Punta Arenas, Chile

In the Strait of Magelian

"The trip through the Strait will be one that I never will cease tiring telling of.  We started at eleven oclock on Friday night Feb. 7/08 and the next morning when I got up, land was in reach a quarter of a mile on either side of the Straits some places it widened out and in oone or two plaes even grew marrower.  The barren mountains towering thousands of feet on either side covered with the everlasting snow which never melts.  At one place wew caught sight of a large glacier which ran down off the mountain almost to the bottom, the ice appeared to be of a light blue, and all sorts of beautiful colors.  The wind blew a gale all the time we were passing through, and we all heaved a sigh of relief whenwe got safely through, for in several places it was quite dangerous navigating. "

Frank's card from the Strait

The mountains throught the Straits are all composed of rocks, with very little vegitation and not once did we see signs of any human beings.  Passed four steamers going through.  At one place the Straits make an abrupt turn to the right and it looked as if we were going to run up on the dry land, but when we reached the point we found that there was an opening to the right through which we passed.

 At Sea, from Rio to Callao

Fank Lesher was a loyal letter writer during the cruise.  he found time to type letters on every aspect of his life and to respond to what was going on at home.  At time it could have been about the time he spent on the ship.  "Only got ashore once at Trinidad, once at Rio Janeiro, and twice at Punta Arenas."

 The town is built on the side of a hill, and all the follows who have seen western mining towns say that it reminds them very much of the above mentioned towns.  The majority of the houses are but one story high, and built of corrigated iron sides and roof.  The legation buildings are built of concrete, and present a good appearance.  From the ship the hourses look all alike on account of the rooves all being made of the same material.  Coal is sold at 35 dollars a ton so you can imagine there is not much of it used.  Wood is very plentiful, and all day long in the summer time (which is the present season) ox carts with there loads of wood can be seen streaming into the twon from the surrounding mountains. Oxen and horses are the chief animals of burden, but the oxen are used chiefly for hauling materials of all kinds.  Saw them digging a cellar of a house and it looked funny to see the oxen coming out of the excavation with there load of dirt.  Horses are used for riding and driving there being many sheep ranches in the interior.

This card, mailed to Frank from a shipmatein 1909, shows the fleet in Punta Arenas during their visit.

Small decorated gord purchased in Punta Arenas

Fur stores can be seen on all sides, and fine furs can be bought very cheaply, but one runs a reat risk in bringing them as they areliable to get moths in them bringing them home, and then again they might not be properly tanned.

This place was formerly a penal colony and you can certainly see the remains of them in the present generation.  A frew savaages can be seen going around the town but they are dressed in civilized wearing apparel.  I expect to see the real article when we start to go through the remainder of the Straits.  There are also a great many German people aroundhere most of them dealing furs.

The Chilian dollar is called the Pasos and is valued at present at twenty cents in our money but the value, like the Brazilian, rises and falls with the price of silver.  I have secured a collection of them and will show them to you at the earliest opportunity.

A 1909 card of the fleet's visit to Punta Arenas mailed from a shipmate, A. Maynard

The pavements of the town consist of gravel with a wooden curbing.  Everything is snowed in in the winter time, and the people try to make enough in the summer time to tide them over the winter.  I went into a restaurant to get something to eat.  Had two sandwiches which cost me twenty cents apiece, and a cup of coffee ten cents and for the sugar and condensed milk five cents more so from this you can judge how much other food stuffs sell for.  

A second card, "Do you remember Punta Arenas?  Yes its always the same.  Souvenir for you." A Maynard.

At present there is a small English Gun boat, and a Chilean cruiser in the harbor, the Chilean is going to give a little entertainment for our men tonight.