Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-27
FIGHTING bob MADE HAPPY
Chilean Good VIII and Tact Dis
poses of Naval Insult.
INCIDENT OF THE BIG CRUISE
Hitherto UnpubIished story of the
welcome at Punta Arenas and
Marines Grave
Offense, 80.

The death OF Rear Admiral. Robiey d.
Evans releases from the obligation OF
silence about dozen men conversant
with the fs;ll facts Of a stirring incident
in the cruise OF the Atlantic feet around
the world. which. but for the generous tact
Of Chilean admiral. might have narTsd
seriously the career Of Evans although
he was in no wise responsible for It;
have damaged his reputation With the
American people and have strained the
relations between Chile and the United
States TO a greater degree than in the
late SOS. when the two republics were
close to war.
A United States marine knocked down
with his fist two officers Of a Chilean
gunboat while he was a guest with other
marines and sailors on that vessel in the
Chilean hsrbor Of Punta Arenas. In the
Strait Of Magellan. in February. isos, and
this broke up an entertainment which
the chilesn sailors were giving to our
sailors Settlement Of the affair was q
matter Of honor-one OF those things
which In these days OF peace treaties Il
Is said cannot be settled in any other
way than by the code OF honor. The
quick wit OF Rear Admiral Simpson Of
the Chilean navy settled the matter 90
completely that not the slightest blot re-
manned upon the reputation of Evans.
and the American people were kept In
complete ignorance of an event which
might have caused national indignation
and humiliation. Tho incident was the
most serious OF all the happenings In
the unwrtten history Of the big cruise.
surprisfng Welcome.
When the Atlantic fleet reached Punta
Arsaas the southsrnmost city Of the giobe'
the jumplng-off municipality. the town
was; ablaze with Amarican- nags. More
than 10000 Of these flags had been sent
from New York. An English igunboat,
the Sapho. was also in the harbor. and
Simpson was there with the chacabuco,
with the assistant secretary OF the
Chilean navy and with our Minister John
Hicks Of Oshkosh fby gosht as some one
put III ana our consul general 10 VAL
paradise. Such blng-banging time as
there wasl The roar Of saiuting guns
seemed to keep up for an hour. Simpson
had learned Of Evans' illness and. waving
his superior rank. called on Evans at
onca The latter. raoked with pain. was
lying on cot In q little bare room on
the aftsrbridge containing only one chair
and small table, Their greeting was
effusfve
We've rot the town all fixed up"
said Simpson. ''rhs police have been
told TO 20 back to the woods and you
can send the men ashore an soon AZ you
please.
send the special first GLASS amen
ashore" said Evans 10 his chief Of staff
Then there began n round OF enter-
ssinments such ~ ne town Of isep
Inhabitants had ever seen before. There
vers DANCES and dinners ana teas. and
receptiens sshore. lsndr snos1 iintii all
hands were nearly exhausted. For the
size Of The place fudkA Arenas was the
sxfffess town the, atlantic flset visited
on Its worid-girdling Trip. The past was
past. tho dead were dead. .byEones were
byeones and nobody rcjoiccd moro ovtr
II than Evans. Ills dream, Of becoming
. Vice ADMIRAL took on a roster glow
Chile had forgottsn and forgiven. Evans
almost forgot his pains. n
Golna the Limit. III
But Simpson wasn't Satisfied He and
his fellow officers were 90 desirous of
proving that the era Of good-feeling had
arrived that they decided shatrsaretling
$500 .~..s. -. A.. frt - $1,000. n...t2
not think Of anything n16fe ,ths Chileans
could DO In tho way of hospitality, but
AZ last the ChileAns found Il. The
Chilean sailors would entertain tho Ameri.
can sailors at a iunohson on board the
Chilean flagship. Now. there were iAoo
American sailors In port. and inc Chilean
vessel could not hold a tenth OF them
II was decided therefore that a delegation
of about twenty men from each American
ship should be entertained. and Evans
ordered that picked men from each
division on each ship should be sent
: The Chile4ns dressed the chacabuco
Is Il royalty was about to pay a visit
The vessel was encased IN bunting.
Tables were spread In the superstrlc-
turs on the quarter and fr'c'sls decks
Flowers were everywhere and the band
played its best music. The English sail
ors were also invited II was to be a
great naval party. Tho Chilean officers
demanded a share In the entertainment,
and they consented to pour out and pass
the hard stuff that was to be consumed.
Prom the marine division on the Louis
lana man was chosen whose name for
the purpose OF this story may be deslg-
mated As John Angel He was the mos,
splc and span man In the crew. HIS
trousers were always creased. his uniform
always perfect; he was the best sailor
soldier man on the ship: never false
move. always correct and faithful in his
work The ship secretly was proud OF him
and so was Richard Wainwright, then
captain Of ths.Louisiana
The Louisiana delegation pulled over, a
mile and half in a big whaleboat un-
der charge OF a petty officer.
Hearty were the greetings on the Cha.
fesbuco. Many OF the Chilean sailor,
speak English. American. Chilean and
English sailors were interzpersed at IN.
tables and the luncheon began.
FighfinE. Beoze.
Now. they have q drink down in thoss
countries called pisco. deadly distilla
ZION. that Iooks as HARMLESS as water and
resembles In appesrence the Japanes,
sake or the Russian vodka. An Gifted
asked Angel IL he would have drink
1ie said he would and he swallowed .
glass Of pisco. Did he like it, He SAID
he did. He thought II was some Kind oil
white wine. Would he have another.