distribution.

JOHN ADAMS AIKEN

Greenfield, Massachusetts
February 29, 1908

The Voyage of the
Oregon

So we started on the 19th of March and I will try and give you some idea of our trip on this side of the U.S. Capt McCommick got sick and had to be releived to go on sick leif. Capt Clark was in comand of the Monteray at the time and he was a young Capt too. there was no other one around there at that time, so he was detailed to take comand of the Oregon and a prowed man he was too, and we wer a prowed crew along 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. ½ 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 match for a ordinary Torpedo Boat, and while all the Post on Deck were Double we consider our selves pretty safe. They are puting coal on board as fast as they can, working night and day to get it all on. we are going to take a big lot this time.

April 6. Pay day today. put on Sea stors today along with the coal, it all gos togather. But what is the diferance, this is War times and we are trying to get in it and I think we will if we get a show. I bought a nice pair of shoes today for 3.50 in U.S. Gold. there is no liberty to any one hear so we have to buy something that is some good to us. Expect to coal ship all night so as to pull out to morrow.

April 7. Got all the coal on this morning at 4 A.M. there is about 1750 tons on now, never had so much on before. got 100 tons on deck in sacks. we are knocking some of the coal dust off the sides. She is a