The Red Cloud chief., 1895-09-06
ESPECIAL CoRuEspoNDENCE.l

! ''s D'rh W Il haNO iut u
: make good my promise to write to Tn
= CHEF. yet | scarcely know where to be
gin. might tell you something OF tn
] Naval Academy, our voyage across tn
Atlantic with storm, and that desire /
stop. for a few minutes, the rolling an,
pitching OF the ship. which was expert
! ence enough for the first week; tn,
whales, flying and ether species Of fsl
seen; the capturing Of a shark, which
was very exciting fun: II wal during
calm while near the Saragossa sea ant
on the other side Of the Tropic Of Canoe
that a bluejacket caught him on a hook
two ropes we're then put around his body
was shot twice and hoisted on board, Of
course we kept at the other end Of thu
line as the shark was far from dead, but
soon expired. He was. an ugly looking
fellow and his razor like teeth could
easily destroy anything that they once
got hold Of.
When anchored in Hampton Roads
the cadets were permitted to visit Fort.
ress Monroe and a neighboring summer
resort and Of course all had to look at
the water where the Monitor and Merri.
mac fought. The Monongahela is now
anchored at the mouth of the Potomac
and will arrive at Annapolis on the 2sth
inst.
But | must tell you Of Madeira. As
soon ms the ship was anchored in the
roadstead in front Of Funchal, Madeira,
we were surrounded by bumboats and
other smaller boats containing small
naked, dark colored boys, who hailed us
with "Heave, l dive" The cadets threw
several small pieces OF money into the
water and 1t was amusing to zee them
dive for them, although the water was
seventy-ive fathoms deep, the boys new.
or failed to get the coin before it had
sunk too far. The bumboat men had
fruit and various small things for sale
and succeeded in selling several silver
rings made Of pewter and some gold (?)
ones. MADEIRA is about one half the
size OF Webster county. Funchal, it's
principal town containing about 5000
people, is situated on the mountain side
and reaches to the waters edge. The
mountains shut out all the moisture
laden winds from the northeast but they
have no difficulty in irrigating the soil.
Our party assembled the mountain on
o train. over a cog road similar to the
one on Pixies Peak, Col. While moving
slowly up the mountain one car enjoy
the fine scenery and tropical verdure OF
Madeira. In many places two crops
we're growing on the same ground. The
side OF the mountain has been converted
into an ampitheatre, on these benches
may be seen gardens Of many kinds Of
vegetables, groves Of fig, orange, banana,
etc, and more than oil else Vineyards of
grapes which are the principal product
OF the island and from which q very
large quantity Of wine is made. The
largest grain fielde contain not more
than one quarter Of an acre Of land. A
little farther up, and we are on the edge
OF a deep canon, at the bottom Of which
10 a brook, the waterfalls, tropical flowers,
rocks and ferns Of many kinds make
this an ideal spot for the naturalist.
We ascend only to the clouds, from here !
a fine view Of the city and harbor may
be had. In the descent VIZ deserted the
train for Il vehicle none of us had seen
before, a basket on runners somewhat
resembling the sledge Of the Esquimaux,
the attraction OF gravitation with a
Dago on behind to guide the sled was all
that was needed. The road like the
streets OF the city was paved with small
smooth stones from the seashore, was
very narrow and had stone buildings or
q stone wall on both sides 80 that there
was no danger Of leaving il and the
guide takes good care that you do not
get a chance to break it down. The
smoothness OF the pavement and the
many sharp turns make the decent seem
dangerous and when going at q speed Of
20 miles an hour, a sharp angle appear
ed ahead. l turned to see il the guide
had fallen OIL and was ordered to sit
still, yet after getting your breath a lit
tie farther down, you enjoy the descent
and soon reach the lower part Of the
city,
l took supper in a Portuguese hotel,
got on very we'll until / ordered ice
cream and the waiter brought a plate OF
fish. Very few speak English. Only
tho children Of rich parents go to school
and all the boye have to enter the army
Mt a very early age. They have u good
love OF money and seem to think all
foreigners have plenty. The richer class
take their afternoon drive in a sled COW
cred with a canopy and resembling a
bus ON runners, this is drawn by 9 pair
OF red oxen, the coachman walking at
| thnte ct1a 4 I.l ~ -.