Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-07-27
HIS TRIP TO THE PHILIPPINES.
VIII R. Lyon Is Making Great Experience in
Uncle Sans Regular army.


Manila in fact, landed there
on July oath VIII sailed from
the Golden Gate the latter part Of
June with troops on the transport
Sheridan. Geo. r. Houston Of Cen
tralia, who enlisted with Lyon, was
sick tWenty-three out Of thirty-three
days at the PreSiGiO and failed to pass
examination when the transport
started. Mr.. Houston is now, how
ever, headed in the same direction
trayersed by his companion. 4 young
lady friend in town received Georges
nice four-in-hand necktie through
Mondays mail and on the tie was this
wording: "Geo. r. Houston enlisted
in u. S. army May II, go at Portage.
Embarked for Manila July p on Tar
tar" That's where the American
girl got ahead Of the Filipino belle.
The transport Tartar left San
Francisco Monday forenoon, July u,
with Gen. Wheeler and his daughter
aboard, the Nineteenth infantry and a
party Of 175 recruits. Mr. Houston is
with the largest regiment in the
United States if not in the world,
having 1900 men. 1t is the first regi-
mcnt to be recruited under the new
organization Of 128 men to company.
VIII Lyon his written an interesting
letter to his parents which is sub
mitted herewith:
On board transport Sheridan. 800
miles from Frisco. Wednesday,, June
%, 1890 Dear Parents: viii write
you the trip from Frisco to Honolulu
as best | can under the circumstances.
We left the PreSidio ut | o'clock p. m.
on June u on board the government
ferry DauntleSS, which took us to the
wharf where we boarded the famous
Sheridan. The Sheridan is the largest
and best transport in the service. We
have ON board 200 soldiers and Otli-
GERS and the crew is about 300 strong,
SO YOU can get some idea Of the size OF
the boat. Steamed out Of Golden
Gate at & p. m. of the same day and
have seen no land nor boats since.
We are making on an average of T.
knots per hour and at this rate of
speed we will reach Honolulu on Sun
day morning. First two days were
days Of suffering for the majority OF
the boys but were grand days for the
fishes The rails were crowded with
soldiers who were very anxious TO feed
the members of the finny tribe. /
never felt the least bit sick and only q
Slight dizziness at first, which Twas
caused 10y the rolling Of the boat, was
all the effect it had ON me. Some are
80; I.,i,. hat q
priSed me very much Us TO its calm
ness. No waves at all and lOOiS like
the Old WscOnSe with the exception
of the long SWellS. Saw a school OF
sharks yesterday and about forty large
sea guIlS are constantly following the
ship These are the only living ami
mails we see and it is getting very
mOu0tOnOuS now with nothing TO lOOE
at but water on all SIDES. Well, about
the ship. She is painted white al
over with the exception of the lrOI
floors which are red, She has five
decks besides the hold. She is titteC
with bcrthS for ,, 200 men. Berths art
about y feet wide and 6 feet long
They are made Of strip OF canvas
dashed to an iron frame. They are IL
tiers, three high. Boat is we'll vcnti
lated from top and sides. Decks arr
thoroughly washed twice each day
She has capaCiOuS cooking galleyS
where each company sends detail
with coffee boilers and pals after th
mess. Mess here has a queer taste
They use no salt which, | think, ac
counts for it. Boat is equipped will
two very large lavatOries in which ar
shower baths, waShstands just th
same as those in hotels, made 0
marble. fine water closets, etc. Off
GERS and civilians have separate quar-
tcrS and live high.
The hardest thing to get along witt
is the water. 1t is in large vat bu
is very warm, almost hot and we hay
to fill our canteenS and leave it unit
it cools. Never gets cold but is muc
better than when it comes out of tn
vat. The boat has the best of ma
chinery and is electric lighted. Sh
has two steam launches and eight larg
row boats aboard. The most wonder
full sight | think, is in the tireroor
where the coal paSSerS work. On,
is terrible. Hot as an oven, and dusty
Oh, YOU can't imagine how thick tn
dust is. They work for four hours
then lay off for eight hours. saw on
fellow come up from the tirerOOm an
empty water out of his shoes Whic
NuS DuiC SNNUU. IItC9 bIiuh wax
with oatmeal in it and drink as litt
as possible. They come up, take
sponge bath. put on dry clothes, the
rest When they go down again the
put on the Old dirty clothes again
Worst place to work in | ever say
Deck hands do not have it hard.
long as they are on the move nOthir
is said. The sailors all live tine, e;
extra we'll.
| do not like the sea trip at all al
will be glad when we get to our de
tination. Too much confinement Il
me. One good thing on board ar
that is we are not bothered a partic
with dust. Think we stay four da,
in Honolulu, but am not sure. 1t
getting quite warm now and in thr,
days more it will be as warm as itey,
gets at home in summer.
ThurSdy. June ~. - Sea trit
heavier today and considerable mo
breeze. A Slight rain this morning.
Before we left the Preside we {
drew canteens, cartridge belts al
hayersacks. The Red Cross socie
gave us each a small comfort baz
which will be found very useful.
Just think. three more weeks on Il
water after leaving Honolulu. Th
is quite awhile to be out of sight
land. This is an experience of n
life and | mean to profit by 1T as mu'
as possibly can.
We have d canteen on the DO
whore most aOyt biDu in the line