Warren sheaf., 1898-08-11
INVASION OF CANADA
by
MINNESOTA EDITORS.
(Continued.)

Yes, our visit to Vancouver will
not soon be forgotten. We were
most cordially welcomed, and right
royalty entertained. The delightful
trip on Burrard Inlet in the stern
wheeler Rothesay, chartered for our
benefit by the citizens, the delicious
refreshments on board, the friendly
meeting and greeting OF many OF the
good people Of the city, the rich
luncheon spread for us at Hotel Van-
couver, all showed that no efforts
were spared to make our visit enjoy
able. The towering mountains in
the distance, the wooded slopes, the
beautiful sheet of water, the clear
sky, the ships at the, wharf. and the
spires and domes OF the thrifty young
city-all combined to make scene
enchanted that afternoon on the In
let. Vancouver, a city scarcely a
dozen years old, has.now popula-
tion OF 2O,O00. Its large, handsome
and substantial buildings, mostly Of
stone, and paved streets, gives a
good impression, and shows that
there is energy and enterprise among
the people. Considerable building
was going on at the present time.
Being the terminus Of the railroad
and possessing magnificent harbor,
it is surely destined to be a very
large city. f..
We left Vancouver at p. m. on
the steamer Charmer bound for Vic
toria, on Vancouver Island, 81 miles
distant, arriving there at midnight.
This short voyage was a novel and
very interesting feature of the trip.
Grand indeed was the scene as our
ship glided on the waves in the Strait
OF Georgia. the tall summit Of Mt.
Baker looking at US from state OF
Washington, while the sun descended
in hues of purple and gold.
Landing at Victoria we were soon
comfortably quartered at the Driard
Hotel. Next morning we started out
to see the magnificent new parlia-
ment building, a very beautiful stone
structure, containing all the provin-
cial Offices, museum, etc. In the
museum there was a. great deal to
interest us: and wish our stay there
could have been prolonged. The
collection of Indian relics is especially
large and interesting. The freedom
OF the city OF Victoria was extended
to our party and street car passes
were given us SO that we could go
wherever fancy led.
A visit to Her Majesty's. Naval
Station at Esquimalt, about three
miles distant, gave, us an opportuni-
ty to see and examine a. modern
battleship and other naval craft OF
the British North Pacific squadron.
Our entire party boarded the flagship
lmpereuse, being conveyed thither
from the shore inseveral small boats.
The vessel is a frst-class cruiser, of
about 5000 tons displacement car
rying four 9-inch guns, several 6-inch
guns, and many OF smaller caliber,
rapid fire guns, etc. The captain and
/; officers on board showed ns every
leourtesy and we We're permitted to
examine the whole ship from top to
! bottom. The part above the water
line appeared to a novice too frail to
withstand the rain Of shot and shell,
/ but the battery looked formidable
and extremely dangerous. Tie tor
pedo boats and torpedo boat des-
troyers were frail looking vessels,
and we do not wondersnow that they
played SO small part in our late
naval battles. Having descended
into the small boats and as we were
leaving the ships side our entire par
ty. joined in singing God Save the
Queen, the officers and crew cheering
us in return. The barracks, arsenal
and immense dry dock were also in
|spected.
On the vest coast.the civilizations
Of the orient and the occident have