The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1899-08-12
Bound For Manila.
To the Roundabout:

San Francisco, there to be joined by
the two battaliOns stationed at JEFF
ferson Barracks and LeavenwOrth,
and to so measure our time and dis
lance as 10 meet at that point on the
Goth of May.
Our. battalion left Fork Cook in
two sections on the 2ith, giving us
five DAYS to make the two thousand
miles of overland travel. The others
put in their appearance promptly,
and we marched from the Oakland
Ferry to pier No. II, at the foot Of
Folsom street, where the U. s. trans
port "Grant" lay at anchor. The
taking on of coal and supplies and
equipments required more time than
was at first calculated upon, and we
did not leave our pier as soon as was
expected, but remained over until
the next day. This delay, however,
did not work any hardships. as II
gave us good opportunity to get
sight of Chinatown and few other
points Of interest in San Francisco.
The next day-"DecOration Day"
lat half-past four p. m. we drew in,
the hawsers that bound this magnif.
icent vessel "a sister ship to the ill.,
fated "MOhican," wrecked a few
months since off the Lizzard) to her
anchorage, and, amid the din of
bands, whistles and cheers from the
crowds assembled along the wharves,
we turned our bow towards the Col.
den Gate-the entrance to one of the
most excellent harbOrs along any
coast. Every one seemed, or tried
to appear, cheerful, but / knew full
well that my own was not the only
heart on that vessel that was aching
and throbbing as it had never done
before. l scarcely realized what it
meant to leave ones own native
land, and those whose lives are
dearer to him than his own life's
blood.
Safely out of the harbor we saw a
small sloOp-rigged yacht standing off
our starboard bow. This we knew
to be the boat that was to take off
the pilot who brings all large vessels
safely out into the ocean and past all |
danger from shoals and rocks.
This added more gloom, for now |
we were in the hands of officers and |
crew, who, like ourselves, were |
making this trip for the first time.
and whatever fate their inexperience |
might bring, it was likewise ours as
well as theirs.
Standing ON deck and looking at
the shores or our native land fade in |
the distance, as the sun sets over the |
hills that grid its shores, the mist |
deepening, the sullen sound of the |
crested waves, as they seem to try to !
impede the progress of any intruder, |
the thought of loved ones, of the
hazardous undertaking ahead are
calculated, singly, to drown all |
mirth, but, when these are collect
lively forced upon one, at one and the
same time, the feeling that follows is
overwhelming. However brave a
man may be, however strongly he
may feel his own Importance, If he
comes to realize what a small speck
in the worlds makeup he really is, /
know of no better way Of demon
strating how Insignificant individual
humanity is than by subiecting him
to this experience.
Those who grow up surrounded by
a small sphere la life, imbued with
their own greatness, those who gov
ern imperially their own micrOcosm,
would learn to lean on Others, and
give to every force, whether human
or mechanical, its proper share OF
respect, rather than appropriate the !
whole, If they could 60 through this
same category. But, strange as II
may seem, one regards life last of all,
and it matters not to him whether on
his return trip he occupied the Cap
tain's quarters or cold storage, pro- s
vided BY the Quartermaster for I'M {
who sacrifice their lives, .
not always to country, but often to !
satisfy the morbid love of curiosity I
and travel.
The bette noir of ocean travel is, AS
all who have tried 1t will testify,
that miserable misunderstanding one
invariably has with his stomach. 1t .
iefies drugs, scorns persuasion and s
aughs with nauseating derisiOn at c
is luckless victims, whose name is 3
egion. i am proud to say never a
missed eating a meal, but equally re- y
.retful of the fact that l never kept Il
me down long enough to derive any a
benefit from 1t, for what seemed to z
ne TO be month, but In reality d
proved 10 he only two days. During b
his time / sought religiously the b
that cabin grants. Since
ecOvery sat In have felt the better O
or the Overhauling | was forced to Il
% through with. n
There is a ridiculous side TO every &
hing. One night. soon after start \
ne on our long voyage, some one in I
he crowd asked If the moon Was up. a
\ luckless individual, who had in Il
Voluntarily donated all his rations to h