Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-02-18
GOOD Bye TO MANILA.
Vorage TO Hongkong on the
Rough, Rolling China Sea.


Rough. Rolling China Sea.
ASoAsD BarTzsH SfnAnsn EsAEe AIDA. |,
CHINA SEA. December scsh. iss. /
DEAR NEws:-At o'clock, Tuesday
evening, December the 9th. 1893, We
babe goodbye 70 Manila and the Philip
pines. AT that hour the city vas re-
splendent with electric lights, and the
Luneta. its great boulevard along the
beach. was crowded with the elite
OF the city and soldiers of the Amer
lean army. The picture OF the Lun-
eta, that evening, IS seen from the deck
OF the English steamer Esmeraldn, on
which we had embarked for Hong
kong can never be forgotten.
That great pleasure park was bril-
iiantly lighted. The stately palms
which stood at regular intervals on
either side of the driveway were like
silent sentiuels on duty, while the
crowds driving and promenading, and
the hundreds OF soldiers in their white
uniforms and helmets, moving to and
fro, presented picture OF q city and
army given wholly to pleasure on q
beautiful, balmy moonlit evening. The
carriages, victorias, quilez and corio-
meta, with lamps aliR hted, all in close
order and in line approaching the
pier where the steamer was anchored
and then spinning around the great
marble statue Of Magellen, snd hurry
Ing away TO the band stand and the
fort where the big guns overlook the
bay. and the soldiers at = distance in
white moving amid the stately palms
like ghosts trooping home to . church
yard, presented = scene as indescriba-
BILE IS It is imperishable on the dial
plate Of memory.
When the Esmeralda steamed out IN
the bay Dewey's search lights from
bis great men of war we're playing on
soe rigging of the ships at anchor and
on all the moving crafts sailing on the
placid waters - far out as the entrance
70 the bay At Corregidor islands. II is
wonderful how this great mans wake.
Iul eye searches the waters day and
nignt Tor the protection of his couu-
trys safety and honor. When we sail.
ed away the waters of the bay were AS
placid and calm as those of an inland
yea, but when we reached the China
pea the waves we're dashed into fury
ana the Monsoon there playing ON its
surface was in its most desperate mood
Bret Harte once wrote: sFor wav,
that are dark and tricks that are vain
the heather Chinee is peculiar" and
We would add: For waters that are
rough and waves that are sickeuipe
the China Sea is alone and without IL,
equal. The first night out every pas
senger aboard retired early, and man,
OF them remained retired until w
reached Hongkoug, $50 miles away
Searstckness always comes to some OF
avoyage, but 1t rarely comes TO 95 pei
cent, OF the passenger list as it did Il
Us from Manila to Honekong. Fo,
saving In board . steamer on the Chin,
Sea has the advantage of all steamer,
that pillow the deep. OF the eigh
meals between Manila and Honekons
your correspondent made q faint efYor
1T two and there were many In tn,
crowded ship no stronger than he
From another such voyage, Good Lord
deliver US.
For forceful, emphatic, sincere an,
deep felt expression. allow US to tell O
this little incident: Wednesday, thu
hrst day out, about noon, q plain
farmer looking old gentleman WI.
Throwing up" most copiously over tn,
guards just opposite our state-roou
window. Every effort brought forth ,
full measure and running over. Hi.
extravaganza in the matter attracted
our attention and we raised our heaf
from Its long-pressed pillow to watcl
bis Efforts and offerings to the deep
~ We looked out, dapper young Eng
ltshman with loud vest and fame,
necktie, walking the deck, approaches
him and said: "See here, old gent
what's the matter?" As soon as h,
could the old man looked up, and with
Dig tears On each cheek and mustach.
and whiskers begrimed and beeormef
turned sud gazed at the youu,
man, and then IS soon as he could 70
cover breath to speak said: "You ar,
God d--n fool, that's what you are
and then be turned to the sea and he
gan bis work oyer again. The exer
ton OF lifting our head from the pillow
and our effort to laugh ut the look an,
forceful expression OF the old ma,
started us again, and for the next sf
teen minutes we were painfully bus,
indoors and the old man equally 90 on
OF doors, He was wretched outside
we retching inside.
The voyage for the whole distance
was most uncomfortah bile and Disagree
able one, Many were sick when ~,