The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-06
CAN'T Get AWAY.
Officers and Men of the Battle
ship Fleet
Are Having a High Old Time
at Punta Arenas.
RAILS AND FITS
BALLS AND BANQUETS.
Excursions and Receptions Fol-
low One Another Rapidly.
Chileans Are introduced to the
American Cake Walk.

Punta Arenas, Strait of Magellan,
Feb 6.-The social gaieties in connec-
ton with the presence of the Ameri-
can fleet continue unabated. Dinners
and dancing with excursions and
receptions follow one another. The
Americans are trying to repay the
hospitality of their Chilean hosts and
the Chileans striving constantly to put
their visitors further in their debt.
1t was originally planned to have the
fleet leave here last evening. but the
departure was delayed until tom
in order to give the Americans more
time in which to return the hospitali-
ties.
The health of Rear Admiral Evans,
who at Rio Janeiro was suffering from
rheumatism, is improving steadily.
The fleet will leave Friday night at
II O'Clock. The torpedo boat f1otilla
will accompany the battleships
through the strait as far as Cape Pill
lar, at the west end from which point
the smaller vessels will take an inside
passage to the north. At Valparaiso
the fleet will steam close in shore and
salute the town. The Chilean cruiser
Chacabuco will precede the fleet out of
the strait. The vessels expect to ar
rive off Valparaiso Friday, February
IA, about 2 p. m.
One of the boats of the battle-
ship Rhode Island, in which Midship
men Herndon B. Kelly and four sea-
men were rowing, was capslzed off the
Spit yesterday afternoon. The five
men chung to the bottom of their up
turned boat. Captain Martin, the
maritime governor of the territory,
Immediately went out in a launch and
rescued the sailors.
John Hicks. the American minister
to Chile, who came to Punta Arenas
on the Chacabuco entertained the
American admirals and captains at
breakfast yesterday on board this
vessel Commander Hodges OF the
British cruiser Sappho was also a
guest. No toasts were offered by the
officers, but Henry L. James, secre-
tary of the American legation at Val
paraiso made a brief address closing
with the statement that he expected
some day the sailors of the British
Chilean and American navies would
claim and attain dominion over the
seven seas.
While the officers were being en-
tertained in the ward room of the
Chacabuco, 200 American and 20 Brit
ish blue jackets were given a splendid
breakfast on the lower deck. Great
enthusiasm prevailed and the sailors
drank to the health of their respec-
tive nations and their commanding
admirals.
Tuesday afternoon there was
which the society of Punta Arenas
was we'll represented. -Four hundred
guests danced until o'clock in the
evening. Among those present were
Minister Hicks, Admira1s Thomas,
Emory and Sperry of the American
fleet and other American officers,
m embers of the leading Punta Arenas
families and several British and
Argentine naval officers. The decks
of the Chacabuco were draped with
the flags of all nations and decorated
with evergreens. The orchestra was
installed in the boats hanging at the
davits. The afternoon was one of
animation and the dance came to an
end with the American cake walk and
the rendering of the famous Chilean
dance, the Cueca.
Punta Arenas is having a feast of
music. Every day bands from one or
another of the American warships
play on the plaza.