The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-15
FlKS VULGANU.
AtchisOn Man Gets q Glimpse OF
Mountain in Action.
Looked Like a Big Torch Burn
ing on Top of a Peak.
APPRECIATES OLDFLAG
American Warships Run Up
Stars and Stripes at Naples.
DevOtes Greater Portion Of Day
in Visiting POmpeii.
APPRECIATES OLDFLAG


Sunday, February IS.
Last night, as I sat in the smoking
room Of the steamship Republic,
enjoying a talk with the passenger
who had been in Atchison on the
3Oth of last December, a man came
in and said excitedly:
IT'S going again!"
I rushed out on deck and saw vol
cano spouttng; volcano in Sicily
We were passing through the Straits
of Messina, with Sicily a few hundred
yards away on one side, and Italy a
few hundred yards away on the other
side. It was my first view Of a vol
cano in action; when I passed Flu
jiami q doubt that spelling), in ia
pan, it was quiet
asked the man what volcano It
was, and he said it was Soiambo
The man didn't know how to spell
the word; nor do I. It looked like a
big torch burning on a mountain
peak.
This morning, when I awoke and
looked out of my window, the ere
public" was in the Bay of Naples and
steaming slowly toward the harbor.
By the time I dressed, and went on
deck, the ship was at anchor. A
hundred yards away were four white
American warships, ana as I looked
at them admirfngly, a bugIe sounded,
and an American flag went up on
F(A snip Ou QOI3 IuAtY dDDT6-
ciate the American flag when YOU. see
It at home-at Fourth of July cele-
brations and on Decoration day: at
! least, 1 never appreciated the Old
Flag at home as I did this morning,
in Italy. Besides, Italy is near home.
It is only twelve days from Naples to
Atchison. I shall not proceed by the
shortest route from Naples. but In
! twelve days shall be in the middle
of the Atlantic; If I don't get drowned
a r1fa fa IL -
from Atchison, but 7 don't feel as
lonesome here as I did in India
Naples does not look unlike Hong
Kong, when viewed from the deck of
ship at anchor in the harbor. Noun
tains surround it. and one of these is
famous Vesuvfus, the base of which
forms part of the harbor The
volcano was smoking fercely when I
first saw Il this morning, and it is
nearer to Naples than are the Missouri
hills to Atchison. Away in the dis
lance may be seen great mountain
peaks covered with snow, but the
weather is warm and pleasant tt is
the first sunshine We have encounter
in two weeks.
Breakfast on board at $50; at
$3.50, the passengers filed down the
long stairway at the ships side, went
on board a tug, and were soon landed.
]
ships side, II passed close to the
Baltimore the largest Of the Amer
lean warships. A young marine was
walking on deck, with a musket over
his shoulder. The passengers cheered
him, and the American grinned at
them in an appreciatiye, awkward
way. he was on duty. and probably
did not dare return the salute. Sew
eral rowboats containing singers how
cred about US; after singing awhile,
the women held up their aprons. and
asked US to throw coins into them.
Arrived at the custom house land
ing, I hired guide and he rushed
US through the custom house and
to the Vesuvius hotel. which fronts
on the bay Mrs. Martin and her
Two daughters, of Reno, New. are
still with US, and Will probably ac-
company US to Rome.
It is a saying among travellers mat
Naples has as many churches as Cairo
has mosques. Naples has 367 churches
Two more than Rome. Naples is also
the largest and most important CITY IN
Italy with a population of 700 Oa6
shall always remember Naples pleas
antly, because # is the first town in
habited by white people 7 have seen
since leaving San Francisco. Noven Der
4: From Honolulu to Alexandria. the
people were dark skinned Therefore I
found keen delight today in again being
surrounded by people Of my own color.
In driving about, we saw flowers grow
ing IN the open air, and oranges and
I lemons on the trees. The markets were
full Of fresh vegetables, although severe
snow storms are reported IN France. We
heard an open air concert by a military
I band; band almost as large and fine
as the Royal Italian band, and the trees