The Lamar register., 1898-09-28

known Jack Henderson, VIII prove
interesting reading and viii repsy
the time spent reading it. Such let
ters as these give tr1e facts and show
the inside history Of war, and the
life Of those engaged therein:
On Pacific Ocean Steamer China
July Is, 1898.
Ny DzAH JACK
Today, having rain and somewhat
ceol weather, for the first time since
we left Honolulu, feel able TO write
to you. This internal heat, which
prevails in tins tropical region and
which makes fellow lazy and de
generated as q ''lazEaroni'' has kept
me from doing anything.
Il IS very hard on Us all and feel
pretty weak and tired. To keep 10
'.trim" get up every morning at 4
O'Clock and take a bath, in the big
bath tub l mentioned ia previous
letter, and get the rSrspirztiou
washed OF. / also change under wear
every day, eat snd drink and smok,
very little think that viii keep
me mp until aeelim-ated Some OF the
men go pretty near naked aud We
mostly sleep on deck during night
did not sc; time to write 70 you
again from Honolulu, for we left that
place very suddenly and regret that
no longer time was given Us TO see
that, for its climate and charms.
world famous place. II was a para
disc, a garden Of palms, eocoanut
trees and other tropical veCe,4iion,
with neat little frame house stuck
in here and there Its climate j.
eternal summer. without extreme heat
and never lower than 30 degrees +.
It's inhabitants are mostly Chinese.
Japanese and natives (Kanakas} al
though many whites OF all nations.
and OF them mostly Americans. The
first day we all went ashore for
bath at Long Branch beach, and al
ter took dinner In large park. which
some society had prepared for the
whole regiment We all loaded MP
pretty well and enjoyed II for we
were getting tired of .'sow belly or
salt pork. which we are getting pretty
regular. After that we walked around
town TO take in whatever we could
see.
While laying ont IN the bay wait
ing for the other steamers TO be
coaled, some Of the natives came
swimming ont 70 the ship and swan
around for hours without resting
aud when we threw money to them
they dived and caught it every time
They are kind of .'nigger'' but look
more like ''nlligators"
June 25ih at p. m, We left Hon
plulu and soon saw ii sink below the
horizon We have had the finest Of
weather on the way and / have en-.
ioyed this long trip across the Pacific
very much. 1t is fresh and healthy
life. lots of finn among 50 many
Young boys and comrades, and then
we have seen land twice. The 4th
Of July we came npon Wakes island.
a pretty large coral reef uuinhahited,
which Is so far out of the regular
traffic that no records Of any ship
being there since so years hack is
found We stopped some distance
from il while General Greene and
his staff went ashore to plant the
American flag and take possession
for Uncle Sam. 1t is small but might
be useful sometime While the off
GERS were ashore We eaught big
shark eight feet long on hook aud
line with piece of pork as bait.
You should have seen the excitement
when he was hanled on deck. We
could have caught some more, but
TIE officers came back and of we
went again.
In the afternoon We had an enter
tainment. Our band played, our
glee club sang, General Greene and
Colonels Hale and Jewett made
speeches and the Declaration Of In
depence was read by our chaplain. /
spent very pleasant Fourth. and
must not forget TO mention that we
had pie and rice pudding with wine
sauce for dinner: quite treat. The
fifth of July one of our band bows