The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-05-27
RETURN OF THE OREGON.
The Famous Battleship Has Cruised
Back to the Waters OF
the Pacific.


From Florida to Bahia. From Bahia
to Callao. From Callao to Honolulu.
From Honolulu to Manila. A long trip
on the salt seas! The first time the
Oregon entered Bahia harbor it was
dark night. War had commenced, and
warning had been cabled that four
heavily armored cruisers and three tor
pedo boats would attempt to intercept
her. The return passage has been Q
peaceful one.
The stay of the special squadron at
Callao was most pleasant; nearly 1000
men We're given liberty. and their con.
duct while on shore was such as to re.
ceive praise from the press and public
officials. The papers even warned tho
visiting bluejackets of efforts which
would be made by those who live by
their wits to extort money from them
the rule of cabmen all over the world,
extortionate fares were demanded, tho
police quickly adjusted the matter.
Some old salts were satisfied to es-
tablish themselves within so yards of
the landing, where they could keep one
eye on the ships and the other on the
dispenser of pisco, with whom, as is
their custom, they had at once depos-
tied all the money they did not require
for their immediate needs.
Very few of the men, however, failed
to get to Lima, and there they were
found sightseeing everywhere. Every
bicycle in the city had a Jackie on it;
the merry-go-round was extensively
patronized, and every youngster in
sight had free ride. The women at
the pie and cake stands blessed them,
and so did the youngsters of the street,
who slowed away more sweet things
than they had ever dreamed of eat.
ing before. If a sailor could hold a
woman's baby in a street car he was
happy; he would have paid soles on
soles for the chance to play with the
children in the exposition grounds, and
sometimes did, much to their surprise
and pleasure; for good and bountiful
times follow Jack wherever he goes.
The people of Callao are drifting,
play-loving people, whose love of exc
element finds qualification in bull
fights and turbulent politics. The
leaders at times show out bravely, but
study of their actions demonstrates
that they differ from the masses only
in their more thorough knowledge of
the national character, and their abili.
ty to make capital from that linowl-
edge.
A young man Of good family, feeling
the necessity of asserting his bravery
or patriotism, may take part in an
amateur bullfight, with the assistance
of Spanish professional to see that he
comes to no serious harm.
On January IL that cver-changing
group of Uncle Sans ships, the special
squadron, left Callao for the Galapagos
islands. tits odd that now, just before
q final scattering, more ships were
steaming together than at any other
time in the long trip round. The
Justin, whose bottom was foul, was
Immediately detached and ordered to
proceed to Magdalena bay, Lower Cali
fornia, where the Iowa would await
her arrival. Three days later on, on
the 14th, the Iowa and Celtic were also
detached, leaving the Oregon, Scindia
and Iris to proceed to Honolulu by way
of the Galapagos islands. The Celtic,
after provisioning the Iowa ut Magda-
lena bay, was to proceed to San Fran
cisco with the mail, leaving the bat
tleship to await the arrival of the Jus.
tin with coal.
1t will be difficult to appreciate the
feelings with which the Oregon's crew
saw the Iowa steam away for home.
The two great ships, originally selected
western squadron, had steamed side by
side for many thousands of miles.
They had passed south through sum-
mer's heat and sitting Gains to gales
of sleet and snow, and then north again
into this blazing, rainless waste of
tropical sea. They had been shoulder
to shoulder in the blockade and bonn
bardments of Santiago, and together
they had headed for Cervera's ships on
the Sd of last July. Now the Iowa was
called home to the port the untried
Oregon had left year ago, while tho
latter was to go onto Honolulu, to
Manila, and to whatever may be de.
creed beyond.
But Jack, though at times shaken
with doubts, still chcrishes the adage
that every dog must have his day."
SO that with all the heartiness strong
lungs could give their voices the crews
of the two battleships cheered each
other on their way. There was moth
ing theatrical in this. At six degrees
south latitude and IS degrees west
longitude there were no observers-not
even a gull. There was only the hot,
pale-blue sky, the lonely, oily sea, and
the ships floating away from each
other flying signals of good-by and
pleasant voyage.
On January 1G the diminished squad
ron arrived at Charles island, the most
southern of the Galapagos group, and
tumble of red-brown cones of scoriae
and cinders with black lava rocks
creeping out into the surf at their base.
Golfers Weekly.
Some Real Answers.