The Yale expositor., 1899-12-01
IN the Best interests ofhe Community in which ive
County, Mich, FRIDAY. DECEMBER l. 1899
On The Firing Line.
Manila, Oct. 3, 1899.

Dear Father:-Having an hour off
duty to-day | will improve it by writ
ing you few lines to let you know
where and how | am. We left San
| Francisco, Sept. 2, at 5:25 pm. We had
a pleasant voyage for about ten days,
then we encountered q gale for three
days. Some of the boys were so sea-
sick that they did not leave their
quarters for week or ten days, was
sick myself for three days and count
myself lucky in that line.
We arrived in Yokohama. Japan,
after eighteen days sailing. We were
quarantined here on account of meas
les. After three days we were allowed
to go ashore. The American ladies
here treated us to coffee, milk, and
cake, pie, cheese, and ham sandwiches
the first we had since we Joined the
army. All we had had was one piece
of "punk, "(bread cooked by steam) one
small cup of coffee, one piece of meat
and one potato for breakfast. For din
ner, we had three hard tack and one
half pint of soup. For supper we got
one spoonful of rice. the same of
prunes and one piece of 'punk."
We left Yokohama the Goth and
sailed through the Inland Sea to Ma
gesaki, being in sight of the beautiful
scenery Of Japan. The trip from Yo-
kohama to Nagesaki took two days
We loaded coal at the latter place and
hoisted anchor on the 2Sth and started
on our final trip across the storm
swept China Sea. After being out
three days we encountered a typhoon.
The captain ordered the engines stop
ped at twenty minutes to four O'clock
in the morning, and we drifted before
the storm until 1890 pm. At times
we would go down in the tToughs of
the sea and the waves washed over the
deck, threatening to wash us overheard.
Everything was drenched The storm
died away, however, about noon and
we proceeded on our way, arriving in
Manila Bay on the fifth of October
at 3 p. IN.
We had just turned in for the night
at about half past nine, when the order
came to prepare rolls to GO ashore. We
were landed at III O'Clock, given Krug
rifles, ninety round of ammunition and
marched to the parade grounds, and
prepared to sleep the rest of the night.
On the morning of the 9th we were
marched to the army here and assign
ed to our Cavalry troop. Our rifles
were exchanged for Carbines. Our
blankets were loaded OH OK teams and
we were given our dinners and told to
rest until o'clock. Then we were told
to fall in and after roll call were
marched to the firing line, and are now
guarding the water works.
We arrived here ut about $3.50 at
night, after forced march, tired and
hungry. The rainy season is just over
and the sweat really dropped from our
clothes. The 10Th Cavalry is not
mounted yet, and our regiment is not
yet full. We expect fighting daily. The
boys are fighting both above and below
us, and we expect it any time.
There is village just across the river
from us in the enemy's country. They
work for our government on the roads.
Last week they had pay day and the
asked our government for protection.
The troops here are very much down
on Gen. OTIS, and speak of him in hard
terms. There is report here that
Miles is coming. lie is held in high
favor, and | hope he is coming. 1t is
a regular Indian campaign here. |
believe Miles is the man to direct it.
The people here claim that the 1st
California regiment is a disgrace to the
state they represent as well as the ma.
ton. But the rest of the regiments
have made bright records.
The bugle has blown call to quart
ers, and must close. This leaves me
in good health and l hope it will find
you all the same. Regards to all,
Murray a. McKenna.
Troop Ii. IL L .S.V. CAL, Manila, P.I.