The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-16
THE TRIP TO HONOLULU
ON BOARD THE INDIANA

ON BOARD FLAGSHIP INDIANA.
THIRD MANILA EXPEDITION, AT
HONOLULU, July 6.-The third Manila
expedition, with the exception of the Va
lencia and the Newport, which are eX-
pected to-day, has reached the first sta
ton on their long trans-Pacific voyage.
AS we passed out through the Golden
Gate, far up on the heights of the Pre-
sidio a heliograph flashed "Good-by and
God bless you" That was the last link
that connected us with home and friends;
all partings were at an end. The fleet
went courtesying out to sea, and the
third Manila expedition was on the broad
waters of the Pacific, on its race of 5000
miles. At o'clock the Farallon Islands
were on the beam, and nearly all Of US
were over the rail, bidding a reluctant
farewell to the good things the Red
Cross Society had furnished us the day
previous. Night shut in with the trade
winds blowing heavy seas over the lar
board side. drenching the decks and roll
ing the ship about much after the fashion
of signal flag in action.
The second day out it was discovered
that the coal on the Indiana was poor and
the firemen inexperienced which meant
a slow voyage. BY the aid of the signal
corps, the Ohio, City of Para and Nor
gan City were signaled to proceed to
Honolulu by their own route with all the
SptSu pOSSlDlt, anu lIItll began d race WITH
the Ohio in the lead, the City of Para
second, Indiana third and Morgan City
also ran and thus they finished.
The cooking apparatus of the ship was
constructed to cook for about 400 people,
and with 1900 people aboard it took some
very fine engineering to cook for them
all; and let me say, right here, that their
attempt was a failure. Our bill of fare
averaged up about as follows:
Breakfast-Black coffee ian unadulterated
abomnation); bosom OF female swine very
Dinner-Black coffee; roast or boiled meat "a
la tough); potatoes boiled.
Supper-Black coffee bareback.
The ships crew was made I'D mostly OF
Englishmen with a decidedly cockney ac-
cent, who were about as stingy with their
courtesy as they are with their his and
good "rake-off" from the soldiers by SELL
ing sandwiches, pies, coffee and fruit
From one Of them learned that they had
had fight over the division of the pro-
ceeds and that the cook had narrowly
escaped having his throat cut. The COM
missary department also opened up a
store and sold the boys canned fruit and
other luxuries at wholesale prices. Fully
$4,000 was spent by the recruits for neces-
stiles. / think it will be advisable for
those who follow US to bring a small sup
ply of potted ham and canned stuff that
will keep and avoid paying the stewards
of the boats outrageous prices
The Fourth of July was a beautiful day
and we celebrated it in a grand manner,
considering the fact that we were in mid
ocean. The officers and 'non-coms" were
gathered on the hurricane deck at II
| o'clock a. m. with the enlisted men in the
forecastle, and the following programme
was rendered:
Columbia" Twenty third Infantry Band
! Reading of Declaration of Independence
| Major Kellehar.
"Star-spangled Ranner." Twenty third Infan-
try Band and chorus u ~ sAA
J. Grafton, Major 4-ord.
Battle Hymn of the Republic, Twenty third
Infantry Band and chorus
Never was a Fourth of July celebrated
with deeper enthusiasm than by our men.
standing out on the decks with their
heads barred to the tropical sun, while the
ship plowed through the blue waters of
the Pacific on mission which, perhaps.
means the freedom of thirty millions of
| people.
We arrived at Honolulu at o'clock this
morning and will be here about three
days. The city is verttable paradise
decorated with red, white and blue and
flags, suggestive of having one star too
many on them.
The islands have received the invaders
much the prodigal son was received.
The fatted calf is none too good for them
in truth, most everything in town is free
| to the boys In blue.