The times., 1898-07-03
A VOLUNTEERS LETTER
Young Maurice Whitehead
Writes From Honolulu.
A TEMPORARY ANNEXATION
Tho Boys Given the Freedom Of Hn-
wnif's CapituI-Privnte Soldiers
Occupy the Queens PaIace-Na-
tives Vie With whites IN Doing
Honor 10 America.

The following interesting letter from the
first Philippine expedition was received
last week by Mr.. Charles Whitehead, Of
the Pension Bureau, from his youngest
son, who IS a Los Angeles, Cal, lad, who
enlisted in the Second Oregon Infantry.
He gives graphic description Of the
reception given our troops at Honolulu.
May 30. 1898.
We are now six days out from San
Francisco and as We viii arrive IN Hon
olulu in a couple of days, ! viii write up
& part Of my first letter now. We are
on three steamers, sailing, or, rather
steaming along about half a mile apart
and abreast Of each other. Our steamer,
the Australia, is in the center with Gen.
Anderson on board, who commands the
expedition. We have our Tegimental
band, and Col. Summers, commanding our
regiment, the Second Oregon Infantry, is
on board Of our ship. The City Of Peking
and the City OF Sydney move along with
US, one on each side Of US. There are 800
OF Us on the Australia and we are crowd
ed like sheep In e corral. We were all
very sick the first few dsys out. but now
we are well again and steaming beautiful
~ over sea as smooth as glass and the
bluest water / have ever seen. Today is
Memorial Day and we have had services
aboard. We are being fed very badly for
boys who have volunteered 10 fight for
our flag and our country's honor. We
have had nothing but salt pork since We
left San Francisco, a few potatoes and
black coffee. Yesterday we held a mass
meeting and appointed a committee from
each company which waited upon the
general (Anderson) and laid before him
our grievance The result was we now
receive vegetables, tea and fresh bread
and tomorrow we get fresh bread and
some rice. Ii appears that the commits
ssry was doing some swindling and he
has been dismissed from his office Now
we are fed well The most of US sleep on
the deck in the open air. / Will not sleep
below again because OF the strong
doors. All have been vaccinated and
since we left Frisco have been provided
with canvas uniforms and shoes.
"Of course, I do not know what has
happened yet or whether Cuba has been
taken yet. We steer clear Of all steam
ers. for we are not prepared to meet
Spanish cruiser. We sighted a steamer
yesterday but kept out Of her course. for
we don't wish TO run into a Spaniard
just yet. At Honolulu we snail meet the
cruiser Charleston and go on with her TO
Manila. She viii be welcome company for
us. and good company, too, for she is a
fighter. It is getting warmer each day as
we near the Sandwich Islands. We have
q large canvas bathing tank, into which
the clear. cold sea water IS being con-
stantly pumped. II is covered with a
canvas awning and We enjoy ourselves
bathing each day. It is so nice and re-
freshing in this tropical climate and it
makes US all feel fine.
4 suppose something certainly has hap
pened IN Cuba before this ana that we are
victorious, as we shall be, because we
are In the right, and the right is Gods
side and generally wins. I will stop here
and finish this letter at Honolulu
MAURICE"
Honolulu, June 2 1898.
I'VE arrived here last night amid the
greatest excitement. All we could see
OF Honolulu was Old Glory flying ev-
erywhere. II looked like a city of Stars
and Stripes We are getting a magnif-
cent reception. Tomorrow we are TO be
given a big barbecue and royal banquet.
We are going TO parade through the
streets in the evening. The Charleston
and the Bennington are here, and are 10
take part IN a naval parade with our
transports and other ships in the harbor.
We viii just paint the city red. All the
boys are now ashore. I have just got off
guard duty and will go ashore this after
noon. We are having a glorious time.
The weather is warm and soft sea