The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-03-04
WAR PREPARATION
What MankatO Travellers Saw
In the South.
Intere sting Sights and Scenes in Texas
and at New Orleans.-.War Ships
and FOrtificatiOns.

P. W. Pitcher and wife, who re-
tur ned Monday afternoon from their
southern trip, had very enjoyable
time. They spent considerable por-
tion of their time near Galveston,
Texas, and also took in the Mardi
Gras festivities at New Orleans.
While in Texas, Mr.. Pitcher did some
quail hunting, having secured the
services of good dog. He found the
quail there to be apparently the same
as Minnesota quail. He saw few
ducks there, but the weather was so
warm that they had mostly migrated
north. Between Omaha and Sioux
city, Mr.. Pitcher on his return trip
saw millions of wild fowl in the open
water, and believes that the flight
this year will be unusually early.
While at Galveston. Mr.. and Mrs.
Pitcher saw the American warships
riding at anchor in the roads. They
spent half day on board the battle
ship Texas, which they found to be a
terrible fighting machine. 1t was as
clean as a parlOr. and shone in white
paint and gilded masts. Visitors
were not admitted to the fortitica-
tions on shore. where work was being
pushed forward as rapidly as possible.
A big gun arrived on specially con-
structed car, and was guarded by a
company of militia, which pitched it's
tents beside the car, until it was
taken to the Notifications. The gun
weighed thirty tons, and the car had
double sets of trucks and truss sup
ports, making it as strong as bridge
and capable of carrying fifty tons
Mr.. Pitcher found much more of a
military spirit in the South than in
the North. There was great excite.
ment when the news Of the. blowing
up of the Maine was received.
At New Orleans, Mr.. Pitcher visit.
ed the site of the Exposition grounds
He found the monument of MankatC
stone toppled over and broken apart.
He took photograph of the remains.
He took a number of photographs OF
interesting scenes while on his trip,
about 112 in all, and will develop
them as he gets time.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pitcher did not 60 to
Port Arthur, although they passed
twenty miles from there. They did
not receive a favorable report Of the
place, and did not care to 60 there,
Mr.. Pitcher talked with ship
captain who witnessed the explosion
on the Maine. The captain highly
praised Capt. Sigsbee's GOODNESS at
the trying moment. The Spanish
cruiser Alfonso XII turned it's search
light on the wreck for ten minutes.
and that was the only light had, ex-
cept from the burning ship. Capt.
Sigsbee stood above the others as cool
as though on dress parade and gave
his orders. When the Spanish boats
rowed up, he ordered them away, ap-
parently having suspected treachery,
and being anxious that the Spaniards
should not have an opportunity to get
the cipher code on board the Maine.
After everybody had been picked up
from the water and taken from the
ship, which was steadily sinking,
Capt. Sigsbee boarded his own gig
and left the wreck.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pitcher brought
home with them two living souvenirs
of their trip in the form of little
alligators, which they will endeavor
to keep alive.