The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-06-07
Aboard U. S. S. san Francisco.


Vera Cruz, Mexico, May %, 1914.
It was with many regrets 0ikewise
sighs) that we left Pensacola. on the
afternoon of January 9Th, bound for
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The boys
were unanimous in declaring Pensa-
cola the best city on the coast, and
that never before had it been their
good fortune to meet so hospitable and
social a set of people. l wish to thank
the citizens of your fair city, for the
= many courtesies extended, and the
many good times shown us, during our
sojourn there
After a pleasant, but rather unevent-
full trip, we arrived at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba. Our stay, though, was of
a rather short duration, as we fingered
only long enough to take on coal and
provisions, proceeding the next day to
Culebra, u. s. w l. While at CuIebra,
participated in the war game of the
fleet versus the army, with her shore
batteries and mined harbor.
On February End. we left for Qua
canayabo Bay, Cuba, with the inten-
ton of holding our winter target prac-
tice on the range there; upon the COM
pletion of which, we were all looking
forward to our return to the states,
for a long overhaul period at the navy
yard, which would also have enabled
us to secure leave of absence to visit
relatives and friends. Our intentions
were good, but the navy department
decreed otherwise, for Immediately af-
ter our arrival we received orders to
proceed to Cape Haitien, Haiti, to pro-
tect American interests during the rev.
olution there.
Upon our arrival, we sent a COM
pany of bluejackets ashore, who pa
trolled the city in the vicinity of the
American consulate. After about
week at this duty, orders were receiv
ed by radiogram, from the commander
IN Of aP atnlT
upon being relieved by the Wheeling,
to proceed, post haste, to Vera Cruz.
Mexico. stopping only long enough en-
route, at Guacanayabo Bay, Cuba, to
coal and take on provisions. After
very pleasant and uneventful trip, we
arrived at our destination on February
23rd. We found a number of our
ships, namely, the Minnesota, Con-
neCticut. Utah, and Florida, in the out
er harbor. England, Germany, France
and Spain also had vessels here to
represent their nation. Our first stay
in this port was of about one months
duration, and proved rather unevent-
full. as there was practically nothing
happening that would tend to break
the monotony of ship life. Shore leave
was granted, daily, to officers and chief
petty officers, which helped to make
time pass quite rapidly. l met a, fine
lot of young men at the Spanish Cas-
inc (club) here, with whom L spent
many a pleasant afternoon at bowling
and billiards.
Witnessed a Bull Fight.
On an afternoon the first week of
our stay party of us chief petty of
ficers, attended Mexican bull fight.
which by the way, was the second of
its kind that | have witnessed, the first
being In Lima, Peru, in February, 1908,
on the memorable cruise of the fleet
around the world. All told, six bulls
nv he ta Of
fair opened with the grand entree of
the matadors and picadors. who para
ded around the arena. The assem-
blage consisted most of Spaniards and
Mexicans. with a goodly sprinkling of
the fair sex, who. by the way, appear
ed to be just as blood-thirsty as their
more hardy companions. After a
time, the gates were thrown open, and
an enraged bull made his debut:
whereupon the piCador got busy and
further enraged him by the waving of
many bright red mantillas. A number
of the picadors were mounted, and in
cited the bull by prodding him with
long spear on the end of which was a
short barb, Just long enough to pene-
trate the skin. The enraged beast
gored several horses. who were unable
to evade his rushes. The sight was
sckening. To still further enrage the
dumb creature, picador would get out
in the middle of the arena. with two
short sticks, having barbed ends, wav-
ing same to attract the bulls attention.
The bull on seeing same, would, at
once, make a mad rush at the man.
who in turn would adroitly evade him
and would. in the meantime, plunge the
barbed instruments of torture, known
as banderillas, into the bulls neck or
back, as he went Careening by. After
the picadors had melted the beast TO
the utmost. and had so tired him that
the so-called sport was becoming of
too tame a nature for the blood-thirs-
ty audience, who were also clamoring