The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-16
AS A SANPETE BOY SAW IT
EXCELLENT DESCRIPTION OF
THE OCEAN VOYAGE.
He Tells of the Rousing Send-off at
San Francisco and the Flattering
Reception at Honolulu.

Reception at Honolulu.
Ephraim, July 13.-The following
letter has just been received here from
one OF Ephraim's boys IN battery a,
Utah volunteers:
Honolulu. June "a. 1885,
We left Camp Merritt on the 1ith.
ana boarded the transports, which
pulled out into the bay about half
| mile. where we remained until O'Clock
D. m. on the 18th.
When the anchors were raised and
we started west, we were accompanied
TO the Golden Gate by boats of all
/ kinds, sizes and descriptions, carrying
the patriotic people of San Francisco.
The shore was lined with people VINO
were not fortunate enough TO get tick
cts on the boats, and they cheered us
all along. Every whistle in the bay
was blowing. and as we passed the
/ Preside the big guns that are stationed
there doomed forth farewell salute
that was about the last sound we heard
/ from our native shores.
After leaving the Golden Gate we saw
nothing but water until We were about
| so miles from shore, where we passed
a small group of islands.
From that time until the Goth we saw
nothing but the other vessels of the
expedition and the sea birds that &C.
! low all vessels. On that date we passed
! the steamer Peru, bound for America.
Nothing of any Importance occurred
on the Colon during the trip to HOMO
lulu. Most of the boys We're sick dur
ing the first few days. All of US EDh-
rain boys were lucky enough to avoid
sea sickness. but it was a hard matter
to get our sea legs" and get accus-
toned to the motion OF the ship. We
/ have them all right now, and since we
| landed here it seems as though the
earth was tipping first one way and
then the other.
We sighted land yesterday afternoon,
and ii made our hearts leap for joy.
We got here after dark, so they
dropped anchor a few hundred yards
from shore 1t was impossible to get
leave to go ashore, so we enjoyed our
selves as best we could looking at the
southern cross and the lights on shore.
Soon a tug came out to bid us well
come. She was greeted with rousing
cheers from the boats, that was echoed
| across the bay. The Hawaiian band
started up the Star Spangled Banner
and other patriotic airs, while cheer
after cheer was given by the boys.
Bands on the Zealandia and Senator
Joined in the music. From one ship
to another the tug cruised, and it was
nothing but music, cheers and counter
cheers until after 10 O'Clock.
We We're all UP earlier than usual
this morning, standing on the upper
deck and looking upon one of the most
beautiful landscapes on earth. There !
are some high mountains, covered with
evergreens and flowers of all descrip- !
tions. AS they slope down to the sea, |
they present a very grand sight.
One of the most interesting sights we
saw was when, shortly after sunrise, !
a lot of little brown natives. seeing our.
CHI out a l.
They swan all around the ships, and !
when we dropped nickels into the water
they would dive down after them, and |
never o=ce did they fail TO bring them |
up. No matter how deep the water was, |
they would get the nickel. have |
seen ducks that could swim good, but |
I believe those little brownies would |
beat the ducks.
We entered the harbor at o'clock !
this morning. and after disembarking, !
marched several blocks from our ship !
and had a good bath in the ocean. After !
being in the water half an hour, we |
marched through town to the railroad, !
where we boarded the cars and rode |
out to the Honolulu sugar factory, |
distance OF ten miles All along the |
road could be seen growing bananas, 1
oranges, pineapples and all kinds of
tropical fruits Waving fields of grain !
could be seen en- all sides, and small
ducks and other water fowl.
When we reached the factory we were
shown all through 1t by an American
who lives here, but whose name l can
not recall. 1t was a very nice place.
Sugar cane was piled up in large stacks
and larger number OF natives or ha-
nakas were busy working there. The
factory turns out over 2G0 tons of sugar
daily. We visited all the places of in
terest in that vicinity, and when the
bugle sounded assembly both bat
teries 4 and 8 fell in, ana Captain
Young proposed giving three cheers for
the gentleman who had so generously
entertained US. We cheered as only
Americans can cheer.
We were entertained in splendid
style. having all the cigars, fruit AID
summer drinks we could store away
When we got back to the city we were
taken to a square, where we listened !
to some splendid music. While the
many colored ladies' were spreading
the banquet under the trees, We aid
around under the shade of the trees
wide-leafed palm. cOcoanut and other
kinds equally as beautiful.
We were soon seated at the table
and Dartook of one OF the most DAINTY
seasts ever served.
[ thought we had some warm receD-
lions in our own land, but must give
Honolulu her just due, when l say ii
beats anything 1 ever saw or ever cz-
poet to see. The city has a population
of about 10000 composed of Americans.
English. Chinese, japanese, Ka2akas
and negroes. They are a sociable and
industrious people.
Many OF the people want to be under
the United States gov5rnnle nj, and from
what hear. believe that in the near
future these beautiful and prosperous
islands, lying away out in the broad
Pacific. viii belong to Uncle sam, a-ad
/, for one hope they will.
Most OF the people here speak the
English language. IT IS rumCred that
we sail before morning. ] hope TO see
a little more of the islands before leav-
ing. The Texas regulars are on this
ship with US. making in all about 200
me-.
We are all well; that is, there are no
serious cas-s OF sickness on the Colon.
one MAJ died on the Senator and was
buried IN the ocean. He was from ,
Beatrice. Neb.
The EDhraim boys are enjoying the
best of health. and hope everyone at
home is doing likewise. We send kind
regards to friends at home.
WARREN LARSEN.
Utah light Battery a.