Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-06-14
/. BUCHNER VISITS
THE PACIFIC FLEET
Large Portion of Navy Assem-
bled off San Diego.
Herald Writer Meets Former Lancaster
Boy Who Has "Made Good"
in the West
BY HERMAN BUCHNER

The people, young and old, who
lived in and around Lancaster about
the year 1885, Will we'll remember
Minor Perrin, the handsome young
clerk of Papa Wrlght's splendid
hostelry.
It was through my old friend,
Alex Mccartney, that I ascertained
that he was at San Diego. It seems
that after he left Lancaster he drifted
into San Diego and found employment
with the Spreckles people, who at
that time were just starting to ex-
pand.
Minor stuck to the company, and it
must have been on account of his
ability and rrustworthiness, that
from time to time he was advanced
from place to place until at present
he is in charge of number of the
different branches of the great
Spreckles companies immense business
as the following card will Indicate
NJ. j. Perrin, superintendent San
Diego Electric Railway Co. San
Diego & Coronado Ferry Co. Point
Iona Railroad, San Diego, Cal.
| don't know that he was ever in
the army, but in some way he has
acquired the title of major, and by
this title he is generally know. The
general Offices Of the company are in
the Union Building, which is by far
the finest Office building in the city.
I went twice to his Office. A clerk
in the ante room inquired what bust
ness I was on: told him that | had
none He informed me that Mr..
Perrin was not in. The third time
visited his Office left my card, after
being unable to see him. I was
bound, however. TO get near him, and
went again. When I entered the
anteroom,- the clerk said to me,
"You are Mr.. Buchner, take a sea
please; the majorsswishes TO see you.
The major suon came down, and was
pleased TO see me. He took me up to
the upper story occupied the Cuya-
macca Club, whereI was introduced
to number Of gentlemen. Soon after
that the following card was handed
me:
San Diego, Cal Mich %, 1911.
The privileges CT the Cuyamacca Club
are extended to
Mr. Herman Buchner for ten days.
Compliments Of NJ. j. Perrin
I was told that my money was no
good, to order what I wanted, and to
make myself at home. This [ dad.
took lunch and dinner with Mr..
Perrin, played billiards, and spent
pleasant few hours. The club rooms
were comfortably and elegantly ar
ranged, the cuisine and the service
generally were without fault.
Next morning Mr.. Perrin took me
over the ferry to Coronado. and intro
duced me to gentleman and said,
Captain Johnson, this is my friend
Buchner. Take care Of him today
This was responded to by "Ay, Ay,
Major. Captain johnson, had really
not attained the rank of captain, but
was commanding the y. SIS. Fortune,
boat about $50 feet long, which was
used as a tender and dispatch boat to
the outlying fleet.
The people of the United States are
really not aware OF the number of
, ships Of the Pacific fleet, then as
sembled near San Diego.
Rear Admiral Chauncey Thomas
was the Commander in Chief Rear
Admiral Sutherland, Junior Admiral.
The fleet consisted of the armored
cru isers California, South Dakota,
, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Maryland. Special service boats,
Buffalo, Glacier. Yorktown and Pro-
vincetown. The flagship was the
California. All the cruisers were at
target practice near the Coronado
Island. except the Maryland which
was at anchor in the outer bay,
The Fortune had orders to call at
the Maryland, and I had the fortune
to be a passenger. Captain Johnson
was splendid entertainer. He had
sailed on merchant ships and had
touched many ports where had been
when following the sea. We took
strange liking to another and had a
good time.
We steamed out to the Maryland
for orders and also passed tugboat
which had brought targets from San
Francisco, which were no small
things. The surface of the targets
showed about six feet by one hundred
feet floating about foot above water,
except on each end. where square of
six feet of timber is attached They
ICnntlnnnd an 81 na 90 M