with
him. he was glad he got the ship and we wer glad we got him. we knew he
was a good Seaman. any way he called us all aft on the quarter deck and
read out his orders and told us that we wer going towards south
America. I will now try and give you the trip.

_March_ 19. 1898 Up anchor at 8 A.M. in San Francisco Bay. I had the 8
to 12 watch and we past through the Golden Gate at 9.15 A.M. and left
the Fairwell Bouy at 10.5 A.M. and shaped our course for Callao, Peru,
it being S.E. 1/2 E, and at the same time we drop over the Patent Log
in the Briny. the Capt gave orders to give 75 turns and that brought
her out about 11.5 knots. Every thing is runing smooth and all Hunk.

_March_ 20. Sliding along at 11.8 knots gate. Every thing working
beautyfull. nothing of interest going on, except the fine Wether.

_March_ 21. Changed course at 10. A.M. to S.E. Will not put down any
thing for some time to come as there is nothing unusal going on, But I
wonder if we will get there to catch up with the Band Wagon.

_April_ 4. Arived at Callao, Peru, 5.30 A.M., very pleasant trip all
the way down the coast, we are doing quick work so far. started to coal
ship at 8 A.M. and as soon as we get enough on board we will pull right
out for the straights of Magellan and there join the Marietta, our
little Gun Boat, which will scout the straights for us in case there is
a Spanish Torpedo Boat in one of the Many Coves. She can go in shallow
water as she is a light draft boat and at the same time order coal for
us.

We have allready made one of the grandest runs on record. Just think of
it, a First Class Battle Ship making 4800 miles in just 16 days and
used 900 Tons of Coal, That being the longest trip on record for a
First Class Battle Ship.

_April_ 5. We are now laying over an old city in Peru. they say when
some of the ships hoist there anchor they some times rais some of the
old houses or part of them with the anchor. This old place is some 109
years old, the Old Callao, I mean. 109 years ago they had an Earthquake
and Tidle Wave hear togather and did up the city. The public hear speak
nothing but Spanish and the Capt thinks there might be som sympathizers
amongst Them, so we are keeping the strickest Kind of watch on the
ship. We have two steam cutters pattroling the ship all night and men
station in the fighting tops as sharp shooters. the steam cutters are
armed with two automatic 22 m.m. Rifles, so that would more than be a
matc