The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-11-25


as every Maury COuntian has an in.
terest in the welfare of the Zealan-
dia ard the lives of those on board.
ON BOARD "THE ZEALANDIA,")
Friday, IL a. M. Nov. s, 1898.
My Dear Mother and HOmefOIkS:-
Stopping places and post offices on the
Pacific are few and far between, and, in
order that l may have letter ready to
mail to loved ones at home when we
reach Honolulu, shall make a start
now and finish when we get there about
Sunday or Monday.
| have just come off guard; my post
! was down in the "hOld," and it was so hot
down there that guard could not stand
| it over an hour.
Last Saturday was busy day in our
camp; everything we could not carry on
our backs had to be packed and sent to
the ships. Our summer clothing had to
| be drawn, and consisted of two suits of
white duck, one brown suit, two suits of
| light underwear and socks. All these
we had to put in our kuapsacks, with
our blankets rolled on top of our KNAPP
sacks. In our pouches were our shelter
tents. This "rolling up" was done on
| Saturday.
| There was not much sleeping in ca mp
that night. Everyone was up before
daylight, and soon after breakfa as
sembly was blown. Companies "fell in"
and marched out apiece from camp,
where guns were stacked. Then each
company went to its street, took down
tents, piled up floors, picked up and
burnt all rubbish. About $3.50 we "fell
in" again, and by ten o'clock were start
ed on our five miles march through the
city to the boat. And tiresome march
it was; with heavy knapsacks, can
teens, side-arms and guns.
We halted once on the entire march.
The five companies left for the next
transport went in front as our escort.
We reached the ship at about noon and
we're given lunch by the Red Cross
Ladies, (they never forget us. May they
be rewardedD We went on board as
soon as we had flushed our lunch, and
put away our equipments. Then we
came back on deck to talk to and say
good bye to the hundreds of frienus who
had come to bid us "God speed" on our
voyage. There were not many dry eyes
in the crowd when the whistle blew,
and we started on our long, doubtful
journey. Several tug boats with friends
aboard accompanied us out into the
stream.
We were lined up and the roll called
to see if any were missing.
The shio began to roll at about o.
clock that evening, and it was not long
before many Of the boys were sea-sick
Then the fishes had their supper. | did
not get sick until Tuesday, when the
waters were very rough. You don't
know what it is to be sea-sick. 1t is no
pleasant sensation. II seems as if one
would "throw up" his army shoes, and
then be in misery because he did not
have something else to send overheard
Some of the men have been too sick tC
sit up ever since Sunday. We are near,
ly all feeling alright except for the
gnawing hunger. We do not get
enough to eat A few spoonsful of cot.
fee, hard bareback and fat bacon make
up most of our meals. There are lots OF
nice things on board marked "For en-.
listed men," but we have not seen any
of it yet. Z.
This is Saturday morning and l have
been helping to sweep the ship. / am
now on the hurricane deck. Boys are
all around me, some writing to mother
others to their sweethearts, some are
reading, big some are talking, and
others amusing themselves in sundry
ways Most of us are doing two things
at once-one being a longing for home
Yet cheerfulness prevails, for it is nc
use to be gloomy.
Capt. Gillem said he was so home-sick
he didn't know what to do. Mai. Bay
less said if he ever got back to America
be would never board another ship tt
go anywhere.
The band gives two concerts a dav
"DiXie" is always played, and neve
fails to bring cheers from the boys
"America" is played every afternoon
and everyone rises to his feet, takes of
his hat, and longs for America again.
I -
know how we sleep. OF course the off
GERS enjoy the state-rooms. The non
commissioned officers have the second
class cabins, and the privates enjoy c?
hunks in the hold. The hunks are abou
Is inches wide, and are not long enough
for a long soldier; they are put two sid,
: by side and three deep-Or rather high
one over another, with barely room
enough for man to get between. Thest
are arranged in rows up and down tn,
ship with passage ways between. 1t i
so hot down there that the boys use tn
privilege of sleeping on deck.
{ The water is guarded. and man mus
not drink much of that for fear it will
give out.
have seen three whales and som
flying fish, the only things of interes
so far. viii see many fish, etc, whel
we get to warmer water.
| enjoy looking at the big waves roll
ing over each other. 1t always seems tha
3 we are in round hollow, for it look
cup hill" in every direction. The boy
frequently say "Honolulu is Just owe
/ thehill;" but we never seem to get owe
that hill.
= We will get to Honolulu Monda,
morning, and hear that we will give
parade there.
a We all have to take bath every 9th e
day i'm cold sea-water, bv means of
kind of shower-bath arrangements a
the end of the ship Sea-water ISM
very cleansing, for soap will not lathe
, in it,
We are anxious to see some land. TIL
boys often say they would be glad t
find rock, get out on it and stay Their,
9 Their favorite expression is, "Captain
stop the ship. l want to get off an
walk awhile"
will close now until we get to tn
island. forgot to say l got your las
= letter when we were about fifteen mile
out at sea.
Monday |, p. m.-We are now anchor
ed in the harbOr at Honolulu. Lam
" as sighted at about o'clock this a. n
: Even before daylight everyone was Ol
deck straining his eyes to see land one
I more. No more eagerly did COlumbu
and his men watch for the first clea
] vision of America. than did we for lanC
, "The Indiana" with Kansas Regiment
is 30 wards away from us on one sid,
and "rhe Arizona" on the other. 9Th
Ohio is at the wharf coaching. Tn
I Kansas bOVs chpere6 ms heartily an