Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1909-02-04
MADE TRIP
AROUND HORN
OUARTERMASTER FREED MAR.
RATES EXPERIENCES.

ing there he made the now famous trip
around the Horn with Admiral Evans
fleet, as a Quartermaster on the staff
of the present Commander in Chief,
then In command Of the Fourth Squad
ron.
Mr. Freed has consented to let us
use his description Of the movements
of this great collection of fighting
ships, which is especially interesting
az told by this enthusiastic young sea-
man. In speaking Of the trip Quarter
master Freed said:
son Monday, December is, 1907, the
battle ship fleet had all been assembled
in Hampton Roads and were ready to
start for the Pacific. Everyone was a
stir that bright, clear morning, the
sbips looked prouder, fiercer and more
beautiful than ever. Their white sides
and spar-colored superstructures CLEAN
ed in the sunshine. The harbor was
filled with small water crafts, which
circled around the ships with many
| SIptUdIOIS vi DOulds NJ " " NiONh blb
dressing lines were triced up to the
mastheads and every ship was uniform
" and beautifully dressed from truck
TO water line. A short while later the
DOLPHIN was observed coming up the
bay, followed by the Mayfower, flying
the Presidents flag. At 8:45 the rails
we're manned and salute of 81 guns
were fired in honor of the President.
Shortly after the Mayhower steamed
between the two lines of ships and an
chored in the center. A signal appear
ed at her yard arm requesting the flag
and commanding officers TO report on
board for conference. Another sig
I nal appeared and the boatswain's mate
piped 'All hands up anchor. The
, Mayfower led the way to sea, the bat
tleships forming line about three
miles long, the Mayfower dropped hel
anchor at Cape Henry, where the Pres
ident reviewed the feet, receiving g
9 81 gun salute as each ship passed
q Once clear of the land the fleet formed
a in column open order with distanc,
of 400 yards between each vessel.
Three days out we encountered th'
Gulf Stream and the temperature, ris
7 ing, permitted the uniform to b.
a changed from blue to white. On th
fifth day, as we entered the Virgin
q Passage, the Missouri left the line t.
take sick man to the Naval Hospita
# at Culebra, w. |. That night the II
- linois left the line to take sick mai
to San Juan, p r., and both vessel
- Joined the fleet the next day. On Sun
day morning, December %, pail o
sorrow and sadness fell over the ship
v An ordinary seaman died after few
> hours struggle with pneumonia AM
cerebral meningitis. At =. m. al
n hands were called to the quarterback
where the body had been prepared TO
,s burial. The fleet stopped, half-maste
4 ensigns, and the crews gathered abou
with uncovered heads while the cap
q tain read the burial service, and, wit
the words, 1--WE commit his body t
the Deep" the body was lowered owe
the side and beneath the waves. Thre
volleys were fired, taps blown and
Is sad scene. which cannot be forgotten
/ was over With heavy hearts the me
u turned away, the engines resume
VI their monotonous chug chug, whic
% suddenly seemed to contain sorrow
10 full tone, and the great fleet swun
ot back into position and resumed il
)t course to the south.
$ We steamed all day Monday unit
20 $3.50 p. m, when the lookout Gale
g down from aloft, Land no. Their
II dead ahead and rising from the CARL
ot bean sea lay the land of Trinidad. W
7r entered the Dragons Mouth, whic
III connects the Caribbean and the Gulf {
u Paria, just as the sun was setting
u With pretty maneuver we change
Oh from single column to line of division
: and skirted the shore now CROWN
dim in the after glow, as the sun san
below the distant mountain peaks {
Venezuela. An electric light Sign
ii flashed, engines backed, then. with
M great splash, the anchor was let go an
20 the fleet was at anchor in the qui,
c. waters of the Gulf of Paria. The i
IL land Of Trinidad lies ten degrees mort
"a of the equator, between so and SO d.
to grees west longitude and is about
to miles east of Venezuela. 1t is of a
e. most triangular shape. having an ar,
re of about 1850 square miles. 1t wi
d. discovered by Columbus on his thil
at voyage, in July, 1859, who found tv
tribes of Indians its only inhabitant
Under Spanish rule these were SOC
exterminated. In 1919, Chacon su
rendered to Abercrombie and from TIL
date it has been under the Britt,
as Crown. The capital of Trinidad
Port au Spain, town of some so, o.
p inhabitants, which possesses model
conveniences. San Fernando is d
OF next town of importance, with pop
ne lation of about 5000 inhabitant
There are many settlements numberil
from 1000 to 4. 200 people. The emit
" population numbers in the neighbC
ie hood of lS5. 600. 1t is very cosmopo
On tan, having twenty different nationa
Us ties scattered over its fertile plai
IN 4