The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-04-18
ovERRuN BY SAILORS FROM uN-
GLE SANS WAR SHIPS WHO ARE
ENJOYING THEIR VISIT I'M.
Observation-Disclosures MAG
NlFlcENT HAReoR.

The following article was written
by Paul Cook, of the Birmingham
Age-Herald, who was among the recent
visitors to the Deep Water City:
Pensacola is alive now with sail
ors and foreigners from all over the
globe. The North Atlantic Squadron
| lying in theharbor has brought TO-
600 or $4,000 strangers into port, rot
to mention hundreds .; others who
] have been drawn here, hoping to
share in some of Uncle Sans money
which the bluejackets are dispensing
| with lavish hand. All up and down
Palafox street, the main business ar
terry Of Pensacola, there surges a mot
| ley throng, with seamen, marines and
officers of the navy predominating.
The tars are all in the best of spirits,
happy as sehoolboys on on a holiday
and enjoying their visit TO port ini-
mensely. Most of them are inclined
to be rather noisy and down in the
| Red Light" district at the lower end
of Palafox strickland along Zarragos-
| sa street the scenes are rather streE-
uous after nightfall, but the visitors
are remarkably well behaved, when
ali things are considered. They are
! celebrating, OF course, and great
many indulge in stimulating beyera-
| ges, but they don't appear to give the
police much Trouble and civilian
| can mingle with the toughest crowd
without being molested. On former
| occasions the biuejackets disported
themselves in a more rowdy fashion.
but this time they are exuberant
without being troublesome.
1t means much for Pensacola when
a squadron pays a visit to the har-
Dor, for the men turn loose their &C
cumulated salaries in addition to the
expenditures made by Uncle Sam. Il
is estimated that the present stay Of
warships at Pensacola will put over
million dollars in circulation.
Trade is booming, the town is crowd
ed with visitors. sharpers and fakirs.
The streets are exceedingly pictur-
esque, while cheap theatres, eating
places. fruit stands, shooting CALLER
les. saloons and all kinds of small
establishments for separating Jack
Tar from his money are fiourishing. 1t
might be added that the time-honorei
business of fleeing is also much in
evidence. Down one side street
small fakir is waking the echoes with
its brass band and its spielers, while
marvellous ladies come forth in scaur
attire to give some idea of the won
ders within.
Busy Scene Presented.
Row boats and launches are plying
constantly bet ween the shore and the
numerous vessels lying at anchor IN
! the harbor, some OF them carrying
visitors to and from the ships. but
most of them transporting sailors.
A big boat comes dancing over the
waves loaded down with a mob of
seamen. all laughing and shouting in
the highest good humor. Il has bare
ly touched the wharf before all are
piling on shore and scattering over
the town. New cargoes of men are
constantly coming TO land and others
are returning to the ship, so that there
is q stream of sailors going both
ways.
One is impressed by the great num-
Der of nationalit!es represented among
these men. There are negro seamen
disporting themselves with their
white comrades without thought Of
the color line; Cinnamon, Japanese,
Irishmen, Germans. Italians, Swedes
ard Scandinavians. Swedes are
quite numerous, although nearly ev-
cry nationality on the globe is repre-
sented. The blue jackets are a fine
lot of men. although one is struck
by the extreme youthfulness OF the
sailors. Elderly sailors are few on
board a man-of-war. Most of the sea-
men are strapping youths.
OF course the fighting ships of I'M
Gle Sam and their crews form he
most interesting feature OF Pensa-
cola just now, and most attractive TO
strangers, but the town is itself well
worth a visit. 1t is quaint old place.
typically southern. and bearing traces
here and there of Spanish origin.
The great volume of business. is con-
fined TO PalafOx street, a picturesque
thoroughfare that ends az the water
front Being a characteristic seaport
street, Palafox runs the gauntlet from
eminent respectability TO tenderloin
tendencies, and just where it drops
over the wharf to the bay 1t is bustling
but not elevatine.
Pensacola has one OF the finest har-
bors in the world. The bay is the
best south of Newport News, and il
the town had railroads its future
could not be painted in too glowing
colors. Just new the Louisville and
Nashville has u monopoly-of the rail
road business, with two great wharves
and a grain elevator at Pensacola.
but even then it is a branch line
which touches the town, spur con-
Meeting with the main line at Flo
maton. With 33 feet of water on The
bar, the largest ships can enter, and
the harbor being 80 miles long, there
is room for an immense feet of YES
sells. The harbor is completely land
locked by Santa Rosa island, and is
one Of the prettiest bays imaginable.
MANY Snofe nf Interest