The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-03-01
HAVING FUN,
JACK STAHL WRITES OF EXPER-
FENCES AT SOUTHERN WIN
TER CARNIVALS.

In a letter to homefolks Jack
Stahl, of the navy, tells of life as he
is living it in the far south. Until
February Is he was stationed at Key
West, Fla, aboard the cruiser RAJ
leigh, one of a fleet of seven cruisers.
Under date of February 20 he writes
from Tampa, Fla, to which port the
fleet had cruised to take part in the
annual state winter carnival. In his
letter Jack says:
Gala week opened in Tampa on
Monday and we had liberty every
day, but nothing very %eventful hap
pened until Wednesday, This was
Governors day and the governor and
his staff came down from Jackson
vile to view the military parade
which was to be pulled off in his hon
or. About / o'clock in the afternoon
the procession was formed headed by
the navy band which is aboard our
flagship, the Dolphin. The parade
comprised marines next to the band,
sailors, discharged soldiers, home
guards, boy scouts. The streets were
jam full of people, eager to get a
glimpse of the military visitors.
They did not make any demonstra-
ton at sight of the marines, but
when the bluejackets showed up on
the scene you should have heard the
applause. don't blame them as
there is nothing which makes such an
impression on a person as a big body
of bluejackets with their dress blues,
white hats and white leggings. We
marched down the mai n avenue and
then to the fair groun DIS where a
large crowd had alread Y gathered to
greet us. We entered the grounds
and marched around the race track
and in front of the grardstand where
the governor and his staff with Rear
Admiral Anderson, VIII 10 is/in com
mand of the fleet were seated.
OF course the parade being a grand
success made the people of Tampa
eager to show us a GOO time durine
our stay in the city so the Red Gross
ladies got their heads together &c
think up some entertainment for us
AS a result we were all given a ride
on four trolley cars out to Sulphur
Springs park and spent the whole o.
this morning looking over the alliga
tors and other tropical curiosities
Then at ] sharp this afternoon all thu
people who could spare their car hat
1t down to the docks and we all go
in and away we went to view tn,
city. We rode from / d ntil 4 all Over
the beautiful drives and through tn,
parks of Tampa. AS 1t happened
four of us all from the Raleigh, step
ped into a large car. The coloreC
chauffeur and a lady with an angors
dog were sitting in the front seat
She greeted us as we entered her cal
and made the remark, II am not 81
well acquainted with the sailors, as
was raised a marine" Then sh,
went on to explain that her father
was a major in the marine corps
Her husband must be one of tn,
wealthiest men of lamp, as she hai
! two large cars and a fine yacht. Sh,
also said she had several fine derb!
horses. 1t seems h is very fond o
pets as she has no children. AS W.
rode around the city she talked anC
naturally got very well acquainted
with us. We drove by her home ant
1t is sure a. beautiful mansion. Sh,
sure got stuck on us and said she wa
so sorry we couldn't stay in lamp;
longer as she would introduce us t.