast gales don't reach IT and
>-------- ---~--is -irs.,- "a ---i- =
ncavy sS~s s~---~~-y --rF-- -
There's no trouble getting out or in,
there being minimum depth of twen-
tY-three feet
In 1885 San Diego had a population
of fifteen thousand; to-day it has
thirty-fve thousand Its first railroad
dates from 1881. Now the Atlantic &
Pacifc, the Southern California and
the Southern Pacific roads make it
psrt and parcel Of the great continental
railway system, while the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company brings it In fre-
ouent communication with San Fran
cisco. It is a handsome and agreeable
city, healthful in location and with
climate in praise of which language
has already been exhausted.
Like most American cities, San
Diego is fun of life and activity and
very methodicaI withal In the hurly
burly of its business affairs. If move
ment be manifestation of life it ex-
lists here is to an intense degree. The
day is hardly long enough for busi-
ness transactions. But il this vas the
case with those whose instincts and In
clinations hurled them into this whirl-
pool, 1t did not apply to those lives
which were drawn out into intermin-
able rounds of leisure. When things
come to a standstill time becomes a
great laggard-
And this was Mrs. Aliaire's expert
ence after the sailing of the Dread
naught. Since her marriage her hus-
bands labors had entered more or less
into her life. Even when he was not
absent on trip, Capt. Johns rela-
tions with the house of Hollister g. Co.
kept him busy. Besides the part
which he took in the business affairs of
the firm, he had been commissioned to
watch the construction of the clipper
ship OF which he was destined to be
the commander. With what zeal, YES,
almost affection did he supervise the
work even to its smallest details. 1t
was like the loving care of the man
who is engaged in building home In
which to end his days. But it was
even more than this, for ship is not
only a house, it is not only an instru-
ment of fortune, it is fabric OF wood
and iron to which precious human
lives are to be intrusted. Moreover,
it is not, as II were, a detached ffrag-
ment Of native soil, which is borne
back home by wind and wave only to
be carried away again, and which in
the end destiny unfortunately does not
always permit to return to the port
out Of which 1t first drifted.
Molly had very frequently accom-
panied Captain John to the shipyard.
These timbsrs resting upon the inclined
keel, these ribs so like the skeleton of
some vast marine mammal, this plank
ing already in position, this hull with
its complex outlines, this deck pierced
by the broad matches for loading and
unloading, these masts lying on the
ground biding their time to be placed
in position, the interior arrangements,
the crews quarters, the quarter deck
and it's cabins-was not all this suf-
ficient to interest her? Was it not her
husbands life and the life Of his COM
panions which the Dreadnaught would
shield from and defend against the gales
of the PaciHs? Hence there was not a
single plank which in Molly's imagina-
ton John might not in some emergency
stand in need Of for the safety of his
Life; nor did blow Of hammer re-
sound amidst all the noise and turmoil
of that shipyard which did not find an
echo In her heart
John took pleasure in initiating her
In the mysteries Of the work, pointing
out the destination Of each piece OF
metal, explaining to her the vessels
speed as indicated by the plan of con-
struction. Molly learned to love this
ship of which her husband was to be the
soul and next to God the master!
The house occupied by John Aliaire
stood upon one of tho loftiest terraces
of the heights which shut in the north
side of the bay. 1t was sort of Swiss
cottage, surrounded by a garden contain
ing orange and olive trees and shut in
by plain wooden fence. A ground floor
with veranda In front, upon which
opened the front door and the windows
Of the parlor and dining-room, second
story with n balcony extending it's en-
tire length, and above this the gable
end, the sloping rafters of which were
richly carved-such was this very sim
pie but very attractive habitation. The
parlor and dining-room, modestly fur
nished, occupied the ground floor, above
them were two rooms, Mrs. Allaire's
and one devoted to the comfort of little
Walt; in the rear there was q small an
mex used fo- the kitchen and the serv-
ants. This was the home in which the
captains wife must now face the long
hours of absence. The baby's nurse
and one servant were it's only other oc-
cupants. The only visitors were Mr..
and Mrs. Barker, the husband rarely,
the wife frequently.
Mr.. Andrew Hollister, as he had
promised, often called to see the young
wife, being anxious to carry her any
news of the Dreednaught which might
reach him directly or indirectly. Before
any letters can reach their destination
the maritime journals contain lists OF
vessels spoken, their touching at this
port or that or any other happenings al
sea which might be of interest to ship
pers. Molly would therefore be kept
well posted.
The first few days were specially