The sun., 1908-03-26

| good. II that was all there was 70 RolnR
through Magellan, why on earth had there
been such big scare about II all2 1t didn't
compare with navigating the Chesapeake
In fog or a storm and Il seemed farcica
to make 80 much fuss about Il.
Then came the stay at Punta Arenas
with the rumors that a Capt. Greene from
Los Angeles or some other seaport town
far back on the mainland, had been de-
tailed by the War Department, or the Patent
Offioe or Department OF Justice, or maybe
1t was the Pension Bureau, to come to Punta
| Arenas aud take the feet through There
was even a nlmor that he had presented
himself on board the flagship and was pre-.
pared, sir to do his awful duty.
Admiral Evans smiled over the matter
Said he knew nothing about Capt, Greene
and guessed he could get that feet through
ell right, But when the output Of the rumor
factory got large and people began to
believe there might he some truth in the
Greene yarn it did get little on the edge
Of the Admiral and he said to THR Sun
correspondent, showing Just trace Of
annoyance
Il really know nothing Of this estimable
gentleman Capt. Greene. He may be a
first rate man and good pilot for the Strait
Of Magellan but this is the first time |
ever heard Of him. OF course the yarn
that he il going to take this feet through
IL ridiculous. but as somebody has evi-
IDENTIFY believed It, all have TO say is that
II am not competent to take the feet
through there is not one Of the other ad-
mirals, or captains, or even junior ofiioers,
who couldn't do 80, verify believe. We're
going through all right. Thus far we
have had no greater difficulties than we
would have in entering Boston or New
York harbors.-
So the feet lay at Punta Arenas for six
days, taking on coal, giving liberty and
the officers going through q round Of Of
fetal receptions and other oourtesies that
made the stay one day longer than was
expected because OF the unusual courtesy
on the part OF Chile in sending a cruiser
down TO Punta Arenas TO greet the feet
bearing a Rear Admiral, our Minister
TO Chile, Mr.. Hicks, and our Consul az VAL
paraiso.
GETTING UNDER WAY AT N10HT
The departure Of the feet at night was
interesting. The hour was set for II
O'Clock. Before that time slow moving
lights in the harbor showed that the Chaca-
buco had changed her station 70 be near
the head Of the procession when the start
was made. Other lights had revealed
that the six torpedo boats Of our hotilla
had been taking up cruising positions on the
right and left TANKS Of the line that was to
be formed Some OF the battleships had
to move in from the anchorages as
signed 20 them because the water was too
deep and the feet was not in lis regular
order
Just before II O'Clock the signal had been
made from the hagahip to prepare 70 get
under way The ships had hove short,
At the stroke OF II the red and white lights
flashed from the flagship and they were
answered from all the ships. AZ once
anchor engines began tugging at the chains,
and soon on every ship tho officer in charge
Of the fo'o'stle sang out:
-Up and down, sir!'
That meant that the anchor was directly
under the bow OF the ship and was leaving
the mud, the chain being straight up and
down In moment or two the call was
Anchors aweigh. sir"
That meant that the slip was not swinging
with the tide and bells were tangled in ELL the
engine rooms TO 60 ahead slowly II was
all still, only few lights on each ship were
showing and soon the hsrbor presented
the appearance OF twenty-five or more craft
slowly moving in one direction as IL steal
ing away down the broad Famine Reach
softly 80 as not 10 disturb the slumbers Of
the town. But the town wasn't asleep.
Hslf the population was out TO witness the
departure The thousands Of electric lights
showed that. As you drew away from the
place II looked as IL you were leaving the
north shore Of Staten Island and going
up New York Bay, so thick we're the lights
on the land
The Connecticut was quite close in shore
and headed toward it. She made sharp
turn, ana the Kansas, Vermont and LOuisi-
ana and the others fell in quickly, There
we're gaps in the line for the ships that
had sought better anchorages, and these
were filled in when the proper time came
Gradually the line became compact and
within fifteen minutes one long column OF
American warships was gliding southwark
q, speed Of ten knots the Chilean flag
ship otf the starbosrd how Of our flagship,
oil! silently stealing away in the beautiful
starlight night from hospitabe and attrac-
tive Punta Arenas. The start was made as
smoothly and easily as in broad daylight
There. was no fuss about Il, The fleet had
gone about it, business in a businesslike
NPy. That business was 10 get through
the rest Of the strait in the easiest and
safest manner,
LOWEST CONTINENTAL LAND.
You went 10 bed at midnight leaving
orders to be Gale, at a A. NJ. 30 as 10 come
on deck and see the flagship turned toward
home at Cape Froward, the lowest CONT
nental point Of land in the world. You
got out lust abeam Of Cape San lsidro, with
its flashing white light, and you found your
self in the midst OF rugged scenery, The
sky was overcast and strong wind, like
that which churned Possession Bay when
the feet entered the eastern en-, was blow
ing Bare mountains and rocks stood out
in the gloom. Soon the shadows began to
purnle the hilsides and rocks; there was
visible strip OF green which you made out
TO be trees reaching half way up the black
mountain sides. Then the clouds llghtened;
everything stood out clearly in gray light
and YOU knew Il was time for sunrise.