The Dickinson press., 1898-09-17
S. S. Valencia, July IL, 'o8.

port Immediately, but we were held there
until the next afternoon. After WI were
out a little way we found that the Indi-
ana, one of the accompanying transports,
had broken down, SO we were compelled
to turn back and wait for her. We an
chored just outside the harbor until $3.50
the next daytime oth-when we left for
Manila.
Most of the people l talked with seem
to be in favor of annexation but a good
many of the natives are against it. One
told me that the sightof the soldiers
had influenced the natives towards an
nexation more than anything else ever
did.
The weather, while we were there, was
very fine, although it was hot. The vege.
tation is gorgeous, being thoroughly
tropical.
Mr.. Lytton can tell you all you want to
know about Honolulu.
l noticed when we left there that the
men did not cheer as much as they did
when they left Frisco. Most of them do
not like the trip across the ocean.
July 2Ist.-We have had lovely wealth
er on our trip SO far, but it is VERY warm.
The N. Oak. boys are standing the
trip better thanthe other regiments. We
have not lost a man since we have been
in the service. On board the Indiana a
man fell overheard July 10, but he was
rescued. On the Ohio, July 10Th, a man
either fell or jumped overheard, they
were unable to save him. The Indiana
lost two men, one officer, and a signal
corps man. They were both buried at
sea. But we have been fortunate in
many ways. W. have no sickness on
board now, except n case of typhoid
fever, which is improving. Most of the
men sleep on deck, as the weather is fine.
You can hardly pick your way around
without stepping or some one. Numbers
have rugged up %hammocks, which they
have hung at different parts of the ship,
and sleep in them.
July 27th.-We are nearing the Philip
pines and expect to sight the island of
Luzon tomorrow. The sea is rough to-
day in consequence of the ground swell,
which you always find ear land, and
some of the boys are seasick again; most
of us are a little dizzy. We have reached
the rainy region, SO it is not so warm as
it was. On the evening of the 23rd we
passed a volcano. 1t belongs to the
northern group of the Ladrone Ids. W.
could see the fire issuing from the crater
The mountain makes rather a weird look
ing picture at night, rising out Of the
water in the shape of a cone, and out Of
sight of any other land, with the eternal
fire at its summit. 1t is a natural light
house for you ear see the smoke by day
and light by night, for miles and miles.
We received a signal message yester
day, from the Ohio, saying that they hae
lost a man last Saturday, and n hac
fallen overheard, also that two fremer
had jumped overheard.
We are making very slow progress, a
we have to wait for the Morgan City
She can only make seven or eight knot
an hour.
We are on short water rations whicl
is rather hard in this hot climate, but GU
food has been better lately, so we are no
so badly Of.
1t seems hardly possible that we hav
been on this boat longer than we were ii
Fargo or Frisco, but it will be a mont
tomorrow since we left America.
month seems to be our limit, in n place
l wonder how it will be over here.
July 28th.-It has been cool and cloud
today. The sea is pretty heavy, and tn
ship is pitching hard. A good many
the boys and some of the officers ar
seasick.
Another man died on the City of Par
yesterday, and was buried at SEE.
AS we are nearing our journeys ent
the boys are in better spirits. They a
need exercise, which is hard to get o
board in as crowded a condition as W
are.
The officers, both of the ship, and (
the army, deserve credit for their goo
management during the trip We hay
more men in proportion to the tonag
, of the ship. than any other transport; "
: we have not lost a single man and hav
. no serious sickness on board,
July 3Ist.-Yesterday morning We LEI
: the rest of the transports, to procee
ahead to Manila, as we were out Of waite
but we got lost last night and passed II
harbor. We had a very heavy thunde
storm early this morning and it is sti
raining. l neve saw so heavy a raj
We caught plenty of water. which v
needed badly; but the other ships be;
us here. We are now at the entrance I