Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-09
A VISIT TO SMYRNA
Ralph Mahon Gives his Impress
ions of that Ancient City.
is ON BOARD THE U. S. S. DIXIE

A Cruise Through italian and Greek
Waters-A Glimpse of Messina-
Smyrna a Warlike Place When Wis.
tied by Mr.. Mahon.
A visit to the city of Smyrna is
graphically described in letter to his
parents by Ralph Mahon, who is at
present serving on board the U. S. S.
Dixie in European waters. Mr.. Ma
hon also describes his cruise from Ma
pies, Italy, and tells of some interest.
ing sights he has witnessed. The city
of Smyrna is of much interest at the
time the letter was written, December
Z, as at that time the Turkish Franco
troubles were at their height, and war.
ships from all the powers lay AT an
Choir near the little American gunboat.
Following is the letter:
"On Board the U. S. S. Dixie in the
Strait of Messina and in Front of the
City of Messina Dec. 1, 1901. h
We'll, father this is Sunday after
noon, just after fine dinner. We had
genuine turkey for dinner today. Last
Thursday Thanksgiving daS(zwe ate
dinner in Naples, Italy. That day our
bill of fare was roast turkey, mashed
"spuds," celery, apples oranges, pump
kin pie, bread and coffee. presided
over the turkey and so managed to get
possession of good, big hunk. Our
dinner today was duplicate of that
of Thanksgiving. I suppose we will
have feathers the rest of the week.
Headed south.
eve left Naples last Friday, which
was two days later than our schedule
calls for, and then Saturday noon we
returned to within three miles of the
city and sent a small boat in for impor-
tant mail. After it's return to the ship
We headed south by east on our cruise
and are following the coast of Italy.
| We passed the volcano Stromboli this
morning at o'clock and entered the
Strait of Messina at 10 o'clock. The
strait at this point is only about four
miles wide and the shores, Italy on one
side and Sicily on the other, can be
very plainly seen. The country at this
point looks better than any have seen
since we left Antwerp. 1t seems to be
pretty level for considerable dis.
lance back from the coast before the
mountains are reached.
Messina is city of about $4,000 in
habitants and is well fortified by num-
erous forts along the coast. 1t is
built on low, fiat, coastal plain and
in the background are some very high
mountains covered with snow Among
them is Mt Etna, a volcano, from
whose top smoke is pouring in great
volumes. Imagine yourself sitting on
ships deck in shirt sleeves while
only few miles away great mountains
of snow stand out against the sky. 1t
is picture that must be seen to be ap-
preciated.
Off Coast of Greece.
December 8, 1901.
Yesterday was IA ny and stormy
and We were at sea all day so saw
nothing save three or four tramp
steamships. This morning finds us off
the coast of Greece within sight of
the snow covered Pinus mountains. The
coast is very ragged and all in all this
IS about the toughest piece of country
l have seen.
December 4, 1901.
eve anchored in the Gulf of Kolo-
kythia last night and got under way
about o'clo k this morning. We ure
making about ten knots an hour and
it looks as though our commander was
getting in hurry We may go into
Smyrna this evening.
Payday on Board.
December 5, 1901.
"This, payday, is welcome day to
all on board. Last night we were NIX
ed up in the Archipelago islands and
lighthouses were about as thick as
fees on a dogs back. We also met
about dozen steamers, some of them
within speaking distance. All vessels
bound to and from the Black Sea take
this route. Yesterday we We're in
sight of Athens and at / o'clock today
are off the coast of the Island of Nifty
lene, which is about two hours run
north of Smyrna, our destination. The
city of Mitylene, which we are now
passing has about 10000 people.
In Greece.
Evening of December s, 1901.
1--WE are at anchor about one-half
mile from shore in front Of the city of
Decily. There is plain along the
coast mere several niles wide, but
back of that the country is very billy
This city seems to be about the size
of Ottumwa and judging from what |
can see of il through glass, Is a pref
ty nice place, Camels are used for
transportation purposes and we saw
about thirty of them moving along the
beach this evening. The inhab tants
are mostly Greeks. Jews and Turks.
No one is allowed to land here and we
will get under way for Smyrna, which
is about sixty miles south, sometime
tomorrow. | don't know Of anything
more at present and our band is play
ing and making such a noise that
fellow couldn't think of anything is he
did know it, SO | will stop until we
leave here tomorrow
A Rainy Day.
Enpnop, q 1nn1