Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1898-10-21
Letter From Capt. vanHouten.
CAvITE, P. T., Sept. Z, 1893.

Letter From capt. v andouCen.
CAv1TE, P. T., Sept. Z, 1898.
FRIEND ARTHUR:-I will try and pen
you few lines this p M, as I have
been threatening to do SO ever since we
arrived in this port, and could never
get enough ambition aroused until pres
ent date.
We left San Francisco, Cal, on the
morning Of July %, 1898, at 1920, amid
the blowing of whistles and booming of
cannons, and an escort of several small
boats as far as the Golden Gate, which
we passed through at about IL o'clock
and shortly afterwards the boys began
feeding the fish, as the expression goes,
or more politely speaking became 'sea
sick, which lasted for about twenty
four hours and again they began feel
ing like soldiers. The second day out
we passed ship from Australia bound
for the States. The captain Of our boat
hailed her, and we sent q small boat
over with what mail the boys had to
send back. They had been at sea about
six weeks, aud had heard no news fer
so long that the officers who went
aboard with the mail could hardly get
away. On the third day out one of the
boys of our regiment died and was
given a sailors burial, which think
the most touching sight I have ever
witnessed. On the eighth day we again
sighted land. which was the Hawaiian
Islands, and assure you it was very
welcome sight to all Of us, and about
$50 a. m. we dropped anchor in
Honolulu Harbor, or rather pulled into
the dock, where the natives and Ameri-
cans soon began to congregate to well
come us. The Hawaiian Band turned
out and played some of our national
airs, which I must say was as fine
music as I have ever listened to. The
boys were kept busy catching bananas.
pineapples and oranges which the
crowd was storming the ship with. At
/ p. m. we took the two battalions
ashore and marched them up to the
Public Square, which formerly was the
Queens Palace Court, and dismissed
them until p. m. to go where they
liked and see the sights. At the hour
of assembly every man was in his place
to be marched back to the ship. The
next morning, Aug. I, we all went out
for bath, which is not q very desirable
amusement on coral beach as it cuts
a persons feet at every move. After
bathing we were again marched to the
Public Square, where the ladies of the
Red Cross had the most bountiful din
ner ready for the boys, which was done
Justice to by all Of us. There being
about LOO at the banquet you can
imagine for yourself what an amount
of provisions it would require to give
them all they wanted. The following
day, August 2, we were given orders
by the colonel to pass all our companies
ont until p. M, by which time all
were to be aboard in readiness to pull
out into the stream, so as to start on
our journey again the following day,
which we did at 5 q. IN. August 8, and
had calm seas until the goth inst. when
we ran into storm which washed off
the deck in good shape anc had the ship
in all positions except upside down, and
most of the boys got that sick feeling
for the second time, but it didn't last
very Tong as we were out of the storm
in about 36 hours, from which time the
water was smooth as glass. On the 22d
we sighted the island of Luzon. which
we are now located on, and were in
sight of land the remainder of the trip.
We headed into Manila harbor on the
morning of August Gath, after being on
the water for one month and one day.
We were in company with the transport
Pennsylvania from Honolulu over,
which had the Montana regiment on
board. We anchored about midway
between Manila and Cavite at which
place the bay is eight miles wide. On
the 25th we received orders to have
our companies in readiness to go ashore
before dinner, and after the usual con-
fusion went aboard a small ferry boat,
landed at this place and took possession
of the old Spanish fort, erected in 1643.
There is large church in connection
and taken all around is very ancient
and interesting structure. The natives
have a very queer way of dressing, but
from appearance would consider it COM
Portable. The streets are no wider than
an alley in our villages and about all
Won find in their stores ara bananas