Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-17
ACROSS THE PACIFIC.
willard Hall Mcdowell of This City Tel
of His Trip TO Manila.


OF His Trip 10 Manila.
A letter has just been received from
Willard Hall Mcdowell of this city, a
member of the Sixteenth Regiment
United States Infantry, mailed in Ma.
Mia July Sd, upon the arrival there of
the United States transport Grant, in
which his regiment was taken from
San Francisco, CAL, to the Philippine
Islands. In the letter he tells an in
teresting story of the trip across the
Pacific Ocean and gives some facts con-
corning Manila.
The first six days we were at sea-"
no writes, were unevcntful, but about
8 O'Clock in the morning OF the seventh
day we sighted land, and at noon, when
we were abreast of it we learned that
it was Leprosy Island, but kept SO far
away that we could distinguish
nothing. 1t was on tine left of us and
We also saw an island on the right
during the day, which proved to be
Hawaii. We put in at Honolulu at 6
O'Clock in the evening The island
contains many mountains, some of
which are 14,000 feet above the level of
the sea. There arc also number Of
craters. Some have been burned out.
but we saw two still burning before we
rounded the point to reach the city.
Upon our arrival at Honolulu the
crack band of the island, which took
second prize at the Worlds Fair, was
on the wharf to meet us. and as we
landed it greeted us with 1.-The Stars
and Stripes Forever" and afterward
gave a concert. The Sixteenth Regi-
ment Band, which was with us, re-
turned the compliment, but the Ha-
wa1ian band appeared to us to be far
superior. A large number of American
boats were in tho harbor, including
the schoolship Adams and the cruiser
Philadelphia, which arrived from
Samoa two days ahead of us.
Honolulu is beautiful city. about
Us pretty as | ever saw. Many kinds
OF tropical fruits grow in the heart of
the city, such as bananas, pineapples,
oocoanuts, &c. Fruits and merchan-
disc are very cheap. Our money is
used, except greenbacks, which the
natives will not touch. The govern
ment is to be formally turned over to
the United States on July LIST, and
when we left the people were making
all sorts of arrangements for the event
Six batteries of the Sixth ARTILLERY are
stationed ON the island. The palace is
situated in the centre of the city and is
very fine building. The population
consists of American, English, Irish,
Chinese and Japanese settlers and ma
tives, who appear to be a nice class of
people. IL might be stated, incident
ally, that all are claiming that they
are Americans. All kinds of work can
be secured on the island, workingmen
being very scarce. am told that car
penters are paid 81 per day for an
eight-hour day; blacksmiths, Sc, and
masons, So, and they are hard to get at
that. Three newspapers are published
In the city, one in the morning and
two at night. They are made up
chiefly OF advertisements. News is
scarce, and. with tine exception of that
of local character, can be obta ned
only by the mail steamers, there being
no cable service, so far as the papers
are concerned.
1.-THE chief plantation district is
about 15 miles back from the city, and
is reached by small railroad, which
also connects Honolulu with the other
cities. Honolulu has population OF
about 10000.
"After remaining at Honolulu two
days, which time was required to coal
up, we weighed anchor and resumed the
voyage to Manila. After the first few
days, the greater part Of the trip was
monotonoIs, but was enlivened by the
band, which gave two concerts each
day. We had magnificent nights and
saw the Southern Cross in the heavens,
as we'll rs the planet Mars, sever al
times. During most of the trip rair
came regularly about noon each day
and it usually descended in torrents.
Most of the tomatoes used on the triI
came from Delaware.
AFTER we arrived at Manila we pro.
ceeded in heavy marching order a mile
and half to Malata, suburb of the
city, where We remained in the bar
racks until our baggage arrived, when
we were sent to the water works or
guard duty. We expect to be sent tt
the firing line, which is about Is miles
from the city. From the way thing:
look around the town it will be some
time before tine trouble is over. The
Filipinos do not make any kind of {
stand, but keep the soldiers on the rur
after them and laugh because tht
troops cannot catch them. Most of til,
wreckage of the fleet destroyed by
Admiral Dewey has been cleared away
| 1t is necessary for the soldiers to watch
everybody they see at night about the
city, as they are liable to be stabbed
Ali suspicious characters are to bt
halted and if they do not stop the sol
diers shoot at them and shoot to kill.
Manila is a very fine city and hal
population of 300, 200 people. Their,
are business houses and stores of ever,
description. Cigars cost rs cents pc
100 and are good ones at that. l hav,
not seen enough of the place to BIO abb
to tell much about the conditions. "
Edward Holland of this city has re
ceived from John Mcdonald, membe
of the Twelfth Regiment, handker
chief formerly the property of Fill
Iino. 1t is yellow apd rod and con
tains printed instructions how to use
Remington rife.
Charles Hawkins OF No. 903 Lindel
street, has received from Harry Myer
of the u. S. S. Princeton copy o
Freedom, a newspaper published il
Manila.
POLICE SPOETS.
/ u.s.h,It T,u,,s Salectaa and Entrtss An fo