The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-29

from President NOntt TO Admiral Evans
10 CoAaeoticul,
The President lnatruots me 70 thank Ad-
mira Evans for bis very kind message and
for having brought the American feet 70
Valparaiso and 10 express 10 him his ad-
IMITATION Of lie splendid appearance. lie
further requests me 10 express to Admiral
Evans bic sincere hopes that his health will
continue TO improve and his personal desire
that he may arrive At his destination In perfect
health.
SIMPSON,
This was followed by this message from
Minister Prato Of the Army and Navy Of
Chile and it pleased Admiral Evans i'm
mensely:
To Admiral ErdnG.
The Minister Of War and the Navy, In the
name Of the Republic Of Chile, thanks pro-
foundly Admiral Evans for the delicate
courtesy Of his salute in Valparaiso and con-
graduates him, the Admirals, Captains, Of
foers and crews under him. for the splendid
demonstration given us to-day Of seeing the
power and discipline Of the feet under your
command. With many cordial wishes for a
pleasant voyage and also for the recovery Of
your health at en- early date.
BELIsARIo PRATo.
Minister OF War and the Navy.
To this greeting Admiral Evans sent the
final message Of the day through the Yank-
ton:
To Ydnkion'
Transmit this to the Minister OF War and
the Navy Prato. The cordial welcome ex.
tended by the oficials and citizens OF the
Republic Of Chile has met with our deep appre-
citation, and I am sure that It will be a source
Of great qualification to the people Of the
United States when they learn how you have
greeted US, II was a great pleasure to be
reviewed by our distinguished President,
and II gives me the greatest satisfaction to
extend TO him the same honoTs that we're eN-
tended to the President OF the United States
on leaving Hampton Roads. Hoping that
my action Of to-day may in SOM small way
draw closer the bonds Of friendship which
unite the two great republics and thanking
you most gratefully for your personal eI-
pressions,
Yours most sincerely,
EVANS.
II was a good days work, and even II II
did cause the feet to lose a day In the
run to Callao in addition to the one lost in
Punta Arenas in answering the courtesies
Of the Chileans, 10 one begrudged the delay.
v~ALPARAIso's BARREN APPEARANCE.
The appearance Of the city Of Valparaiso
was a distinct disappointment TO those on
the feet who had not seen it before. Its
name means a Vale OF Paradise. Was II
intended as mookery? One travel writer
has said that nature never meant that a
city should be planted there. The hills
come down so near to the water that there
Is room for only four or five streets parallel
with II, The city Is strung along the harbor
for more than two miles. To find other
room for itself II has to climb steep hills
and build homes on terraces The streams
have made great gullies, or barancas, in
their courses 10 the sea, and these gulches
give a ~disjointed appearance TO the place.
There seems TO be no continuity about it.
It is irregular, tilted here and there and
most Of the hills have to be overcome with
steep railroads. like those which climb
the hills Of Pittsburg or Cincinnati. A line
Of railroad with English carriages runs along
the waterfront. Tho railroad finds an
opening. not visible from the harbor, where
IL may escape the girdle Of the hills. There
seem to be few houses around the water
front.
There was little or no color in the build
ings. All seemed to be made Of grayish
mud. There was no visible verdure in the
town. The hills we're brown, as il blighted
by a great drought, All was bleak and
bare and dusty. The place looked barren
and almost oheerless A greater contrast
TO hill and mountain adorned Rio de ia
Metro, the last large city we saw, heavy
with lis mantle Of green could not be mag
med than this sun baked brown collection
Of dull colored buildings constituting a
great seaport. The effects Of the earth
quake Of last year could be seen here and
there with a glass Walls were broken
and buildings toppled over, This added
all the more to the forlorn appearance OF
the place, but It gave point to the eSuberant
welcome which its people gave TO the fleet.
H CHICAGO PASSES,
The day before the feet sailed into VAL
paraiso harbor il had a little celebration,
somewhat unusual on the high seas, that
was strictly American. The cruiser Chi
cago, bound for the Atlantic from San
Francisco, met us, Wireless signals had
been exchanged and about 5 O'Clock in the
afternoon the smoke Of the Chicago could
be made out on the horizon. An hour later
she was approaching the flagship, Then
she saluted the Admiral's flag. Every
ship had been told TO show passing honors.
The guard was paraded, the rails manned
and the band was on the quarterback.
The feet and the Chicago almost drifted
by one another, As the Chicago passed
down the line the band on every battleship
played The Star Spangled Banner When
the bars we're finished on the Louisiana
the band struck up Home, Sweet Home
The long homeward bound pennant Of the
Chicago seemed to have an extra futter
in il as the notes sounded over the smooth
sea. In many a mans throat there was a
gulp. After the feet had passed the Chi
cago hove to and lay for a quarter Of an
hour, all it's men gazing as a fond relative
after another for which fate had decreed
a long separation.
II was a pretty ceremony, and IL fur
nishsd food for naval thought. There was
the first steel ship Of the United States
navy, the flagship Of the White Squadron
OF more than twenty years ago Of which
Americans we're so proud. She seemed a
puny thing beside any one Of this feet.
The earliest and the latest in modern Amer
lean warship building were presented to
the eye. And what an advance! Still the
Chicago presented a smsrt appearance and
her s inch guns, with which she holds