The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-03-02

Hrites gn Interesting Letter Home Regard
ing Ms Cruising.

/ ter written To his mother, Mrs. q. NJ
Barnes, by Ensign Bart Barnes, whC
was enormously reported drowned il
the waters OF Ceylon. Ensign Barnei
Is now aboard the United States war
ship Vicksburg, and the letter is writ
ten while en- route from Newport tc
st. Thomas, West Indies
MY Dear Mother This is written
on our twentieth day at ses, and W.
are right IN the thick OF the small
West Indian islands. They are 90
called from the fact that what il
known as the trade winds blow from
the southesstward about ten months
Of the year, ard nearly ell the other
small islands are to windward OF them.
ST. Thomas, our fret port, is one ol
these small islands, though about tho
most thicklY populated. We expect 10
90 in Sunday morning, when this will
be sent l left a postal card with the
cable company, which is to be for.
warded TO you through friend as
soon as the official cablcgram reaches
the United States announcing our safe
ARRIVAL in st. Thomas. We have had
an exceptionally pleasant cruise Sc
far, as regards weather Bright moon.
light nights, and no blows to amount
VIC we're three days out OF New port,
and the water had to be distilled,
making a somewhat salty and sure
enough aerated
eve keep q water monkey full,
which makes a difference OF ten to
fifteen degrees OF temperature. These
water monkeys are any form OF water
pots made OF earth, which when hung
fr,
to take place, thereby producing an
artificial lack Of heat, the same princi.
pie as evaporRting ammonia makes ice
THE things ! intend TO buy at St
Thomas are numerous and varied.
We 90 to CarAeco toward the end OF
the cruise, where l intend TO see a bull
fight
"Ihe first land we saw was night
before last aud it was in my watch
that 1t was discovered. 1t is Som brero
Island, = phosphorus deposit formed
by the sea. They fly the British naval
reserve flag. There ia o light on it
and 1t marks the best entrance TO the
sea, enclosed 10y the Windward islands
on the east aud the LeAward islands
on the north. About twenty people
live there in small frame houses
There is not tree on the island
which is about fiftY or sixty acres in
extent and the sea washes right over
it, The next in sight was Saba island
a mountain sticking right out OF the
sea 9, ESQ feet II can be seen fifty
miles with clear atmosphere.
est. Thomas is a Danish island and
our consul there is a negro
"For the last fifteen days have had
my daily bath in cold water and enjoy
this climate for that reason, having
been so far north most of the winter
"Millionaires spend their winters
coming here in their yachts to enjoy
this weather and spend thousands OF
lollars in this vicinity.
"rhe apprentice boys on board are a
great deal better lot than / expected
TO find them You know how | love
youngsters and there are about five OF
the brightest, quickest, cleanest little
fellows you ever saw in any division
Or. johnson took our pictures Sunday.
which | will send you. may not
look very natural TO you as l had o
two weeks growth Of scattered beard
1T the time
SUNDAY, February 6, we arrived
safely in st. Thomas Found Danish
gunboat and a Russian cru ser here,
besides Goelets yacht. We sent al
off GER to return the boarding calls OF
each man-ofwAr, aud TO inform our
negro consul OF our arrival and ask
nim when he will visit the ship Of.
deislly. He comes tomorrow and
am 10 go for him In one OF our boats,
then our captain will return bis call
This OF course is naval etiquette.
We expected TO find the United
states gunboat Annapolis here upon
our arrival but she was delayed at
Barbados. She also belongs with the
Vicksburg 10 the apprentice training
squadron.
The weather is extremely warm and
our captain refuses TO allow us to
wear our white uniforms This is cer-
tainly very pretty old place; very
quaint looking. II is built on three
,ummits which come down 10 the sea
separately, but are joined IN the
middle. These are named from the
tops Of the three masts of a ship-fore
main and mi2zsn-and the town Is
built the same distance upon each
The houses are all square with red
roof, fat topped and splendid looking
from sea. Several times Gay showers
pass over, produced by the varying
temperature of the trade winds and
the proximity Of the warm gulf stream.
understand that negoti ations are now
on between Denmark and the United
States looking toward the purchase OF
this island by the latter. II we can
purchase st Thomas why not receive
Hawaii as gift2 One is as necessary
10 the proper protection OF our inter
ests as the other.
One mess takes all the periodicals
New York Herald and the Washington
Post. They, with our mail from home,
will all come tomorrow, when we will
have feast Of reading
Wednesday, February Q, three OF
the officers were invited TO dine at the
governors. The invitation was worded
for three wArdroom officers No one
wanted TO go, so three were detailed.
| WAS neither on the visiting commit.
tee for the month, nor on duty, but
heard our dear popular executive
officer would detail me. / went 10 the
captain, as the regulations say he
shall appoint In such cases, told him |
did not desire to 90, and was not on
the visiting committee for the month
He ordered that the official Visiting
committee should go, which excused
mo from dining with our negro coun-
sell. Lots OF love 20 all VIII write
from st. Ketts in few days
"ST. THOMAS, ID w. Feb. Q, 1895 {"
Educate Your Bowels witt, Cascarets.
Candy Cafhartic curs couqtiuatfon for.Var