People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-04-27
Letters from Soldiers.

The following letters from Arthur
and Jack Hastie Of this city, now on
their way to Manila, will be OF inter-
est to Wellington people. The first
is from Jack HASTE, now at the Pres.
lido, San Francisco, waiting for the
transports:
Dear Folks at Home: l will write
you all at once as / know that you all
will read it anyhow. There were about
800 soldiers left here this morning and
as many more to 60 yet this week.
Billie Marshall will go tomorrow Or
next day. Don't know just when we
will leave, but more than likely next
week. My vaccination is just taking
now. Otherwise | am well. l went
out to the Golden Gate park yester.
day afternoon, and it is sight. You
could spend week there taking In
the sights, for there are every kind of
birds and animals and foreign dress
and relics there. 1t is the prettiest
place ever saw. This is a swell town.
1t is built right in the hills. There
is not level street In the town. A
soldier got killed here Friday night in
a hole that they called a saloon,
that stood just outside Of the fort,
and a gang Of soldiers went out there
Sunday night and tore it all up aud
harmed it down. But l was not one
Of them. There are new men coming
in most every morning. l will fire
you letter or card when | draw my
clothes that we will wear down there,
for when we draw we will get out in
day or so. Billie Marshall drew his
today. JACK HASTE, Co. X.
The following from Arthur Hastie
was written on board the Zelandia, as
they were nearing Honolulu:
On ship Zelandia, !
April 4, 1899.
Dear parents, and brother and sis
tiers: We left San Francisco March
q, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
| was seasicK the first night out and
part of the next day. My health i.
dne; | get three good meals a day.
We will arrive in Honolulu some time
tomorrow and l will mail this letter
there. Will stay there about three
days for water and coal. l didn't get
any answer before lefC Frisco, but
had it forwarded. The weather has
been fine on the ocean. l can stand
In the forward part OF the ship
and see twenty milds with my naked
eye, and see little flying fish about
six inches long fly up in front of the
ship and fly out to the side about 100
yards. 1t will take about twenty or
twenty-five days from Honolulu to
Manila.
| am not sure what company We are
assigned to yet, but will know the
next letter l write. l and Berry,
Wisehart are still together. You
thought l cOuldn'tget in when l went
to X. G, ] stood good examination.
They were awful strict. saw some
volunteers try to get in, but they
didn't pass.
While am writing the ship is run
ming as smooth as a train, and making
about twelve knots an hour. A knot
is mile and quarter. There are
$50 soldiers on this ship. The rest of
the regiment is on the Pelebio, that
sailed three days before we did.
When we come back | hope they will
send US around By the way of New
York, and we will get to see a great
sight. You had better wait until i
write again before you answer. Then
| will be more sure to get the letter
Have found all OF these boys all right.
We will get to 60 ashore at Honolulu
for one day. will close for this time,
hoping it will find you all well. With
my love to all. Your son,
ARTHUR HASTE.