Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-28

mon. Had a strike among the stokers-
four of whom complained that they had
TO work over time, and refused to shovel
coal any longer Saw the FIRST officer Of
the ship pass by with handouts, and
shortly after the strikers wore these or
Understand they will be confined
in the Brig on bread and water until
to-piouow, when they will be relea sed
and given chance to shovel coal If they
still refuse, the same dosage will be re-
pcated, and so on, ad lib. Two cases of
pneumonia have developed on the trans
port. one man is private in the i2d
and the other is the clerk of the ships
captain-both are doing well. I have been
Informed by some one that tomorrow
morning we will see Madeira Islands
about six a. m That the captain is GO
ing to cruise between two islands in order
to give US good view of them. Notice
by the chart that the distance between
New York and Gibraltar by the route We
have taken is d little more than S461
knots
This morning before sunrise 7 was
awakened by an unusual Commotion on
deck, and upon investigation found that
land was in sight. AS We approached it
appeared to rise from the blue haze and the
ocean and disclose the rugged outlines Of
volcanic island, though all active mani
festations have ceased-ages ago no doubt.
AS the sun rose and cast the shadows OF
the rugged hills. it was surprisingly
beautiful. 1T appears to be dcn~rly popu-
lated. as houses are seen thickly Gus err
ing on every level spot from the shore
far back INTO the hills, often clinging TO
the edges like bird nests. Vineyards were
visible everywhere, and MADEIRA wine rs
so well known that little need be SAID
about 1t, except that there is hardly any
of 1t in existence now, for the reason that
several years ago the phyloxera, a species
of insect, destructive to vines, gained a
foothold in the island and destroyed the
vineyards, which are now only slowly re-
covering. The little town of Funchai, the
chief settlement of the island group, look
ed lovely, extending from the shore back
into the hills. In the harbor lay num-
Der OF vessels. ono n1an-of-Ua among
them, apparently Portuguese. for Nader
is a colony Of Portugal. Three other islets
are now visible, two on the right and one
in front. but the one we passed is by far
the largest, being Is miles in length, 10y
seven in breadth. Numbers Of little fish
ing bouts were clustered at the foot OF
the perpendicular cliffs and upon our APP
pearance several of them pulled up their
anchOrs and started Isl one direction as
fast as they could sail and row cheering
vocferouslv. evidently intending to be
taken aboard, but we passed the first
boat without obliging them, thus dis
couraging the rest. Am so favorably m-
pressed with Madeira. that | feel that, If
ever | tecome a man Of leisure and de-
sire to spend a short time in a lovely
equable climate, this will be the place. II
has long been health resort for persons
afflicted with lung trouble.
Contrary to our expectations, since
leaving Madeira no vesse. except one
small sailing schooner has been sighted
Being on the track between England anc
the scene of hostiities in South Africa
the expectation of meeting transport:
laden with troops, was very strong. Per
haps we will still meet them before reach
ing Gibraltar. where we are due early to.
morrow morning. November 9th. The
chief engineer informed me that our sta
there would he only about six hours fos
CoaliNg and that most Of the Coaling wo lie
be done at Malta. This being the case
must finish this letter and have 1t ready
for posting tonight which will proven
my saying anything about Gibraltar.