The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-05-22

FAR FROM HOME
Is Frank Lazier but He wants
to Hear

Is Frank Lazier but He wants
to Hear
From Old Friends Has had Long
Trip-His Chums will be Glad
to Hear from Him.
Below is letter written to DIR. Ar
thur Lazier by his cousin Frank who
is now at Honolulu in the q. S. Ma
val service. 1t will be read with in
terest by his Morgantown friends.
U. S. S. PHILADELPHIA,
HONOLULU, Fl. /.
April 80, 1897.
DEAR ARTHUR: You will probably
be surprised to hear from me so far
away from Morgantown. Since l last
heard from you / have Travelled over
5000 miles. Soon after | got my clar-
onet | was detailed for the Philadel-
phia and was sent with six others to
San Diego where the Philadelphia was
Icing then. After the Water Car
nival at San Diego we went to Gaut-
emala, Central America, to represent
the q. S. interest in the Centric
American Exposition. j will tell you
all about our trip down there in my
next letter for l will never forget that
trip. / want to thank you for send
| ing my claronet / should have writ
ten sooner but neglected it until now.
We have been here about 10 days and
may stay for several months.
The Hawaiian Islands are 2200
miles from San Francisco and we
made the run ia eight days at an ay-
erage of IL knots an hour We were
sent here in hurry on account Of
trouble caused by the Japs who are
trying TO take the Islands, but we
have not found any trouble yet, or
not likely to, for they are very quiet
now. ] will give you an idea OF the
Philadelphia for got on ship much
sooner than l expected. The Phila-
delphia is the dag ship of the Pacific
station, and one of the finest ships in
the U. S. Navy. 1t carries crew
consisting of marines, seamen and Off
GERS, total of 1854 men, carries twelve
6-inch guns, 6 Hotch 6-pound rapid
fire guns, Gattling guns, and four
3-pounders with secondary battery
of modern machine guns, everything
is of the latest pattern. The ship is
kept as clean as a pin, and in this
country the battalion wears white
where it is so hot. There are three com
panies Of blue jackets and one COM
pany of marines. The marines do not
have any work TO do at all except
stand guard duty which is very easy.
Our duty is two hours on and twelve
to fourteen Off, so all we have to do is
to lay around the ship when we are
not on duty. We have TO be first class
before we can go on liberty. If one
goes ashore and breaks his liberty OF
gets drunk or disobeys orders he is re-
stricted and given from to 80 days,
and until that time expires he can
not leave the ship. | have not been
up In the mast yet for neglect of duty
but came very near it time or two,
so ] am first class and have been since
l enlisted. | have been ashore here
four or five times and | think Homo
lulu is one of the prettiest cities l eyei
was III or care to see. There is fine
bathing in the surf and the scenery is
out of sight. The city lies at the base
of an extinct volcano, there are three
craters of extinct volcanoes on this
island, but on the Island of Hawaii
the largest of the group there are
several extinct and one active and the
the most beautiful scenery one cares
to see. Honolulu is truly an Ameri-
can town for everybody talks English,
even the natives. The Kanacks are
noted for their fine swimming; they
come alongside of the ship and dive
and a penny very seldom reaches bot
tom for they are as quick as a fish
A fellow feels very much out of place
here when you walk out of the city
and find bananas, cocoanuts, and al
tropical fruits and flowers growing or
all sides. 1t certainly is grand anG
tempting sight. A young man DOM
know what he misses staying pennet
up in the states. The Japanese have
been coming in here by the ship loat
and the government of Hawaii put {
stop to it, which very near caused
trouble between Hawaii and Japan
So that was the reason why we were
sent here to protect Americans
Admiral Beardslie got orders to sal
for Honolulu while we were in Sal
Diego. and to 90 well armed and pre-
pared to act if necessary so you ma,
imagine the excitement it caused OF
board and ashore. But after we 20
here it was quite different from VIVA
we expected. We may 20 from her,
to Samoa. but are not sure vet. L
will take almost two weeks for thi
letter to get to you so can not hea
, from Won for over one month / d,
, not know when the next steamer will
leave here for the states but will no
be over week, for the China ant
Australia steamers, touch here fo
! passengers and mail. When you an
swer direct nv letter to
FRANK LAzIER.
u. s. s. PHILADELPHIA.
Care of Navy Pay ONCE.
San Francisco, Cal.
s aho,t ~ ~ sh;n - noxt timaand te,i nn,
, how we live IN hoard a man-of-war
And 7 also want, To fell Won Of our tri,
, 10 Ga,,tamala. Central America. for
can write book of the trip dow
7 there. / want you to write me Ion,
letter and send me paper so I cal
see the news, and tell Jess Turne
1. G.. \