The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-06-14
On Board the Oregon.
From Callao, Peru, to Rio de
Janeiro.
A Trip on Which the Eyes Of the World
We're Focused.

; The following private letter
from Henry Jenson to his parents
in the city was received recently.
The letter was not intended for
publication or a thorough write
Cup of the trip, but through the
kindness of Mr.. and Mrs. Jensen
5 we have the pleasure of giving
our readers a glimpse Of sea life
with it's responsibilities as seen by
one on board the Oregon during
|its perilous trip around South
America.
CALLAo, PERU, APRIL 6.
We leave here tomorrow, and
will probably not stop until we
reach Rio Janeiro. The Marietta
has hurried ahead and will meet
us in the straits of Magellan. Her
object being to seize the Straits
and hold them until we come. It
is rumored that the Spanish cruz
5 ser and a torpedo boat at Monte
video has started south with the
intention of sinking us in the
Straits. We may have to force
our way through. There are a
great many Spaniards here, and
there is a rumored plot to blow us
; up. We run a strong night pa
troll of steam launches for protec-
ton. Chill is so unfriendly that
5 it is deemed too risky to coal
there. We are practically in the
}enemy's country.
SANDY POINT. CHILL, APRIL II.
Dear Father and Mother;
We have made
a great run from Callao, and fin
}ished today by a grand burst of
speed. But first let me tell you
where we are for [ Doubtful is on
}your map. Sandy Point is about
half way through the straits of
Magellan, and on the main land.
II is a small coaling place where
Pacific steamers from Europe get
coal and necessary supplies. A
steamer is due here tonight from
Valparaiso for Europe and will
take our mail. Now let NE give
you short account of what has
happened.
When at Callao, we got urgent
orders to make all speed to Rio
Janeiro, but to be very careful in
passing through the Straits as it
was feared that Spain had sent a
torpedo boat to intercept us there
and blow US up. In view of
this fact the Marietta was ordered
to hurry with all possible dispatch
to the straits or Sandy Point and
hold them against any suspicious
vessel. Meanwhile we slipped out
of Callao in dense fog, having
first spread the news that we were
going back to San Francisco. We
5 had good weather and when we
entered the straits we loaded all
the guns, got up ammunition. and
stood by to sink any vessel that
NAV be an enemy. We got here
tonight and have kept our
search lights playing on every
thing moving in the bay. To our
surprise the Marietta has not got
here yet, and we are little curl
GUS in regard to her. We just
learned that war was not declared
up to the 10Th of April. AS far
as we are concerned. it might as
well be, for we are doing war duty
and are practically in all enemy's;
country for every body is Spanish
here. While at Callao, we kept a
heavy patrol around the ship for
there was a rumor Of plot to
blow us up. We would most
certainly fire into any ship that
showed the least signs of an at
tempt on us, or even flies the
Spanish flag and does not lmmedi-
}ately surrender. The Spanish
torpedo boat was at Montevedio.
when last heard of. She left that
port and headed south, when it
was thought that we were to pass
through. send page that | IN