The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-08-05
MID. CY H. DYLE, JR-,
in THE CANAL ZONE

Midshipman Cy H. Lyle, Jr., writes
his mama an interesting account of
his trip to California on the first
American warship to pass through
the Panama Canal:
U. S. S. Wisconsin, AT Sea.-(X-
101 .-0f-W.; Lat, 22.-52'N.)-Sunday.
July 25. 19l5.-Dear Mamma: We are
due in San Francisco Wednesday
morning, and as | won't have much
opportunity to write after we get
there, thought had better do il
now. Could have mailed letter in
Gatun Canal Zone), but didn't know
until it was too late.
Having had orders to make the
best of our way to Colon, we left Gu
ananomo before the other ships ar
rived there, and had the honor of be-
ing the first American war ship ever
locked in the Canal. This was
more or less of an accident. Admi-
raj FulIam had ordered us to wait
outside for him and his two ships,
but the Canal authorities didn't have
berth for us, so we proceeded
through the Canal. through the Ga
tun Locks, and anchored in the Gatun
Lake That afternoon we went on
liberty, and the next morning went
down to the Locks and laughed while
the other ships came in. The fleet
was then full-dressed and with all the
celebrities of the Canal Zone on
board the flag ship, passed on
! through the remaining portion.
We didn't stop at Panama, and ey-
er since we have been steaming up
the Central American and Mexican
coasts at about ten knots. At pres
ent we have just rounded the cape
of lower California, and turned
north.
1
big surprises to me-the Zone on ac-
count of it's GOODNESS. Out in the sun
it was hot, but there was fine
breeze, and very pleasant.
The weather was slightly damp on
account of the rainy season (during
which it rains every day., but it
clears off Immediately afterwards
and merely cools the atmosphere.
Nobody seems to mind the rain at
all.
The tropical vegetation and the
strange looking birds and animals
had more effect upon me than any
other foreign shore ! ever saw.
guess this was because the scenery
was SO absolutely different. | have
always had dreams of tropical islands
and their accompanying romance and
the Isthmus certainly aroused all
these latent longings. Robinson Cru
soc had nothing on me.
The wonderful way ship is han
died in the canal is marvellous, the
most striking thing being the way
the locks are filled and emptied. The
chambers are 1000 feet long, 10 feet
wide and 40 feet deep. When yes
sci goes in, the water is pumped in
! and the ship raised 40 feet in almost
I seven minutes. Or, if the ship is go
+, ing the other way, the reverse is true
You cant get an idea of the speed b!
stating it in minutes, but If you coult
see big liner sink out of sight, yol
: would be impressed all right. Also
the average bath tub empties in al
: most five minutes-this gives you al
, idea. BY looking around you won
! der how in the world they got ava,
, SO cheap; 365 million isn't much fol
all the things you see.
We will be two weeks in San Fran
cisco, leaving there on the 14th o.
August. If we don't speed up this
will put us back in Annapolis on th'
18th of September. Am afraid this
will be carried out to the letter st
don't look for me before the 14th, al
we have class dinner in Baltimore
the night we disembark.
| don't know where to address thi'
: letter, but hope you will get it al
right. How do you like it at thu
, Home now? The only thing worry
ing me is the fact that | will have t.
/ stay at home every night can't cal
in the city until 1100 p. m. and ex
pect to make it to the Home before
!, 4. The last car runs at 10, doesn'
! lit? Will write again before we show
off from Frisco guess that will b.
the last time before seeing you.
Lovingly,
BROTHER.
, ------------------------
) HANDLERS OF FOOD