The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-05-20
Rev. Swift Writes From Virginia
Newport News, Va, May 5, I

newport news, va, may D, 10.
Editor Glacier: | have promised
friends of mine in your city to send
one of the papers a letter telling them
of my travels. Now, that would take
too much of your space and my time,
for am busy.
a Since writing the last time have
seen most of Mexico, and let me just
say a word. That country and people
deserve not the censure, but the sym
pathy of all civilized people. They
are far beyond description. | saw the
very inside of it all. Have travelled
the gulf from end to end and have seen
the sights galore.
In the states of Texas and New Mex
leo and some in Mexico, | have driven,
according to the cyclOmeter, 35, 096
miles in the past year up till February
|, 10, and we rode in a Ford, or rather
two of them. We finished one and
had new one the last few thousand.
Now when you want to know any
thing about Texas we can tell you
some things. Since the first of Febru-
ary | have been through about II
states of the southland, beginning with
Texas and continuing into Maine. Also
Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti and $500
miles on the Atlantic. All these places
are worthy of mention, but time will
not permit. The most interesting
place was Jamaica, the earthquake
country.
And this harbor here at Newport
News. on Hampton Roads. The two
sea raiders, Prince Ethel and the
Kronprinz Wilhelm, of the German
fleet are now at anchor in the roads off
from Newport News, and Old Point
Comfort. Aboard the Kronprinz yes
terday ] had a splendid view of the
entire Atlantic fleet as they assembled
not far from us, getting ready to go to
New York harbOr in few days.
Thirty-seVen batteships all in one
bunch on this water made a sight that
any American would be glad to see,
the upper deck of the bravest German
steamer ever afloat. Those Dutchmen
Ia manly set of mem know something
of the size of the fleet, and shall not
be surprised if this was not the object
of Sec'y Daniels in getting them to-
gether at this time.
| saw the launching of two revenue
cutters at the ship yards last Saturday.
Mr.. Meade and daughter were here
with Mr.. Daniels, and many other peo-
pie of political prominence. William
Howard Taft was in Old Point Com
fort a few days prior to this in some
college work, and he is no smaller
physically than he was when Teddy
soid ttba mou fha biuuaok tb;n,x a.,
earth. Taft is a fine little fellow,
just the same.
| had the pleasure of riding on the
same boat in which jeff Davis was
brought across the James river, and of
going into the cell where he was kept
at FIT. Monroe. And thousand other
things here every day that carry one
back to the days of history This is
indeed a city and country for sight see
ing. Why do people go abroad?
Just now | hear cannonading from
the feet. Some other government boat
coming in, | guess.
| sail from here about the Goth of
May for New York, where | will spend
a few days and meet Mrs. Swift, who
is coming to New York from San
TIduClSCb ny tue dlldIid L udgo sea
ride. She will be aboard the Finland,
a 1000 passenger ship, the largest ever
yet coming through the ditch. We will
spend our honeymoon in thesNew En-
gland states, and return southIby- cold
weather. This kind of life is tiresome,
though nice.
The Maytower is at anchor here now
and is going up the James river today
as far as Richmond. | am going if |
can get ticket. Such things are not
easily purchased, however. Since
coming to this city have been board
ing with man who is foreman in the
ship building yards here, and who had
the contract for the wood work on both
the Beaver and Bear steamships that
ply from Portland to San Diego, Calf.
Mrs. Fred Howe will we'll remember
the Bear. | have seen her aboard and
she seemed to feel so peculiar.
The battleship Pennsylvania that was
launched here few weeks ago is now
nearing completion and | was aboard
her last Saturday. Received an invita-
tion to go with her on an Is day cruise
on her maiden trip, and | will promise
that while aboard her on that trip |
will write again.
Wishing all friends continued success
and sending Christian greetings to all,
am,
Your Humble Servant,
Jno. H. Swift.
p,,l.n4 S+,r - 1 ;pan MarEarS Rand