Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-07-11
FROM MAINE TO MANILA.
NOTES OF THE VOYAGE PROM SAN
FRANCISCO ON the TRANSFORM.
No. q.

FRANCISCO ON THE TRANSPORT.
i. No. 2.
Tuesday, April 1S.-we started frou
San Francisco at about this morning
Everything b all hustle and confusion
the crew are trying to straighten o.
things Ia a shipshape manner. Tn
men don't know what TO do with them
selves they act like CT In strsn9s
house. There 70 quito ground swell
and Il u making lots OF tho men slck
The grub is something fierce. They
haven't got 70 going yet, ! guess. By
the way, the ships crew ere al Chinese
| Wednesday, 19th.-Haa heavy sea
In the night, which washed the decA
several times. We sighted q ship thii
morning or TO our left. All OF the
corps men are sick but Cornell, Laws
aud myself; expect our turn will come
soon. Grub no better. The officers eat
In dining room, the men on deck, With
the ship rolling so one hangs tight to
his plate to keep It from going over
board.
Thursday night. We had bacon and
soft bread for breakfast, best meal |
ever ate. Rained last night, but clear
In morning, then q rainy day. Two
cases Of mumps this morning.
Friday might've are having soft
bread all the time now, and Tonight
had canned salmon. Saw . ship this
afternoon about twenty miles away.
This transport used TO be an "ocean
greyhound Il broke all records across
the Atlantic In 50. Since then 10 re.
pairing there has been l50 feet cut Oh, and
| now Il is over 500 feet long-the fastest
and best transport we have. The men
are packed In Ike sardines. The hunks
are single, but two are together like .
double bunk, and four high. The rows
are about 2 IL feet apart. They have
wire springs but no mattress. The corps
are in the hospital, 10 the bow OF the
ship, 50 get better quarters than the
others. We have mattresses.
April -, Saturtav.--Am feeling fine
~ silk, don't think am going to be II
all sick. Have been reading all day.
Have three men quite slek, 50 have
watch all the time. l 20 on duty To-
night. Tom Ksvansugh, Of Paris Hill,
OF "Co. D." is on this boxt with the
light artillery.
BAN. Mondsy.--Yesterday was sun
dxy 10 you, at home, but not here. II
rxined to beat the band. l did not
realize 1t was Sunday till Il was men
toned at supper. By the way, We had
a great supper. Had soup, 40 usual,
and the meat In Il had begun to decay
80 one could smell II quite way OF. |
not liking to 90 without supper, aud
being the doctors orderly told him OF
IL, showing him sample. He 10 turn
told the colonel, then the fun bcgsu.
The colonel sent for the cook, and when
be was going by the men, they shoutcd
"Overboard with him." The colonel
had him cook another supper and told
the men they would get better food 10
the future. We have i've very sick men.
IL has been q bad night. Had 20 sleep
with one eye open or roll out Of bed.
Tuesday morning. Have been In bed
since yesterday morning. A bad cold
has settled all over me. One man died
last night and Was buried early this
morning. One doesn't realize the sad
ness Of burial at sea till he witnesses
one. The boat Is making very fast time.
Az this rate we will make the quickest
trip yet.
Wednesday morning.-Am feeling
better. Another poor fellow died last
night. am living on matted milk and
the msjor sends an orange 70 me about
every time he sees Cornell.
Friday, April S.-Yesterday was
Wednesday Ay-to-dAy Is Friday. Strange,
isn't Il? but we crossed the 1s0th meFid-
ian last night, so ships going west lose
= day. Have been up all day and am
feeling quite well. Saw . school Of
porpoises about mile away.
Saturday, April 29.-Lots warmer this
morning, but the sea breeze keeps us
cool. Saw some flying fish just before
dinner. They would hy 30 feet. The
sailors say they ny ill their wings dry,
then drop.
Sunday, April 80 Mastered for pay
to-day. The wind 10 blowing . hurri-
cane aud every one on deck n getting
soaked. Large waves 70 completely
over the ship. As we have our meals on
deck you can imagine how We enjoyed
1t. got soaked, also got my dinner.
Monday, May day."-Finest day yet.
Warm and pleasant As far as looks are
concerned. No more deaths and things
look much brighter.
Tuesday, May 2.-Had q warm, pleas
ant night. The stars were very bright
and made me think of home. Very hot
to-day with but little breeze. Sharks
have been around the ship all day.
Some Of the men have tried to catch
them, but haven't yet succeeded.
wednesday.-A fine day. Cornell and
I are to sleep on deck tonight.
Thursday.-We had to get OF the deck
on account OF q shower, but leaving
clothing in the hospital, We had . 6ne
shower bath. 1t was fun and no mis-
take. Sighted land this morning, =
small island about 80 miles away. One
of the men got shark about 1ve feet
long; saved his backbone for cane.
Friday.-The sea Is % smooth % glass.
The crew say they never saw It 90 calm.
The bulkheads were opened this morn
ing, so we have had fine breeze through
the hospital all day.
Saturday.-It has rained all the after
noon and everything IL wet and nasty.
The air Is bad below deck, 30 one would
rather get wet than 20 below.
Sunday.-Rsined and l have read al
day.
Mondsy.-A fine day, bat awfully hot.
The Cinnamon are running around with
simply q towel bound about them for
clothing.
Tuesday.-We have sighted the island
Of Luzon; expect to reach Manila to
morrow night. Hot enough to roast
peanuts, but a. I haven't any will have
TO let the golden opportunity pass. Had
. fne salt water bath tonight.
Wednesday morning.-The major says,
get letters ready for him to sign ct once.
May l3.--Manila, p. Came ashore
yesterday. You bet was glad TO get
my feet on earth once moro. We had
| Just got into camp when the second
battalion was ordered on the firing line.
We follow them this afternoon. The
natives said yesterday was the hottest
dsy for years, bat al stood It first-rate.
Had our khaki suits issued as yesterday.
They are quite thin and cool.
This IL dne country, great flne palms
growing all around here. The FilfpInos
resemble negroes excepting their straigh,
hair. They are rather short and great
cigarette smokers. You can buy 6(
cigarettes for cents, but the price oi
everything else has been raised about
500 per cent since the u. 8. soldierl
came year ago.
| want all the folks TO write u cant
write to each Of them. Address,
CUR G. BEAN,
| Hospital Corps, 2lst lnf'ty,
| Manila, Philippine Islands.