Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-04
LONG AND FAST TRIP
fremont Makes 14,4OO Miles
in Sixty-TWo Days.
ONE STOP AND ONE BLOW
Beats Shawmut to Port With Heavy
Handicap.
BEST WEATHER CONDITIONS
Squal1 in Straits of Magellan Lasts
Only Half Hour-Fun
Crossing Line.
ONE STOP AND ONE BLOW
EST WEATHER CONDITIONS

NEW YORK, April 3.-Rounding off her
journey of 14.400 miles. the. steamship
fremont. in from Seattle, reached port
today. Her passage time was siNty-two
days, made with but single stop on
the way and over smooth seas for the
whole time. except for a single squally
half-hour or so just on emerging from the
Straits of Magellan.
1t was a fortunate trip for the Ire
mont in every way. as sailors count it.
The good time made for the voyage was
due to the absence of every trouble that
is likely to hinder a vessel sooner or later
on a 14,OOO-mile course. To make such
journey with but one days break in the
progress is looked upon by sailormen
as phenomenal
Shawmut Beaten to Port.
Good luck enabled the fremont to win
from the Shawmut, which started with
a good handicap in one of the longest of
recent ocean races Both ships were sent
here for the isthmian canal commission
They are sister ships and were purchased
some months ago by the commission at
$l.157,OOo for the two.
Both started for New York January n.
but the Shawmut had the better of the
while the fremont set out from Seattle.
1t was not a neck and neck race: in
fact. the two vessels never sighted each
other. The Shawmut kept we'll ahead
until she had to put in for coal at Monte
video. There she was delayed for some
days. The fremont in the meantime
passed her.
The Shawmut is somewhere down off
the coast now. Just how far in the rear
is not known. She failed to come up
again with the fremont.
Good Weather Keeps Up.
Sailors who have been about the Horn
or through the Straits of Magellan many
times before predicted that the good
weather experienced all the way down
the Pacific coast would end there. They
were astonished to find the straits IS
smooth as an inland river. The usual
currents were present, but less vexatious
to navigation than at any time In the
memory of the old salts aboard.
March 1. at 1 o'clock in the morning,
the fremont entered the Straits Of Ma
gellan. On the day after, at 5 o'clock
In the afternoon, she pushed out into the
Atlantic. There she encountered what
For half an hour the fremont plunged
through the liveliest kind of Patagonian
blow. but shortly after nightfall the wind
vanished. 1t turned out to be only a
squall, and in few hours the usually
boisterous seas were as peaceful as at
any part of the trip.
Crossing the Line.
The big event Of the voyage was cross
ing the equator February II on the way
down. The veterans of the ships COM
pany had organized d police force" days
before to do detective work and worm out
the secrets of those VINO had never
crossed the line
Twenty-Five were found in all who had
never been initiated to Neptune, nor
gained immunity by their previous trav-
els. The sea anchor, big, canvas, fun
nel-shaped bag. was trced up on deck
forward and filled with sea water.
At eight bells promptly Neptune, in a
aboard over the bows. The novices were
brought before him and had TO submit
to being shaved with tar and a barrel
stave.
Then they were heaved into the tank
furnished by the sea anchor, full Of salt
water. They were tumbled I'm. clothes.
shoes and all, and had to climb out as
best they could.
Brings in Big Cargo.
her last private trip. Part Of it is 1OO.-
coo cases of canned salmon.
Slowed away in the hold are also 1, $50 =
600 feet Of Oregon pine. There are in
addition big consignments Of -four in bar
rels. and condensed milk.
M. w. Mowbray, who came along as
supercargo. Is to command the fremont
as soon as she comes into the commits
sion's hands.
Capt. Mowbray has a long sea record.
He commanded the Finance some months
ago when she was run down by the
Georgia.
The fremont made the present trip