The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-03-31
ENSIGN W. TAYLOR SMITH
Some Of His Observations on long TrIp With IN,
Fleet

Eusigh W Tay lor Smith. son Of Mr..
and Mis-. + J. Smith. Of this city. who l.
with Admiral Evans American Fleet
which made the tip from Happton
ht afr, Va To the Pacific Coast. writes
interestingly of the long Journey by sea
IN letter 10 relatives here. from which
publish the following extracts.
United States Ship Virginia.
Caliao. Peru, Feb. -, 1908.
Arrived here safely after Is days'
trip from Punta Arenas on last Thurs-
day. Our trip through the straits wn-
very Interesting. We left Punta Arenas
at eleven O'Clock at night 50 we would
have 10 pass the narrow parts in dav-
hight. In some places the straits are
about mile wide and in others ten or
twelve. On each side are high noun
tains which run down 70 the waters
edge. IL is impossibls To anchor in the
straits, because you could run straight
up TO the base II the mountains and the
water would be too deep u AT chor even
at the very base. Most OF the moun.
tains are covered with snow and there are
lew glaciers. Never saw a living soul
coming through. The last part OF our
trip through the straits was marked bv
heavy log, but this didn't bother us
much, In fact we had thick fogs for
SIX days alter We got into the Pacific
These logs We're so heavy that YOU
could not see a hundred yards away
ana no other ship was visible, but we
have become so expert that we ALWAYS
keep In good position. IL certainly is
rem6rkable how the fleet Is handled
The log would clear away and each shin
would 6e In her proper position. The
torpedo boats went through with us
but they went to Valparaiso by inland
waters and did not put to sea. The
Chilean ship Chacabuco escorted Us all
the way to Valparaiso. The Chileans
asked us to go by Valparaiso to give the
people there a chance Of seeing the fleet.
so we went into the harbor and We're
reviewed by the president and steamed
straight cut after firing about $50 guns.
lhough we lost about a day by doing
this we could not well refuse after their
many courtesies to us in Punta Arenas.
All Of Us were agreeably surprised in
Punta Arenas. Entertainments every
day, and you never saw such rosy
checked people in your life. It looked
as though someone had spanked their
cheeks until they were ready to bleed.
The climate must do this.
Most OF the Chilean navy was in
valparaiso to meet Us, and you never
saw so many people in your life The
boats and the mountain sides were full
OF them. | think all OF the South Amer
leans are proud of their cousias OF the
North, as they call US
We steamed by another little town in
Chile also, the name of which | don't
remember All Callao was out to meet
US. They also sent a man-o-war out TO
escort US In. You can't out do these
South Americans in politeness. They
are much more polite than Americans.
The city Of Callao Is not much, but we
all go to Lima every time We 20 ashore
Lima Is about z miles from Callao
There are two railroads between Callao-
and Lima-One electric and one steam
with trains every hall hour. | went to
Lima yesterday and had very nice
time; went through the penitentiary.
The program Of entertainments Is very
elaborate. They gave US a large ban
quet last night and 1t surely was swell.
Tomorrow they give Us n "bull fight.
to which SEQ officers and 4 900 men are
invited. There is something doing each
day next week.
In order TO show the American people
that we are ready for any emergency we
are going TO haye target practice when
we reach Aagdalena. The ships are GER
tainly In fine condition now, and Con
gress ought to show their appreciation
by passing the pay roll bill.
The President of Peru reviewed us to-
day and, OF course. the usual amount of
powder was burned. The President OF
Brazil also took look at us as we left
Rio.