Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-07-02

a. > navy for four years ~ A. cirstfi<5s.ssi Aee
NAPLES, ITALY, May IS, isa2.
Dear Friends;
Tonight. as am sitting at the deck in
the dynamo room OF the illinois, flor u
Is my watch from S 10 i2l my mind reyerts
10 the Eass and 10 those whom am wont
10 call my friends Here am in sunny
Italy with thai old volcano ''vesuvius" In
the near distance.
Iwlsh had the power 10 describe the
many sights and incidents which have
seen since left home; however ! VIII try
10 tell you Of that part OF the trip Shsch
think will interest you most. Welsh View
York April 90, amid sslates, bands. etc.
In a few hours We we're out OF sight Of
land, but we changed our course and ~eut
up the Sew England coast 10 the New
foundfand banks, then sicervd straight
course for the Azores.
We eoaled ship at 81. Michaeis, remained
there twcnty.foar bours. The climate IL
warm and the scenery most beautiful.
Oranges were sold for cents hundred
i'm barrel lots; figs were $50 refs" box
f2s cents 4. :. money! The Inhabitants
arc Portuguese. and some queer rogues
were to be seen among them.
wepassed Gibraltar Ia the nighs, though
land could be sccB on both sides Of tbs
strait, with the old rock towering high In
the air. The Mediterranean vas ~ smooth
as glass, hardly a ripple, and the sunsets
were grand. imagine In your mind blue
sea as far as the eye can reach In all
directions, perfectly clear sky, tae 500 80
calm that the turtles can be seea, this Inn
msnse ship making fifteen knosa, The band
of twenty pieces playing sotne good old
American piece, and The san, = big bali Of
Ore, disappearing little by llslls until Il Ia
lost 10 the view.
We have had four days OF target prsc-
tloe, three Of sub esiibre and one Of fuli
charge The day we had fuil charge, Ia
about one hours time $1,000 worth of
ammunition was fired. That IL Why tho
makes perfect. We hssr baseball team
on board. One afternoon we had wruss-
ling, eoxing, tug Of wars bStwesu the
divisions. Boat races wlli couae nos that
we are Ia port. There IL something guisg
on most Of the time.
There are 20 men ON the ship. enough
20 populate a small lSsn. Electric light
plan, capable of $40 eisseen.sandie-
power lamps. In the dynamo room we
have sight fine machine. The floors or
decks In the upper rooms are covered -ith
a kind Of thick pressed fbFc. The Iowsr
decks are aluminium plates, brass trim.
snlngs, machines painted white Pour
apprentice boys are basy cleaning all tbs
time.
wish you could step In here now. you
would say II 10 q fine chance TO study and
improve, bat during tho dag watches am
kept very buoy, az there are many things
to attend to. We call II the "iopg day;
that ia, have the Alto waIch In the morn.
ing and the S to Il Al night. making
twenty hours have beea %. though /
could have slept when Of duty n | had
desired 20. Tomorrow have ffon 10 Il
Ia the rnornipg and then win be OF duty
for twsni y-four hours.
wv AAsN ea@Nf3 NNNaR4N Is wv tNANe%
Of bread every twelve hours, Ghsue bas beF
chairs, two doctors. nurses, slek hay
capable Of roomins twcnty meu. We had
one day and nigst OF rough wea, her, dur.
ing hich we Host a boat. and one man got
washed against tarret by sra, bFeaki, &
his leg.
A chnm OF m'ns IN tho electric force
received letter to-day informing hIsa ~
the death OF ats mother, " p q ed the aas
after we lsft Ses YORK. have b,su try
ing 10 give hin word OF good eh ser, but
can never know just ho~ IL T. 20 isoyc a
mother. We kno~ very Iittls of eae's
others lives here, yet We have llssle .or
row TO mingle sith the Happiness.
wal finish this stter haze been ashore.