Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-01-13
LErrEk FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
Fred Hanson Writes of His Ocean Voyage and
Things Abroad.
AT SEA. Oct %. 'O8.

AT SEA. Oct Is, '03
DEAR FOLKS AT HOME: Well we
pulled out of the harbor at New York,
Monday, at II: 80 a. m. Had quite
time getting away; we pulled out q
short distance and dropped anchor for
the rest of the day. We started Tues
day morning at 7:50 / was out and saw
them pull up the anchor and the rest of
the work and was all over the ship for a
while, as were the rest OF the boys, for
they are just as green as | am. There
are two of the boys here for the DeeriDg
people and they have been down five or
six times. They are teaching us to speak
Spanish and we are doing finely, they
say. This is the finest thing | ever had
any idea of and the deep blue sea Is as
pretty sight as can be imagined. The
boat that am on Is q freighter and has
11,000 tons on board; also, 700 tons of
water. She is $40 feet long and about
30 feet wide. My pardner and I have a
fine room, with top and lower berth
in it. and big commode with eight
drawers; a water tank and wash stand
and big settee; electric lights and
everything kept as clean as can be. We
have q good captain and crew The
first day out We made 270 miles, am
the regular barber of the boat They
all beg.
Nov. 10. Well will tell you the way
we crossed the equator and the FUN we
had. The sailors were all dressed up to
represent different things. There was
a doctor and his assistant, old Father
Neptune and wife, q squad of police to
take anyone that hung back to the scat
fold and barber and his assistant.
These two were very important. The
assistant lathered us up with mixture
OF iampbisck and oil and put it on with
a paint brush. While doing so he would
ask your name and If you should start
to say anything or open your mouth
bit, he would put the lather in your
mouth. Then the barber would snave
you with big long razor with teeth in
IL like a saw. Next you were tipped
head over heals into tank ands thinner
sed in good shape. We had good time
and nc one was hurt at all.
have always had the idea that as
you get closer TO the equator the hotter
1t got. Well we have had just tine
weather. Has been fine breeze blow
ing ever since we started Have been
seeing whales all along for the past
week. They shoot the water up into
the air about fifteen feet and make
pretty sight when they come up to
breathe.
BUENoEs AIRES, S. A. Nov. 81.
Well we got here the Goth and went
through the customs in good shape. We
went TO the Office and they were glad to
see us as they needed us badly. The
Iii 4kuA ta
the hotels. They have court in the
center and II has palms the same as the
houses in Montivedio, and everything is
nice and clean. / got acquainted with
an old West Point man here last night.
He is the mining expert for this govern
ment and he and his wife took me in
charge We went out for walk and
can tell You there Is one street here chat
Is the finest in the country. They say
it Is the equal to any in Paris. and that
means the world The houses in this
street look like the finest work In mason
ry, but they are only brick walls with
cement on the outside to initiate stone.
It's good job Of imitation but as we
would say at home, Is just bluff. "
Another interesting thing about this
country is the carriages. There are all
kinds Of them and they go to beat the
band But one good thing is that they
all have TO go one way same as street
cars. They tell ihe that if one of these
carriages hits you and you get hurt,
that You are the one that Is arrested and
fined What do you think of thatf
The people that handle our goods
have everything that you can think and
are very nice people, 80 far with us any
way Hoping you are all well, re-
main your loving relative.
FRED HANSEN,