The Portland daily press., 1898-09-29


planned to repay the kindness by inviting
the principal merchant of the town to
lunch. The merchant came and with
him his four sons, dusky race; likewise
mirablie diotu, two sons of the Spanish
Governor General whom the Charleston
had carried off. We all sat down and it
was indeed strange meal. They could
| speak no English and most of us no Span
ish. Such as was attempted was welded
by Lombard and Mahoney with the aid
| OF q dictionary. With this party came
| also the padre of Agana. He stood on the
deck, as we came along side in shore
boat, in cassock, biretta and white duck
the old native stock, and of most benev-
olent aspect, and with a manner for all
the world like that of Mr.. - of San
Francisco. The impression left on all
the officers as disclosed by subsequent
discussion was the same, viz: that here
was thoroughly good, ingenious man.
l introduced myself to him and found
that he spoke excellent English, and when
I said that had lived in California, that
many of the old missions were still there
and that Father Junipero Sierra was the
first missionary, he threw up his hands
at once He knew all about him. DR..
Rogers and Lieut.. Rogers had called on
him the day before and this was the re-
turn visit.
80 July, Friday-We are still long
way from Manila, though flour present
rate of progress continues, we ought to
reach there by next Wednesday.
San Bernadino Straits August 2nd.-
Here we are but few hundred miles
from Manila, cruising along among these
beautiful Philippine islands. There are
1900 Of them. some say more. Tho mon
soon Is blowing, cool southwest wind.
The wind and the islands remind me
much of Casco Bay. We passed light
house this morning and . Spanish flag
was raised. Our colors were displayed;
after we had passed, as the Brutus came
salong, the Spanish flag was dipped to her.
These green islands look particularly
beautiful as we have just passed through
heavy gale with all its attendant anx-
iety. The seas swept the decks and the
turrets were buried in foam. Much Of
the coal that had been so laboriously
dashed to the deck at Guam had to be out
loose, and the sea soon washed 1T over
board. And the roll Spray dashed over
everything. This is the month and this
is the place where typhoons may be ex-
peoted, and of course all were afraid the
gale would turn into one, but thank God,
1t did not. Yesterday, when sixty miles
from land we saw large cocoanut tree
floating.
August 4th, Manila Manila at last |
Or to speak more correctly, Manila Bay
off Cayite. We passed out of the straits
last nigh and stood out into the China
sea. About p. m. we sighed Corregi-
dor island and stood off and on during
the night. The swell was heavy and the
ship rolled a great deal. The decks were
cleared for action, this battle ports in
place, and the men slept where they could
The heat below was terrific. At 1.s5 a.
IN. I could stand it no longer and went
up on the bridge where stayed till break
fast time. At daybreak we entered the
Bay. The uniform of the day was white
with shoulder straps and we were told
to stand by for General Quarters. But
General Quarters never came. As we
proceeded, we could see the feet in the
dista nee and the American flag. Grad
ually the ships could be recognised, the
Olympia, Charleston, Baltimore, etc.
and all the transports. General Merritt
had arrived. We steamed grandly up the
bay, cloud of signals flying from our
military mast, and firing the Admiral's
salute Of thirteen guns. As we passed
ship after ship, the crews drawn up in
lines upon the deck gave us cheer after
cheer. Finally we passed the flagship,
Uncle George himself being on the quart
er deck, every man on the Monterey with
his hand to his cap in military salute.
The engines ceased to throb, the anchor
was let go and thus ended our record
trip of 1000 miles in a monitor across a
vast ocean.
We are So days out from San Francisco.
AT anchor off Cavite, 6 August, 1885,
The mail goes tomorrow, so l shall have
time for few mora words We are an
chored near the wreck of the Castillo.
dismal sight, Five other wrecks are in
sight. all belonging to the Spanish squad
ron Dewey destroyed. I can count some
twenty five of our ships here, men-of-war
and transports.
Manila lies across the bay five miles dis
tant. We can see large buildings there.
The foreign fleet lies in front of Manila
composed of German and English men-of-
war and merchant vessles. General Mer-
rift is here and troops have besn disc m.
barking all day. Some 6, 600 of our troops
are in the trenches in front of Manila
Fighting occurs every night there and
perhaps every day. But it is so far off,
the gurs cannot be heard, though the
flashes can be seen. watched the flashes
last night for hours. There were heavy
field pieces on both sides too. Three of
our men we're killed, and three wounded
last night The loss of the U. S. forces
ND to date in these same trenches is so
killed and 100 wounded. The Monterey
is to 90 into action soon, perhaps day
n a. - tou,orrow to engage some heavy