The San Francisco call., 1898-08-23
Chaplain Frazier of the
 Olympia on Board.
IS HERE ON A FURL0UGH
U. s. MINISTER DENBY HOME
 FROM THE ORIENT.
Has Represented America in China for Thirteen Years-Editor Schweitzer Bound tor
 Lisbon.

The Occidental and Orienta, Steamship Company's Belgic from Hongkong via 1o- kohama and Honolulu reached port last evening, and after landing the steerage passengers at the quarantine station suc- ceeded in docking at the Pacific Mali wharf. Owing to darkness and the tlde it took nearly an hour to make lano- ing.
 The vessel had large passenger list which included a number of prominent people Chaplain J. B. Frazier of the flagship Olympia was one Of the passeil- gers. He was detached from duty on July IS, and since that time has been in Yokohama. After spending a few days in the city visiting younger brother Wh0 enlisted in the Tennessee regiment ne Wlii T go to his home in Knoxville to spend two months furlough with his parents If the war is really over, said the chaplain, 'I shall remain till the last ol October, but in case hostilites. are re- newed l will return to my post. The health of the men in the fleet has been exceptionally good and almost borders on the miraculous, as was our victory With out loss of life or injury to the crews. There have been but two deaths in the entire fleet. One of these was Japan csc sailor, who contracted fever, ana the other was Bugler McSweeney of the Brooklyn, who died from drinking impure water while off the ship.
 ''The fact that no one on the ShlpS was killed in the bombardment of Manila was a cause for great rejoicing. While there was no fear that the batteries on shore could stand before our guns, still a mum Der of the commanders were fearful lest there might be some fatalities. The only relic I have saved from the battle is a Spanish sword, which l picked up i'll Ma nila and this, of course. l prize very highly. The stories i'll regard to my haV- ing been nearly shot were greatly exag- gerated. During the battle l was assist. ing the doctor in the ward room, and at one time when I had my head out Of a port hole a six-pound shell came trife too close for comfort, but then a miss IS as good as a mile.
 Charles Denby, who has been United States Minister to China for the last thir- teen years, arrived on the Belgic and IS appointed him to the exalted position dur ing his first administration, on the 29th of May, 1885. and he has held of1lce unln- terruptedly since then. He will De sue ceeded by H. E. Conger of Iowa, who was Minister to Brazil under President liar rison. presence and looked the picture of health after his long sea voyage. DO not aSk me- he said. ito say anything about the Philippines. I must positively remain mute about the question. l am glad that we have annexed Hawaii. l am on my way to Washington to make my hnal re- port to the Government, and 1t would not be proper for me to express any opinion about its course in that regard. l was in your fair city in 1894 for just two days, having been granted an indefinite leave of absence. But war having broken out between China and Japan, l was hurried ly called to Washington for the purpose of ratifying a treaty between the latter Government and China. After four weeks returned to China and inaugurated pro ceedings of peace for that country. AS to affairs in the Orient I have nothing to say for the reason that a Government officer must, of necessity, be silent on questions of state, and l am subject to the orders of this nation until 1 am re- leased from the obligation by the proper authorities, which will be when l reach Washington. I intend after that to re- turn to my home in Evansville, Ind. and lead a quiet existence, free from the tram mels of public life. We reached Homo lulu after the raising of the flag over the islands, but during my short stay there I had a very pleasant interview with MT. Sewall."
 Among the passengers was George Schweitzer. the owner of the Frankfurter Zeitung and Acteonaer, papers published in Berlin. MT. SchweitZer has been mak- ing tour of the world and is now on his way to Lisbon to attend the International Congress, which conveneS there in Sep tember. During his visit to the United States some time ago he collected notes for book "Auf Urlaub in America which will appear soon.
 Captain Kinder reports an uneventful voyage, with fair weather all the way over The run was made from Hongkong in twenty-seven days, eighteen hours and seventeen minutes. The troopship Charles Nelson reached Honolulu on Sunday, Au- gust IA. but the Lackme had not arrived when the Belgic left, though she was expected on the following day-August r. The Belgic brought over 609 steerage pas