The National tribune., 1886-11-25
AUSTRALIA.
A Comrades Ten -ThOuSSnd-Mile Trip
to the AntipOdeS.

rs Dcst i can. nave nrSl 10 confess lnai aul
a much better jsyhawker than a newspaper
writer. i left old Pennsylvania (where was
Commander Of Post No. 400, GAR, from its
organization until left Oct. z. 1855, aud with
my wife and four children boarded the train ut
Oil City. We remained on the train ono week,
night and day. We had good sleeper with
FIVE beds, and only ate two meals of OF the
train during the whole week. ] must say we
enjoyed ourselves most gloriously during the
whole trip. We passed through Chicago aud
Kansas City, and spent a half day at Las Vegas
Hot Springs, then on past the Needles" TO
San Francisco.
We stopped in California nearly one month,
visited several OF It's cities and fcasted on her
golden fruits wines, etc, 20 our hearts con-
tent My children bought large crate Of the
finest grapes ] ever saw for 40 cents. California
is not only the Golden State in the yellow
metal, but in her golden fruit, golden grain and
golden climate.
But now came the tug Of war. We all
marched down TO the great Pacific Mall steam
ship wharf which seemed TO extend out into
the bay for a mile. On one side We saw two
great iron steamships, one
JUST IN FROM CHINA,
discharging her cargo of tea, etc, the other one
taking on a cargo for New York, by way OF
Panama. On the other side of the great wharf
we saw n monster iron steamship, with tower
ing masts. The decks were thronged with
people aud officers. Hundreds were hurrying
90 and fro all in excitement; some shaking
hands some kissing their friends, perhaps for
the last time.
il is now 2 p m, and the time has come for
us TO leave the best country the sun ever shone
upon. An officer shouts "All strangers on
shore! Haul in the gang plank! Cast off,"
Clang-clang goes the bell, and the blue water
begins TO surge and foam underneath the great
ship as we move of. Cheer after cheer goes
up from the wharf, and the air is white with
waving handkerchiefs Bang! goes the cannon,
and slowly We leave the great wharf pass
down the bay past the great forts, through
the Golden Gate, and out upon the "briny
deem" We watch the most glorious Of all the
flags that ever hoated, the Stars and Stripes, rs
far as the tear-bedimmed eyes can penetrate,
and when we can see it no more we heave
long sigh and feel rs though we have lost every
friend in the world. When we Law in the rifle
pits in front Of Petersburg we had a country
aud a flag that we felt proud even TO die for.
Now we are upon the great ocean, without
country, a flag or a home. What c0ntrasti
ii is now growing dark, and all are beginning
10 get seasick. And what n terrible time we
have. All lie around on deck, too sick 10 60
below 20 bed. We feel as though We could not
possibly live,
so WE DO NOT TRY.
There is nothing in the world we care for now
except TO wish we were again on land. The
children lie around like the dead upon bat
tlefela, nearly frozen, but too sick 10 know il
and when the thought enters the mind that
this is only the first night Of 26, We seem TO
stop breathing for q while.
All this continues for six days, when some
one cries out Land" All rush TO that side of
the ship and strain their eyes TO their utmost
TO get a glimpse just a faint glimpse, of old
Mother Earth again. We feel as though we
have not seen her for a month. The great
rocks and hills Of the Sandwich Islands rise be-
fore us, aud presently we sec the little city of
Honolulu nestled among the evergreen trees at
the fo1t Of large hill or mountain. We soon
Ere our cannon; a pilot comes on board and
tries TO run in to the wharf, but the turn is too
short for him, so we make large circle around
the Bay and finally swing safely up alongside
the wharf, but not until after dark. iJnce more
we get our feet on real carth-andfhow queer
IL seems! We can hardly walk. We have be-
come 30 accustomed TO the motion Of the ship
that everything seems TO be rolling like huge
waves. The sidewalk seems TO rock just like
the deck Of the ship.
We take n stroll about the city, which ap-
pears 10 be very lively, as there is a circus in
town and the King of the Islands is on exhibit
tion in the circus, and We can see the whole
curiosity for the small sum Of 80 cents; but as
we have considerable shopping to do. we do not
so in. So we are unable 10 say which was the
greatest show,
THE CIRCUS OR THE KING.
II was very hot, especially inside the stores,
although il had rained but few hours before.
TYO-thirds of all the business on all the streets
We passed through was carried on by Chinese,
who appeared 10 be doing a good trade. The
stores kept by the whites were well stocked
with good goods we'll up TO the times and were
clean and tidy. Aside from the excessive heat
il looked as if il would be a fine place TO live.
During our stay Of three hours our ship took
on fresh beef, water, ice and vegetables. while
we laid in a good supply Of oranges, bananas,
melons, etc, which were very cheap. Bananas
sold for 10 cents per bunch-all you could
carry.
1t is now 10 =. NJ. Clang-clang goes the bell
| again, and once more we pass up the great gang
way TO our ocean home called the Australia y
Once more the great cables are thrown of the
huge posts, and we glide out upon old oceans
breast, this Time for two weeks, 10 Auckland
New Zealand. Nothing occurred worthy Of
note during the two weeks except that 1t light
hinged and rained most fearfully while We were
near TO and crossing the equator. and by travel
ing away from the rising sun we lost time 81
fast that it became necessary for us TO
DROP ONE DAY,
so VIC had no Friday in one week, but Jumped
from Thursday 20 Saturday. 1t seemed queel
at the time, but il came out all right when W,
got ashore.
After two weeks OF worse than being OF
picket in Winter, VIC steamed into Auckland
the Capital of New Zealand, at ) o'clock in Tho
morning. and AL tried 10 get on shore at once
The frst thing did Was 10 search for the olC
red and white barber pole 10 get shaved, but
came near getting murdered in doing so. ] saw
the old familiar sign up back alley and charged
on the works and found il occupied by an old
man. The shop and man both looked a
though they had been keeping bachelors hal
for about 400 years. j asked il could ge
shaved? Certainly; take seat" i sat doWI
ina the only chair, which was a common woot
kitchen chair, and the proprietor stepped out
There was an old greasy board table and tlli
one chair for furniture. A rough board wa
put up for a shelf. The wall was decorated
with three old razors stuck in leather loops. Or
nail hung an old handbag gaping open, will
ono end Of the handle torn out Two comb
with The teeth filed half way TO the points viii
grease and dirt, glass four by six inches, AM
an old mug that looked like a boot-grease Gu
made up the whole outfit.
Imagine my surprise when the tonsoria
artist came in with some hot water in an Oh
fruit-can with wire bail Ia il that looked fo
, al the world like one of
OUR OLD COFFEE BOILERS
just from of the burning rail pile Of 25 year
ago. while we were tearing up the Weldon Rail
road. After the old fellow had spent about 2
minutes on me j asked the price. "Sxpenc,
please" which means u cents aud / woul
: sooner have given him a pound than 10 hay
. him shave me again.
i went back 10 the shin fnuctn,ed tbn fam