New-York tribune., 1908-02-07
GILLIAN HOSPITALITY.
Delays Departure of Fleet-Io BE
off Valparaiso ON February II.

! Punta Arenas Strait of Magellan. Feb. Sine
social gayeties in connection with the pfesehce
here of the American fleet of battleshps unoer
Rear Admiral Evans continue unabateo- Dih
ners and dancing. excursions and reeePtohs
follow one another in quick succession, the
Americans trying to repay the hospitaiity Oh
4 their Chilian hosts and the Chil1ans surviving
constantly TO put their visitors further In thelr
debt 1t was originally planned to have the
fleet leave here on the evening of February o.
but this programme was changed and the de-
parture was delayed until the 7th in order 70
give the Americans more time in which to return
the hospitality extended them by the residents
and the authorities of Punta Arenas
The health of Rear Admiral Evans. who at
Rio de Janeiro was suffering severely from rheu-
natism. is improving steadily.
The fleet will sail Friday night at II O'CLOCK
The torpedo boat fotiIla will accompany the bat
teships through the strait as far as Cape Pillar
{ From this point the smaller vessels will take an
inside passage the north At Valparaiso the
fleet will steam close in to shore and salute the
town. The Chilian cruiser Chacabuco viii pre-
cede the fleet out of the strait The vessels
expect to arrive off Valparaiso on Friday Feb
ruary IA, about o'clock in the afternoon.
One of the boats of the battleshp Rhode
Island, in which Midshipman Herndon B. Kelly
the spit near Punta Arenas. yesterday afternoon
by sudden heavy gust of wind The five men
clung to the bottom of the boat until a launch
went TO their aid and rescued them
John Hicks the American Minister to Chilli.
who came down to Punta Arenas the Chaca-
buco. entertained the American admirals and
captains at breakfast yesterday on board that
vessel Commander Hodges of the British
cruiser Sappho also was a guest. No toasts
were offered by the officers. but Henry L. James,
Secretary of the American Legation at VAL
paraso, made a brief address, which he brought
to close with the statement that he expected
that some day the sailors of the British, Chilian
and American navies would claim and attain
dominion over the Seven Seas.
While the officers were being entertained in
the wardroom of the Chacabuco two hundred
American and twenty British bluejackets had
breakfast on the lower deck. Much enthusiasm
prevailed and the sailors drank to the health Of
their respective nations and their commanding
adnlirals.
Tuesday afternoon there dance on
board the Chacabuco, at which the society of
Punta Arenas well represented. The decks
of the vessel were draped with the flags of all
nations and decorated with evergreens, while
fountains and kosks had been arranged where
they would not interfere with the dancing. Yes
terday afternoon there was a picnic to Rio Seco.
Thirty-four American officers drove cut to the
refrigerating plant where luncheon served,
returning later in the day.
Valparaiso Chill. Feb. 6-The news that the
American fleet Of battleshps will pass close to
the shore here and salute the port has been re-
ceived with enthusiasm. Preparations are be-
ing made for great demonstration of welcome