The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-12


Leaving the Sabine river behind
| the boys OF the good ship United States
steamer Texas, We're ut home Every
thing was theirs. Orange our first sta
,ion' over, the line turned out en-
fnasse, as we were expected, and gave
US ar, ovation proper to the boys of the
Dattleship Texas" the namesake OF
| their State
Liberty was our next halt and here
the boys were allowed to have exercise
anu liberty on the station platform.
All SORTS or outdoor sports were in
oulEed in-jumping, running, etc. Top
sy. our mascot. had her usual romp.
tropsy Is q little fox terrier. and was the
mascot OF the Texas before that good
snip Went out OF commiSsion)
"hile the boys were having Il good
time. the news soon travelled over the
town that the long-looked-ror train had
arrived and the small boys of the town
were in great glce The older folks
formed and talked In little groups. and
looked upon us with admiration Our
caps Haunting the name. ~ s. S.
Texas, seemed to satisfy and please
them Those who could cheer and hur-
rah did SO as the train departed and u
right royal farewell they gave us
SO FAR the boys have enjoyed the trim
hugely. AT Beaumont an old man ac-
costed another by saying. What have
we here 2? and the proud reply from the
other was why. the Texas Navy"
also was surprised 10 hear n ;suilcless
reporter ask the question. What due:;
Z. 5. ). Monadnock mean?' His sub
lime ignorance is typical of the utterly
uncducatcd condition OF the interior of
our country as regards their glorious
navy.
This train is practically n missionary
train and the Navy Department buildcd
better than they knew when they adopt
ed this method of sending men to the
Pacific coast. 1t Is Il tactical object
lesson to the interior of the country and
the fruits of the experiment arc mani
FOLD. Were n train similar to this one
with II like freight sent carecrin:r
through our land monthly our haysecd
legislators and representatives in Con
GrcSs would not be so nvcrsc to voting
on appropriations for the increase OF the
navy
We are now under full sail for Hous-
ton. our next port, steering w. by AS.
making about twenty-five knots an hour
| AS we 40 further West and South we
run into the rainy season. The country
| is looking fine and covered with cattle.
Plenty of pasture, and we trust. that the
Lone star state will shine in great pros
pcrity this year and forever.
Where is there another country which
has such IL state. both in size and
wealth? Long live the Texans and long
ilont the noble ''Texus."
At y. III. we dropped anchor at IIous-
ton. The entire city had assembled al
the depot. white and black, large and
small. ana were delighted TO see us
Every tongue waGgcd for every minute
we remained. 1t was. no doubt the
most exciting time of the young ladies'
| lives. a. sailors are scarce and soldiers
plentiful. so Tie change was agreea BILE to
all. The young men seemed to wish
, that they were with. and one of us How.
l, look a ,r
eye while The girls were lionizing us
The colorcd contingent crowded around
the car containing the colorcd sailors
and. no doubt. felt proud to see their
color represented in Uncle SANS Navy.
Rosenberg. 200 miles from New Or
leans, was reached at I:l5 D. m
| There is quite 4 building boom In this
state. rs in every direction you can see
Pew buildings being constructed The
ranches are now undergoing cultivation
and the farmers busy for the coming
crops We arrived at San Antonio at
| l0:20 p. IN.
The md-winter fair is now open at
this place and the State officials tcle-
era phed the officers in charge of our
train that reception committee would
| meet us on or arrival and show the
boys a large time, but as the train had
unfortunately lost SO much time, Lieu
| tenant Roper thought it not advisa BILE
! 10 stop, and instead Of arriving at G.
as was expected. 1890 was late for n
starting point of a good time so It
| had to be given up. At 6 o'clock we
understood the San Antonions had come
out In large numbers, with bands and
! soldiers to give us the full benefit Of
a great ovation.
Under the crcumstS noes and con,
sidering the short stop we made they
gave us as hearty and warm a reccn-
| tino as heart could wish and a most
| pleasing send Off
During the night we made up for lost
time. and talk of rolling. Give me the
roll Of a ship in q heavy sea instead of
the roll of railroad car at n fast rate
OF speed We are now ploughing along
| at IL fine rate of speed, passing along the
| foot hills of the Sierra Nadre Noun
| thins. The morning is cool, but clear
the boys are up and smiling. We have
! had breakfast in the dining car. and
| are now sitting back on the cushions
| enjoying both the scenery. cigars and
| cigarettes. The outside world believes
| that the officers do not have any great
| feeling for the boys. They would think
quite differently If they were along 10
see how our comforts are looked out for
Lieutenant Roper, who goes as naviga-
| tor on the Manadnock. Is always with
| us. giving the boys playing cards to
pass away the time and distributing
box after box OF cigarettes to all. Hur
rnh for Lieutenant Roper!
| WHO are we? Who are we?
| Bows of the new navy