The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-07-15
on eoARp THE cHiNA.

On bOEhD TX CFllMAs
John G. Butts, or GoOdIand. Relaies the
Trip from san Francisco to Honolulu
To The GOOdIand Republic:
Honolulu, June BIT may be Of in
terest to some Of your readers to Pc
ruse a personal letter from this place,
which you may publish or not as you
see 1T.
We left Camp Merritt, June IA, on the
transport China. Special orders were
read by Col Hale at parade on the
evening Of the 18th, to break camp at
Ia N. and go on board the transport
On the morning Of the 14th reveille
was sounded at 3 a. m and roll was
called at 4, after which mess was served
and soon the white tens Of the First
Colorado Volunteers hit the sand, and
camp was broken.
Seven o'clock found Us in heavy mar
ching order waiting the command "fOr-
wad march," which was given at T:15,
and "hep," ahep," Ehep," we proceeded
to the mail dock. One o'clock finds Us
marching single file on board the City
/ Of China, bound for the Philippines.
/ We pulled out into the bay at P. m
to await the rest Of the feet, the Colon,
Zelandia and Senator.
On June 10 at 9 a. m, everything was
loaded and the feet was ready to sail
! The bay was literally covered with
boats and ships of all descriptions
loaded with people to wave the boys a
last farewell, and all finging sold
Glory" broadly to the breeze. This
was a grand sight for one just from the
prairies Of western Kansas, and one
never to be forgotten.
These beats in turn would steam up
/ along side the fleet, salute and then
drop back. This ovation continued
from a. N. to p. m, when the
/ China gave two long blasts from her
whistles as a signal to depart. This
was answered by vessels in the harbOr
and every engine, locomotive and stat
ionary, on land, creating the greatest
/ din immaginable. at 1:2O, June 16, we
steamed slowly for the Golden Gate"
where the big guns of the coast de-
! Tense batteries gave the parting salute
| as a "GOdspeed" for the voyage.
As We breasted the long, even swell
Of the broad Pacific the cheering ceas-
/ ed, the band played a delightful march,
HBRd all eyes were turned toward the
| constantly receeding shore, and at the
/ close a mighty shout went up "Remem-
/ Der the MaineI" Remember the
/ MaineI" in which all on board heartily
| Joined. The feet assembled in squad
/ ron formation, the same as battaliOns
on land, our place being the right cen
ter.
We watch the fading shore line until
even the Coast Range is dipped IN the
blue" and finally disappeared beneath
the eastern horizon. Many heads
were bowed, thoughts of loved ones at
home came trOOping into mind, and
cheeks were wet with tears and all
/ seem occupied with the thought "dear
ones, and native land, farewlIT' We
! are out on the open sea, nothing but
/ the deep blue sweIIs of the ocean and
/ the sky in view.
Our vessel, the China, is 426 feet in
length, 90 beam, 40 depth of hold and
draws % feet OF water. Her displace-
ment is S,1S7 tons; capacity, 1900 tons;
and carries, besides cargo, 800 tons Of
coal She has So furnaces and Il, 600
horse power engines. She carries two
companies Of regulars, one battalion
Of Utah artillery and the First Regi-
ment of Colorado Volunteers, making,
with the ships crew, 1000 men. Our
regiment is a fine organization, and
was the first volunteer organization
selected to go to the Philippines. In
comany H" besides the writer, there
is Sergt. Harry Dickey, and Frank
Dickey, company musician, formerly
GOOdland boys. Many Of the men
were seasick. As to the sensation, a
nights outing in Smoky Row at Good
land fits the case exactly.
On June IS, a carrier pigeon lighted
on the rigging of our ship and an at
tempt was made to capture it, but its
hOming instinct caused it to speed
away to distant San Francisco.
General orders we're read as to the
| sanitary rules to be observed, and,
among other things, they directed that
the soldiers should have plenty of
good food and strong coffee. Orders
are all right, but where is the grub?
We are reasonably well situated, ex-
cepting food, aud that is horrible.
The good people Of California provid-
ed for Us bOuntifully, but since then
we have been fed more like beasts than
men-men going out to represent and
defend this great country. We scarce
ly get One-haIf what the "bIue book
nMs Wngs Tale