Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
Half of the Squadron's Long
Journey Is Done.
WILL STOP FOR FIVE DAYS
Most Southern Town in the Western
Hemisphere.
HAS SALOONS AND NEWSPAPERS
No Sign of the japanese Observers
Who Were Supposed to Have
Arrived There.

PCNTA ARENAS February 1.-The
feet OF American battleships under Rear
Admiral Evans came to anchor in the .r-
noon
The arrival of the American battleships
at Punta Arenas. on the Strait of Ma
gellan. brings them for the first time to
a Chilean port. The Strait of Magellan
IS, by International agreement. neutral
waters, but the bordering shores of this
great waterway are Chilean. except at the
From Punta Arenas onward the fleet
will skirt along Chilean shores. first
through the westerly narrows of the strait
and then northward along the thin strip
of Chilean territory to Peru.
The presence of the Chilean cruiser
Chacabuco at Punta Arenas. with many
distinguished officials on board. including
the United States minister to Chile John
Hicks. is Chile's first tribute of welcome
to the American fleet.
Lay of the Land.
Lying before the ships of Rear Admiral
Evans fleet now at anchor in Sandy
Point road. Punta Arenas. the most south
eriy town in the world. presents itself on
the summit of a bank about thirty five
feet high. sloping slightly toward the
sea and surrounded by low hills covered
with vegetation. The houses with the ex-
ception of the government buildings and
a number of fine stone built structures
are chiefly log huts with slate or tile
roofs They are arranged in squares
with wide. well-paved streets separating
them. The avenues Cristobal Colon, De
la Libertad. De la Indepencia and De la
Republica are fine. broad streets. In the
center of the town there are two plaZas.
On the principal streets there are electric
arc lights. The Rio de la Minas runs
through the northern section of the town
and in seasons of heavy rain descends
with great force charged with sand from
the hills. The small Rio de la Mano
skirts the southern end Of the town.
Great Shipping Point.
Punta Arenas, which was founded in
1850 as an agricultural settlement and
afterward transformed for a time into
Chilean convict station. has acquired some
Importance as the headquarters of the
territory of Magellanes administration
and as an indispensable port OF call for
all shipping passing through Magellan
strait. At present 1t has a population of
over 10000 persons. The local resources
are not inconsiderable. and the settlers
believe that bright prospects are secured
llndOlIbfpd ~ H. hoo,
ing reefs and coal fields in the district.
which also is we'll suited for sheep and
cattle farming. 1t is a free port. the
only one in Chile. and is the distributing
center for the territory Of Magellanes
The exports are valued at about 5000
GOO yearly. AS many as Loo vessels,
agSregating in tonnage almost 1.5OO 900
yearly enter the harbor. Seven lines of
Europe and Chile and the United States
call regularly at Punta Arenas. and there
is regular communication with Buenos
Aires by local steamers.
Good Port of Call.
There are two piers off the town. one
for passengers and the other on which
freight is landed. Landing from the
launches of the fleet will be easy, except
when the wind has any casting in it.
Then surf sets in on the beach and
landing is frequently found difflcult
Southeast of the pier heads is the
anchorage reserved for war vessels. 1t
is a good anchorage and we'll sheltered
from the prevalent easterly and south
westerly winds.
During the summer months a strong
westerly breeze springs up about 10
o clock in the morning and lasts through
out the day. This makes it impossible
for lighters to work alongside and il is
probable that Admiral Evans ships will
have to do their coaling at night. as the
breeze then usually dies away Fresh
meat. bread and potatoes are plentiful and
cheap at Punta Arenas. and an opportu-
nifty will be had by the fleet to replenish
the stock of provisions. Fresh water is
taken off TO the ships in small lighters.
A Second Port Said.
In the five days stay which the officers
and men of the fleet will have at Punta
Arenas there will be sufficient time for all
to see the entire town and surrounding
country. There is enough clear land about
Punta Arenas for walk or ride. and
horses usually are obtaiaab'e For hunt-
ing. parrots and a few snipe are TO be
found in the woods, and banduria. a spe-
cies of ibis are seen and heard near the
town. but are difficult to get near Wild
ducks and geese occasionally are found.
AS a diversion Uncle Sans sailormpn
Will have two theaters at unta ..renas
which they may attend-the MendencZ and
Cosmopolita. Three newspapers are pub
iiSheG at Punta Arenas. They are FL
Magallanes. Ell Comercio and La Prensa
There are more than one hundred sa-
looms. many of them run by women and
the place more nearly resembles Port
Said. another great port on long-distanca
journeys. in everything but climate than
any other place in the world
The American battleship feet steamed
into Punta Arenas harbor today and came
to anchor at 12:J0 pm Almost the ent'ra
population had gathered OH the hill be-
hind the town and the iatties frinsirg th>
water front TO witness tna coming OF Tho
friendly ships of war. and the Chilean
representatives who are here to greet the
visitors in the name of the country and
bid them welcome were gathered expect
antly on the quarterback of tie Chi aap
cruiser Chacabuco. lying in the road
stead
The American ships were sighted at IL
a. m. steaming in double column They
came I'D SLOWLY from Possession bay
where they had anchored the night before
and at 1a:35 were abr aast OF the port
Much Powder Burned.
While Vet some distance away n salute
% The port boo.ned out from the Connect
rut. ADMIRAL Evans h&gsh,p aid The
Ghacaouco replied The Br.tisil cruiser
Continued on Tenth Page3