The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-07-23

VIM. Pipkin Writan " Iafe Aboard shs
Transport ships.

ON B0ARD &. Is. MOn0AM CRY. j
PACIFIC OCEAN.
EDFTOR PREsg: Amid the ringing
Of bells. blowing Of WhIstIes. booming
ok cannon, the frantic yelIs Of the male
population ard the llnttering Of days
and handkerchiefs and tears Of the fair
sex, the third expedition 10 Manila
passed the numerous peiis on the water
front Of San Francisco At ESQ b. ID. on
Monday, June 9th. headed for the
Golden Gate, The beginning Of q two
months voyage to 8 strange land,
among unfamiliar scenes and faces and
among climes far different from any
dreamed Of by those who compose the
expedition. The writer SAW many
scenes which brought forcibiy to mind
the sad partings OF generation ago,
where brother went to the front. often
against brother, and father against son,
and although the enemy the expedition
now goes to combat ID Of different
race and blood, there went with IL The
well wishes and the prayers OF all.
From early morn OF the eth until
two p. m, thousands OF eager eyes
watched the masthead Of the flagship
Of the expedition for the signal to weigh
anchor. and before the signal had half
way reached the main truck, the cap
tain Of the Morgan City sang out In
tones fully understood, .'weigh anchor.
Mr. Page, and be lively about it." The
cheering on the Morgan City had pfevI-
ouslY been OF a mild nature, but when
orders came direct from the captain on
the bridge such cheer rose as only Ida
hOans can give. For fully 1--WE minutes
cheer upon cheer rang out, although
tears rolled down the weather beaten
cheeks Of many whom one would sup
pose contact with the cold world had
made their hearts steel against all ten
der emotions, and when thoughtlessly
remarked 70 group that OF those now
on board our steamer. many, and prob.
ably all, would soon cast their eyes for
the last time upon American soil, many
turned away to hide the starting tears.
To say that San Franciscoans went
wild Is putting 1t too light. All, men.
women and children, OF whatever creed
or nationality, answered our cheers with
a win. and as the flagship Indiana took
the lead, followed by the Morgan City,
Ohio and Para in the order named, such
departure / had never witnessed;
amid such noise, the booming OF cannon,
the ringing OF bells and blasts Of steam
whistles. the frantic cheers Of men and
youth and the tears OF many OF the fair
sex, while thousands Of flags and hand
kerchiefs Giuttered from the wharves
and bousetOps and balconies along the
waterfront. For hours before the or
der came 70 weigh anchor, all tugs and
pleasure craft Of any kind that could
be pressed into service had visited the
different vessels Of the feet and threw
on board bOquets by the hundred and
oranges by the shipload-a veritable
storm OF the juicy, luscious fruit OF this
fair clime-boxes Of lemons and lines,
while the Red Cross societies looked
after our knapsacks 10 see that we had
enough to eat or the many for whom
our cheers went up. the Red Cross re-
ceiyed the majority.
Steaming slowly along the waterfront
the frantic though tremulous cheers
from our ships were responded TO with
a win, the guns from the Preside join
ing In the din and noise until long after
the outlines Of the forms OF those on
the wharves and piers faded from our
sight OF the numerous craft which
started With rs to see us through the
Golden Gate, several ventured far out
In the ocean, until the sea became too
rough for safe navigation for so frail
craft. or the numerous airs rendered
by hundreds Of bands, none so visibly
affected ali as ~The Girl Left Behind
Ne" How many viii ever see her
againl Come now, ask me something
easy and win endcayor to answer.
Long before the land so dear to the
hearts OF all true Americans had faded
from our sight, many whose hearts had
failed them discovered that their stom.
achs were to some extent out Of order,
and many trips were made to the YES
sells side. where the boys would gaze
longingly down into the deep blue wat
ers with eyes and mouths wide open,
while a goneness seemed to hover
around ones internal anatomy. An
occasional hard-hearted william would
urge the patient to disgOrge IL he had
eaten anything that lay heavy on his
stomach. Very few escaped the hor-
rors Of seasickness; not even the Ceur
d'Alene boys, who had long navigated
the foaming pillows OF Wolf Lodge,
Squaw Bay and Hayden Lake. OF all
the Kootenai county boys. l know of
but six who had not tired feeling in
the region Of their digestive organs.
win Merriam, when asked kindly by
comrade II he felt sick, replied. do you
think I am doing this for funp" Sew.
eral OF the boys openly boasted that
they were proof against that tired feel.
ing, but Il was safe to bet that when
one was missed from view he would be
found alone, where he could lay bare to
himself the secret Of that pale face and
that bent p,like-a-ish.hook shape. /
felt sorry for them. for l knew how
they felt. having served my apprentice.