Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-14
HONG KONG LETTER.
MRS. CULVER WRITES TO Mr.. AND
MRS. ZACH TANNER CON-
CERNING THE FAR EAST.
stopped at Honolulu and Spent "a Month i'm
Australia-She Has Talked with Dewey
"Rebs In the Bush"

Hong Kong, China, May %, 1899
Dear Carrie and Zach:-I have been in
tending TO write you ever since We left
home but could not send a letter oftener
than once month, as that is as often
as the boats run. We have had
lovely time so far. The weather could
not have been better. The ocean good
deal of the time was as smooth as a
mill pond. We stopped at Honolulu,
Samoan islands, SWANS island, New
Zealand and Australia We were in the
latter place month. liked the coun-
try very much. 1t seemed very much
like America We visited Sidney, Mel
borne, Ballaret, Adalaid, Bresharre.
| went up in the Blue mountains. 1t
was lovely up there We went through
the GenOlen caves. Goverts Leap and
Wentworth Falls were beautiful The
trees and foliage are tropical. We saw
ferns % feet high. The drive through
the mountains was delightful. We had
coach and four horses, and they went
gallopping up hill and down; first
around one hill and then around an
other till it made me dizzy.
Well we left Sidney on the 25th of
April. 1t took us twenty-five days to
reach this place. We stopped at several
towns along the Australian coast, then
we were several days at Manila. That
place was full of interest to us. There
had been battle couple of days be-
fore we landed and our troops took 800
prisoners. We went to see them. They
are a terrible looking set of men. We
went out to the lines and saw the burnt
district. Our soldiers had to burn the
houses as the rebs would get in them
snG fire upon our soldiers. l was lit
tie afraid going out to the lines for Just
few days before three people were
shot while going out, but we had some
of our American officers with us so that
was protection. Bert and knight bad
met these officers and they invited us
out to camp. knight went out the eve
ming before and stayed all night. He
enjoyed it very much. We took lunch
with the soldiers. Our table was set
about 300 feet from the lines, in the
shade of a house, and just across from
an old church which is 300 years old.
The children went up in the tower and
could see 300 rebs in the bush, as they
say here. Well, TO cut my story short,
we returned to Manila all right. One
day we went aboard of a government
launch and went across to see the
sunken war ships. There were 20 large
gsgement. We went through the old
Spanish fort at Cavite; that is where
the battle was. They had about 500
prisoners there. The battle lasted one
hour and a half. There were several Of
our men-Of-war in the bay. The Ore
gOn, Baltimore and the flagship Olym-
pia were all close together. Ii was an
interesting sight to see the signaling
with flags in the daytime and with red
and white lights at night. But we
liked the signaling with the search light
the best: We went aboard of Dewey 8
boat and saw him several times. He
took several of his officers and himself
and let Ida take their pictures.
We left Manila for another seven days
sail to Hong Kong. We arrived here
all right. Went to the Hong Kong hotel
where we have spent several days sight
seeing. We went tt Canton for a day
where we saw China in all its glory.
Such a beastly looking set l never saw.
L will have to see you to describe them
and their customs. We leave Hong
Kong tonight; we go to Shanghai, Koby,
aid then to Y okahama The weather
is getting to be something terrible.
Hot, hotter, hottest. think very likely
we may go home from Japan, as every
one advises us not to try to go through
Europe till cold weather. Yesterday
we were invited to 60 aboard the Ital-
ian warship. The ex-minister from
Italy and an Italian count mo account),
came for us. We were shown every
courtesy; we were shown over the ship
then invited to tea-wine and cake,
then we were taken to shore in their
private launch. They dined with us
last night and spent the evening. The
present minister from Italy came q
while in the evening. l expect you
are tired trying to read this, so | will
close with love to all. Rene m Der me
to all the friends. AUNT JENNIE.