Sydney, Australia

The trip to Blackheath

Sidney, Australia

August 20^th, 1908

Dear Papa,

We arrived today from Auckland, and were greeted by the largest contingent of steam and sailing craft that has so far greeted us as yet.  The trip from Auckland here was very rough and stormy.  The ship rolled thirty-one degrees to starboard and twenty-one to port.  This is the greatest number of degrees that she has rolled.  For one day we were not able to set the tables and had to eat off the decks.  They stretched lines along the gun deck so that we would be able to walk along without being carried from one side of the deck to the other.  A large quantity of glass in the store rooms was broken, and much other damage done.  

This certainly is a most beautiful harbor, land-locked on all sides except a small entrance it affords ample protection to all classes of vessels. There is plenty of room on the inside to anchor all of the USN.  Residences are built right along the edge of the harbor and their lots run down to the waters edge.  One does not see any unsightly advertising such as greets the eye at many of our American ports.  Am sending you papers and a map of the place, together with a set of views published by the government for the occasion.  Am going ashore on Saturday and will write you more on my return.

August 23^rd, 1908

Dear Papa,

Went ashore on Saturday morning at six-fifteen and took the trip up to the Blue Mountains, the name of which sounded very familiar to me.  As we walked from the dock to the train station the workmen going to their work hailed us with words of greeting and we answered back.  At the railroad station we had breakfast which consisted of sandwiches and tea.

At eight-thirty we boarded a special train consisting of six day coaches (built American plan) and a parol car, drawn by two English locomotives.  The railroads are all owned by the government and they gave us one of the best trains that they could get up.  The railroad gauge is not as broad as ours, neither are their cars as large nor have they laboratories in them, stations being used for that purpose, where stops are made of from five to eight minutes.

After a ride of three hours we reached our destination Blackheath a mountain village 3900 feet above sea level, frequented by summer tourists and sight-seers, but as it was their winter season or rather early Spring, there were not many tourists in evidence.  We were met by the village pastor and members of the Australian Parliament, and conducted to a spot where we planted three trees, one of them an American Oak, in honor of the event. 

We were then conducted to the Ivanhoe Hotel where luncheon was served and toasts were drunk to the close friendship existing between the American and English nations.

After luncheon we were shown some of the grandest scenery I have ever seen.  Saw a place where a stream of water drops over a cliff to a depth of five-hundred and twenty feet below.  It is called Govettes Leap because at one time a convict escaped from a chain gang and in order to escape capture leaped over the cliff.  From this point could also be obtained a beautiful view of the gorge and canyon beyond.  After tea at the hotel at three-thirty we returned to Sidney arriving at seven-fifteen.

The city is far different from what I had expected to see.  Being up to date and in many ways reminding one of an American city.  The city is beautifully illuminated by night, with electricity, gas being very little used as at Auckland.  Everywhere you go you are greeted in a most cordial manner and the people see in this visit of the fleet a still more firmer alliance between the Australian possessions and the USA.