The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-08-16
Two Letters From Honolulu Tran
sport Passengers.
HARRY MURRAY AND C. E. SMITH
Stowaways We're Not Enlisted.
Some Put to Work-Some in the
Brig-Story From a Gunner.

The Honolulu boys who were so anx-
ious to join the Manila forces of Uncle
Sam that they slowed away on trans
ports here have not found the adven-
ture just what they expected. Letters
have been received from Harry Muir
ray and c. E. Smith Harry Murray
is the son of Capt T. B. Murray and
Smith is best known here as the man
who painted the Central Union church
steeple Smith is a Britisher, but an
Al American. Harry Murray was
member of H Company, N. G. H. here
and wanted to fight for Old Glory from
the first In Smiths letter, which is
to a member of the Advertiser staff,
mention is made Of young Kinslea, son
of the pressman in the Hawaiian Ga
zette Company employ.
Harry Murray says they were
twenty-three days from Honolulu to
Manila Bay. After explaining TO his
mother how he happened to leave
without saying goodbye, the young
man continues:
''As l came down stairs at home the
morning l left [ heard you call out:
'Ah Min, let Harry sleep as long as he
wants to- That's the last time /
heard you speak and that's what you
get for taking me for a Pake. You
needn't worry about me, for there are
lots of other boys good as l am and l
guess [ can stand it as well as the rest
of the fellows.
The first think | did on the morn
! ing of the day we sailed was to go out
| to the China. The surgeon sized me
up, said l was too young and wouldn't
| pass me. When | came ashore | went
aboard the Senator. / hid away in the
| fOrecastIe. When they found me they
! took me to the commanding officer and
! he was quite stern and asked what
right | had on board. l told him I had
| slowed away with the intention of en-
| listing. He said that he could only
turn me over to the captain of the ship
and did so at once The captain put
me at work down in the engine room
right away. | have liked the job first
rate. They call me stores which is
short for stOre-keeper and holding this
position l am able to eat with some of
| the officers. l haven't joined any com
pany yet, but will do so in a day or
two if 1 can. l may have trouble in
joining, for some of the fellows who
slowed away with the California boys
have been in the guard house ever
since they were found and they are
there yet. One of the company cap
tains said he would take me ashore
with him and try and fix it all right
There is very little danger of there
being any fighting here, as the Span
ish in Manila wanted to surrender to
Dewey few days ago. If l get into
the company that l want to join we
Will be we'll in front, whatever happens
and if it comes to fighting l will do the
best 1 can.
Tell Charlie to give my aloha to all
the boys. l would write some more
letters, only I haven't any more writ
ing paper. l have gained about eight
pounds on the way down here and I've
got a crop of whiskers and some NOUS
tache, but they made me cut my hair
short off. There does not seem to be
much excitement here either in the bay
or on shore. The landing is Old Ca
| vite. On shore | suppose I'll have to
| get down and rough it instead of hav-
| ing a tourist time, as I've had coming
over. I've only had one row, and that
| was with my bunk-mate. He had the
| pull and I've had to sleep outside
/ " 61 oiuCG OLA ulI5I SliCC eli LIy
/ friend - that it doesn't pay to
| be patriotic unless you go about it the
right away, and if l don't get placed
right I'll be home soon" This last sen
| tence relates to a bit Of advice the
! young man was given a few hours be-
! fore his departure.
Smith says in his letter that when
| he was found he was marched straight
/ off to the captain Of the Colon. When
his capabilities were learned he was
| placed as a hand on the ice making
plant and is there yet. Smith had
hopes, when writing, of being able to
| join either the American forces or the
insUrgent camp, he didn't care much
| which. He added that there was talk
of sending all the stOwaways back to
the ports from which they came. Some
how there was objection to enlisting a
man who came aboard ship without
leave.
One of the passengers by the S. S
Belgic is a fine-loOking, intelligent
| young fellow who is reporting back to
/ ~