New-York tribune., 1908-02-02
CHILL WELCOMES FLEET
pTNTA ARENAS REACHED.
admiral Euanss Battlestups at
,fnchor IN Harbor.

F,,n;a Arenas Strait OF Magellan. Feb. 1.-The
American battleship fleet steamed into Punta
Arenas harbor to-day and came TO anchor at
125e O'Clock p. Almost the entire popula-
zion had gathered the hill behind the town
and the tettes fringing the waterfront to witness
The coming Of the ships. and the Chflan repre-
sentatives who here to greet and welcome
the visitors in the name Of the country were
gathered OF the quarterback OF the cruiser Cha
cabuco.
The American ships sighted at II o'clock
: n steaning in double column. They came
up slowly from Possession Bay where they had
anchored the night before, and at 1875 o'clock
were abreast Of the port.
While some distance away salute was fired
from the Connecticut. Admiral Evans's flagship,
and the Chacabuco replied The British cruiser
Saprlo also saluted the Connecticut which re-
spondeG. and the Connecticut passed the
Gillian cruiser saluted the American flag and
The Connecticut saluted the Chilian flag
Before the arrival of the feet g wireless mes
sage from the Cfacabuco was sent 10 Admiral
Evans by Admiral Simpson, extending q hearty
Welcome from the Chilian navy TO the American
Navy Admiral Evans al once RESPONDED WIKI
many thanks for the message
ONE DEATH ON VOYAGE FROM RIO
TIE r1,n from Rio de Janeiro, which began on
January 80 after the Brazilian President had
reviewed the feet and the Brazilian warships
bad escorted il out Of the harbor TO the open
SC vas made with favorable weather and with
,-+ accident The event OF the voyage was the
ae-,-e of the division Of the Argentine navy
CO. o,,r from Esuenos Ayres TO greet the battle
ships.
n, leaving Rio de Janeiro tie feet took up its
- ool---7n formation and proceeded directly
he strait Of Magellan On the day Of sail
4-o-, Rio Frank Allen Tew. an oiler. died on
-4s Maine from peritonitis and was buried at
sea the following oay-
a, the morning OF January 90 the feet came
.-o zr.-eIess Communication with the Argentine
.1r and ii the evening OF the same day the
60 stt-s Of the division were sighted astern-
-he Argentine feet followed throughout the
,;rh1 and the next morning. the nth, Admiral
r--s,s sigualled single column In this forma-
-,,- --oceedfng at ten knots an hour, the feet
nag nsssed by the Argentine vessels at fifteen
lro- speed Salutes and courteous messages
-a-a exchanged between Rear Admiral Olivia
commanding the Argentine ships and Rear Ad-
-74-a- Evans The Argentine warships were the
san Martin the BeIgrano the Nueve Julio and
-ba R1,eros Ayres. They are fine looking YES
ssls and were well handled The sight OF the
mo fleets steaning side by side on smooth
"a IN ne-fect weather was & splendid one, and
viii be long remembered by those who saw It
After The review the Argentine ships turned and
disappeared astern-
The feet proceeded 10 the strait without Incl
dent. anc1oring at Possession Bay last night
and arriving al Punta Arenas shortly after noon
ro-day
The feet was met at The entrance Of Broad
Sound by the Chacabuco and the Sappho. On
arriving II port the Chiian Westminster OF
Marine and Jonn Hicks. American Minister at
Santiago de Chill. boarded the Connecticut and
greeted Admiral Evans, who has practically re-
covered from his attack OF rheumatism and is
actively directing the movements Of the feet
TIE arrival of the American battieships at Punta
Arenas on the Strait OF Magellan, brings them
t-- the first tine 10 Chilian port The strait is,
fz International agreement, neutral water, but the
bordering shores Of this great waterway are
Gillian except At the eastern entrance Patagonia
: the old name still IN for the southernulost
1s-r ~ South America including Terra del Fuego
and cape Horn. but Patagonia is not q state, and
TIE entire region is divided between Chill and Ar
gertina. Chill extending around from the west and
embracing the entire hook. including both the
route first navigated by Magellan and also the
Horn while Argentina extends down the east side
of South America and takes in ten miles OF the
northern shore Of the strait at its eastern en-
trance Thus Chilli commands the route, although
- waters are open 10 the traffic Of the world
From Punta Arenas onward the feet viii skirt
Chn.zu shores first through the westerly narroVVs
y rre strait and then northward along the 1hin
strip Of Chilian territory up 70 Peru
The rrezerra Of the Gillian cruiser Chacabuco
Pgs--a Arenas with distinguished oIllciais
N board including the United States Minister 10
ChuL Jo11 Hicks, is Chili's first tribute OF vel
coue"to the American feet
Living before tie ships OF Rear Admiral Evans's
feet ro4 az anchor in Sandy Point Road, Punta
Arenas the most soUtherly town in the world
presents Itself on bank about thirty-f1ve fee1
high. sl9-5-E slightly toward the sea and sur
Founded uy IoE hills covered with vegetation Ihe
houses. with the exception Of the government
aUlGi1Es AID number Of fine stone-bUilt struc--
1res. chiefly log huts. with slate or tile roofs
They a-= arranged IN squares. with wide, well
paved streets separating them The avenues CHS
to5al Colon DE ia Libertad, De Ia Independence
and oe "a FcrubIica fine. broad streets In the
oer1re of me toWn there are two plazas- In tEe
principal streets there are electric arc lights The
RI Dc Euas runs through the northern section
= tre town. and seasons OF heavy rain descends
Win great force. laden with sand from the ltlls
The small 2l0 de la Mano skirts the southern cnd
of The tow
Puma Arenas which was founded in 1850 as
sg--cu-taral settlement and aftefw-ard trans
formed Tor time a Chilian convict station.
r. acc -lred some Importance the headquar-
ters q the Territory Of Magellanes administra-
flo1- and indispensable port OF call for all
shipping passing through Magellan Strait At
present IL has = population Of over ten thousand
sersons. Tne local resources not inconsld-
rf5oie, and the settlers believe that prospects are
t1El-, ewing gold bearing reefs and coal fields
y TIE district which also is We'll suited for sheep
and cattle farming Il i = free port. the only
Hne = Chilli and Is the distributing centre for the
aeTritor-- - Magellanes- The exports. which con-
S1yt chiefly Of wool frozen meat. tallow skins.
2aHJer gold valued al about s3,00O.00O