Evening star., 1898-07-08
ALOHA TO AMERICAN TROOPS
Enthusiastic Greeting to Boys in Blue by
the Hawaiians.
The Occasion Graphically Described
by a Georgetown So1dicr-Letter
From nm American Girl.

Gal, over q month ago, was A1r. ftODeTt
| Smith, a former Georgetown boy. who went
as member of the 1st Oregon Volunteers.
His father, Mr.. r. E. Smith. resides at
3007 P street, Is a well-known Grand Army
man, and formerly lieutenant in the Old
Guard. The son went out west some years
ago, and located In oregon, and at the first
call for troops enlisted. He sent several
letters to his home people before starting,
and while at Honolulu wrote one, which
reached it's destination but few days ago.
In 1t he says:
THE last view Of my native land was at
| sunset as We passed out of the Golden
Gate at San Francisco. The sun was just
setting behind the mountain of Waianae
as entered the harbor of Honolulu.
Words cannot describe the beauty of the
islands. Our reception at Honolulu, for sin
cerity, enthusiasm and generosity could
not have been greater among our own dear
friends, were we just returning home from
the war. All of the boys realize that after
they leave Honolulu their life will be
hard one with plenty of fighting, but that
does not seem to dampen their patriotism
in the least. We are going TO make his
tory, and we hope that many people for
generations to come will have cause to
bless the day that the American soldiers,
sailors and marines freed them from the
Spanish yoke.
Mementoes of the Visit.
1nclOSeQ Win the lelter were SeFeidl III
teresting mementoes of the visit of the
troops to the islands. Every soldier was
given a silk white ribbon badge, upon
which the flags of America and Hawaii
were crossed, while printed in blue ink was
the following: Aloha TO the boys in blue,
Honolulu, H. L. 1898"
The following is a copy of dodger dis
tributed broadcast, showing some of the
amusement provided for the visiting troop
ers: Attention. U. S. Troops First, this
afternoon an open-a1r concert at Makee
Island; cars leave corner King and Fort
streets at and after pm. Second. base
ball at the base ball grounds, game to COM
mence at 2:30 pm; music by St Louis Col
lege Band cars leave same place Third,
Sea bathing at boat houses all day. tourth,
sports on the grounds of Oahu College; also
music. Fifth, open-air concert by Ha-
waiians at Kanlehameha School grounds.
The Bishop Museum open all afternoon
NJ E. Grossman, chairman of entertain
ment committee. Cars free to all troops
Honolulu, H. l., June =. 1873
Native. of American Parentage.
A sister of Mr.. Smith also received an in
teresting letter. written in English, from
one of the natives of the Islands, who is OF
American parentage The letter is as fol-
lows:
"HONOLULU H. l., June ). 1898.
My Dear Miss Smith: Yesterday l met
your brother at the wharf. His steamer
was about to sail for Manila. L promised
him that l would send you a badge. You
will see aloha on it, and L don't suppose
ycu know the meaning of 1t, so shall tell
you; it means welcome. j think they all
ell ed their short visit here, and / sup
pose your brother has written fully to you
bout it. Their steamer was the last one
to leave here. Each one was gwen lei,
that is, wreath of flowers. Ibey are Solo
on the streets here by the Hawaiian wo-
men Your brother had one made Of pink
carnations. 1 also send you two lttle pic
| lures of Hawaiian scenery. My sister has
a kodak and we get good deal of enjoy
ment out of it. 1 am an American girl,
but | was born here in the western seas. l
| remain, yours sincerely.
Honolulu, Oahu, H. !"
American Papers Comment.
Another souvenir sent home by Mr..
Smith vas a copy Of the Pacific CONNER
| cial Advertiser, an American paper pub
| nshed at Honolulu. A souvenir number was
gotten out for the occasion, headed in type
resembling the American fiag-"Boys in
Blue edition." One-half of the page was
| printed in red ink and the other half in
blue which, with the white paper, gave
| our national colors. At the top or the first
page was a two-column cut of the Amer
| lean flag, while beneath was the inScrlp-
| ton, This is what is going to Manila.
| In the lower left-hand corner was two
column cut of Admiral Dewey, and, as the
| foot line states, 'he holds the fort The
paper bears the date of June 2, and in big
headlines announces, I'm the Hands of
Americans. The First Manila Expedition
2 800 Men Are Now in Honolulu" The
opening paragraph reads:
THE town was set in a fever of excite
ment when, at a little after o'clock yes
terday afternoon, the boys at the central
office conveyed the message to thousands
of anxious people in the city that there
were three foreign steamers off Walman-
alo The message had come from the other
Sid Ia nf hn 81 md md wa jyrrnn gcjh tn
| tell at the time what the vessels were
Just three columns of smoke floating away
| to the southeast could be distinguished. 1t
was not many minutes after this when the
message came that the steamers could be
seen by Diamond Head Charley, and that
they were the City of Pekin, the Australia
and another steamer that could not be seen
very distinctly. The fire whistle sounded
| Immediately the signal of five whistles and
| instantly flags all over the city went up
and carriages and crowds Of pedestrians
went hurrying along toward the different
wharves. They had a long wait, but they
were not In the least fatigued, for they
were on the tip-toe of expectancy and talk-
| ed gaily. There has not been In many years
such commotion in this city as the news
created"
The account then continues to describe
| the hearty reception given the transports
and how each person in the populace en-
deavored to outdo the other in cheering
and how many baskets of delicacies and
other needful things were collected and dis
trtbuted among the troops on the different
ships. no man being allowed ashore the
| first day.
kapiOlanrs Aloha.
In another portion Of the paper there Is
an account of Kapiolanis aloha, which
reods: The Queen Dowager Kapiolanf will
| today present to Captain Glass, on board
| the U. s. 8. Charleston, large silk flag
| made by the Hawaiian women. Princes
David and Cupid and number of ladies
will be In the train Of the Queen Dowager
The gift is made on account of Kapiolanis
aloha for the cruiser which brought the
| body Of the late King Kalakaua from San
Francisco. The flag will have for storage
beautiful calabash and an address goes
with the presentation"
| Editortaliy the paper says: Hawaii well
| comes the advance guard of the American
| legtons moving across the great tranquil
sea to the southern latitude. 1t is the first
movement of American bayonets across
| the equator and beyond the western mar
| gin of the continent. The cause in which
| they move Is a noble one. Hawaii covers
| the boys In blue with her'sleis of flowers.
and to them all gives her greeting: Aloha
To Retire COmmander Kellogg