The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-09-30
LETTER FROM A SOLDIER.
J. Paul Hammett Describes Honolulu
and Manila In a Letter to
His Mother

J. Paul Hammett, son of Mrs. NJ. E.
Hammett, of Westminster, is a member of
Battery G, Sixth U. S. Artillery, regular
army, now at the city of Manila, Philip
pine Islands. In letter to his mother,
mailed on July %, 1899, he gives some
account of his voyage over and his impress
sions of Honolulu, Manila and the Filipinos
Through the courtesy of Mrs. Hammett
we are able to give them to the readers of
the ADVOCATE
II am going to try to tell you some
thing of my trip. We left Fort CasweiI,
North Carolina, April IL and arrived at
San Francisco on the 18th. We sailed
from San Francisco on the goth and sight
ed Honolulu on the 9th. There every
body was given shore leave and the freedom
Of the city. Honolulu is paradise, and
the people could not do enough for Us,
The city is built between mountains, and
as far as the eye can reach there are palm,
coeoanut, pineapple and banana trees.
The streets are narrow, but pretty. The
perfume of flowers is everywhere. The
houses are built cottage-style and are kept
in good condition The Palace is a large
three story building built of lava that comes
from the voleanos. 1t is richly furnished,
that in the throne room being red and
gold. The grounds are lovely, with flow
er beds everywhere and the perfume from
the roses make the whole place smell
sweet.
Honolulu island is only nine miles wide
and twenty eight long Living is high
and good wages are paid. Laborers get
So 90 a day and mechanics from 50. 90 to
IS. 90. The kanakers are great people
for sport, chiefly swimming. They will
20 into the water aud catch flying fish aud
eat them raw. Sometimes they take a
canoe and 20 couple Of miles out to sea,
let big wave catch them and wash them
in on the beach.
The people of Honolulu are good nu,i-
clans. They have a band that took a
medal at the Worlds Fair. There l. 8
theatre and large public dance hail.
Honolulu is soon to have an electric
railway eighteen miles LONG. The city i
a regular stopping place for ocean steamers,
and there is always one in port. China
men aud japanese are numerous, aud there
are few Germans Sugar, coffee and
bananas are the articles Of commerce.
On april 30 we left Honolulu for Ma
Mia. The voyage was duh, We bad an
hour Grill every day and a concert by the
regimental band On May , we passed
Sumptin Volcanoes, They were burning
and we could see the lave coming from
them. On May II we sighted the island
of Luzoa. and entered Manila bay on the
18th, passing the forts at Correigder and
Cavite, where we could see the spuSen
Spanish ships, and came 10 anchor asteru
of the Baltimore The Troops were taken
ashore and pitched camp On the Lcuneta-
Manila is large city, divided into about
twenty districts. Fort Malate being the
south line The walled part is old Manila.
In there are only biz palaces, where the
wealthy live. The streets are narros and
dirty. The wall Is full of old time cancns,
and surrounded by most, thirty feet
wide, filed with water Across the river
is Benondo. Here We have the Escolia
or Bowery and the Chinese distTie,, and
you can buy anything from horse 90 q
ch0p-sfick. 4 Chinese can carry a. much
as a horse can pull, and carry everything
suspended from 4 bamboo pole svr~s the
shoulder. Opium dens are in fuIl blast
and do a good business At $. 30 at Hight
the streets are cleared Of people and 90 one
Is allowed to be on the streets or in boats
in the river until a. NJ Sen'nes are
often fired on b. natives
This Is the rainy season and no Fighting
i being done. The trenches are waist deep
with mud and some Of the boys have 70
swim 70 relieve outyosts.
The Filipinos are small and spare
They are of al colors, have straight black
hair and never Gu; their finger nails They
live in bamboo hubs and eat with their hn-
gers They have very few clothes and
children run in the streets naked.
The natives work for 20 cents day,
Mexican money, or 37i cents American
They live on nee and cook with char ooal,
for wood is scarce.
Everything Is behind the times The
horses are sman-about the size q biz
heifer. Water buffalo are used for heavy
hauling
On the line Filipino viii no, stand and
fight He shoots and runs, race horse
cannot catch him They viii have 20 tight
after the rainy season i over. Al the
volunteers are on their way home