The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-05-13
END, being Washinqton's birthday

End, being WashinQton's birthday a
Field Day programme had been arranged
for the afternoon, with music and dane
ing for the officers in the evening, but at
1880 in the morning private belong
ing to the 18th Infantry, while leaning on
the rail fell overheard, and though a
life preserver was thrown over and
boat lowered he was drowned, he must
have been stunned and drow ned at once.
the sports came off, and during the
musical programme in the evening we
ran into Port Said, anchoring just at
Taps. When we got up in the morning
we lay just off the customs house but q
few feet from the wall. Here we saw
Egyptians, Arabians and several kinds Of
Africans. We had no chance to 20
ashore, though the officers went off.
Near us lay the q. S. gunboat Castine,
and alongside of her lay the British gun
boat Hazard.
We are now making the best time
possible on account of the fighting in
the Philippines. The ship began coal
ing as soon as we got in, and we left
about 2 in the afternoon.
The officers had planned a.. trip to
Jerusalem, as we were expected to stay
here two days.
The canal is just about what I had
imagined to be-. It is cut through the
sand, and the scenery is not SO varied as
a Dakota prairie. There are stations
every five miles, however, aud railroad
along the bank. The canal runs through
several lakes, one of which is 10 by Is
miles, and is supposed to be the place
crossed by the Israelites. I looked but
could not see any tracks so guess it
must be a fake.
We reached Suez early in the morn
ing and left at daylight, sailing all day
in the Gulf of Suez. About 4:3O F. M.
we could Sc 9 Mt. Sinai where Moses re-
ceived the co commandments, and soon after
entered the Red Sea proper, of course
here was a great deal of disappointment
because the water was blue instead of red
I do not know how the sea got it's name,
but it may have been from the color of
the sand forming the shores, as 1t is of
redish color.
Yesterday We reached the Perien
Islands, where we stopped to coal. We
found 81. M. S. Hazard here, the same
ship We saw at Port Said. Here we
found a different kind of people, the
Coolies from India. This ia just coal
ing station, and the Coolies loaded our
coal. Part of the population are Arabs
and here, as everywhere else, we find
Englishmen running the business. All
coal in this part ct the world belongs to
them, and always comes fir ON British
coalliers.
We left this port the same day We got
in, passed through the straits of Bob
ell. W an-Deb in the night and have a
trip Of over 1000 miles to our next port
on the Island of Ceylon, where we take
on coal again. =
We have drawn our kakki clothes
and packed our over.coats and blue
uniforms in boxes, the kakki uniforms
are sort of yellow, light linen, the
blouses have pockets, and they are more
comfortable in every way than the blue.
We drill every day on deck for half an
hour, and find it pretty warm, though a
canvas awning covers the whole deck.
9 We expect to take the field as soon as
we land, and it will be rather hard on
some of the boys after about 50 days
aboard ship. I guess it is pretty sure
thing that my desire for active service
will be fully met, and if it is I will be able
to quit soldering satisfied.
We reached Colombo few hours ago
and. will probably leave here tomorrow.
l don't think any one will be allowed to
20 ashore here, but if any one does I will
make desperate effort to be included.
= The ship is surrounded by boats, and
there are all kinds of people in them.
Hindus, Coolies, Japs, Chinese and
others, with all kinds of curious boats.
Affectionately,