The National tribune., 1900-02-22
XMAS ABOARD ship.
Celebration of the Day on the
Transport Sherman-Arrival
at Guam-Entering Manila
HarbOr.
TRANSPORT SHERMAN, Dec. %, 1899.

TRANSPORT SHERMAN, Dec. 26, 1899.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Nothing
occurred after crossing the 1SOth meridian
| to vary the routine of transport life until the
22d inst, when a 'stowaway" was found
| among the cabin passengers. He had
| taken his meals regularly, after leaving San
| Francisco, with some mechanics belonging
to the Quartermaster's Department, who
were going out to Manila. and as the clerk
| had not taken up the transportation orders,
the fact that there We're II mechanics in
stead of 10 was overlooked, and he would
probably have gone on undetected until
Manila was reached. had not the secret
leaked out through two of his associates.
He was young fellow, neatly dressed and
very quiet. had served in Cuba during the
late war, and had his discharge from an
Illinois regiment. Immediately on dis
covery he was put at work scrubbing the
decks. ard will it is said be placed in con-
finement at Manila*.
| Christmas comes but once year" and
such Christmas as we had on the Sherman
to the most of us probably comes not oftener
than once in a lifetime. Mass and Pres
byterian service We're conducted in the
early morning; and by order of the COM
manding officers, Maj Kirkman, Capt
Reed and Capt. Grant. a series of athletic
contests for prizes We're instituted, open to
all on board, including the four companies
of the 49th, the casuals and ships crew, to
conclude with n concert in the evening
| The spar deck was the exhibition ground,
the forward hatch being converted into an
arena, the starboard gangway as far as the
gun-deck being used for race-course
while stage was erected on the port side
| next to the cabin gangWay and used by the
minstrels and other performers at night.
The day was fine and clear, the tempera-
ture OF the air SO0, and of the water 800 we
being nearly 5000 miles southwest of Homo
lulu. steaming in the direction of Guam.
| illustrated posters. the work of artist
| ,. A. Cuneo, filled with the most startling
announcements in regard to the superior
accomplishments of the performers for the
| evening, the cost of securing them, ETC.
were to be found in various parts of the YES
| sci.
Gunner Jim Sterling superintended the
| stage preparations: and Jim has a record
as seaman and as one of the gunncrS on
the Petrel when the Spanish fleet was sunk
at Manila.
Promptly at four bells 40 a. m } Lieut..
Haherson. Officer of the Day, announced
the opening contest 1t was pilow-fght
III me arena; the last man remaining inside
to be the winner. All the available space
about the decks, upon the rigging and
spars, was filled with eager, smiling faces
dark features predominating-as a half
dozen stalwart fellows entered the ring and
at the signal began basting each other with
stuffed pillows. The battle was fierce.
'|A'IllilS. lilillN. anu SOOl enupu. Inc
prize, 81 (as in the case of all subsequent
prIzesl, was promptly awarded at the close:
and contests in wrestling We're announced.
catch as catch can" Then came egg and
spoon races, each runner holding an egg in
4 long spoon. which resulted in many
ludicrous lapses. Quite as laughable was
a mounted race in which the steeds were
men. Then came a contest in eating
apples swinging from strings at the hight of
the eaters nose. AS the apples were hard
and smooth. and could only be touched with
the mouth, the task of eating was quite as
difficult as it was amusing A white man
vigorously swinging and pecking his
apple with his teeth, seemed to be in the lead
TIL a coiored man with a very large mouth
suddenly bit off the entire lower half of his.
which soon settled the question.
The exercises of the forenoon concluded
with a time race among the Jackies: each
sailor mounting the main rigging star
board side. and coming down on the port
side AS the prize was a V, and the ships
ofncerS along with passengers occupied the
hurricane-deck for a balcony, each tar was
doubly on his mettle. the slowest time being
but 40 seconds, and the winning time 80
seconds.
An obstacle race at D. m. was a ne
culIarly warm affair, each contestant hav-
ing 10 crawl through the ships wind-sails,
or long canvas chuteS laid on deck, ilImp
through swinging rings, vault hurdles, and
return. Boxing matches among heavy.
middle and light weights, and a barrel
lght: IN Whlch the last man preserving and
in his barrel. won. filed up the |
afternoon. Capt. Reed. who acted as
referee. seemed i'll great danger several |
times. but managed 10 escape unharmed.
Capt: Baker. of Co. i, 10Th T. S. v. felt |
elated that his company received |
4 large proportion of the prizes awarded. |
Capt. Baker was formerly Sergeant-M ior |
Of the 10th T. S. Cav. and served s wears |
in the Regular Army. One of his officers |
Lieut. Ray. served as a Confederate officer
in the civil war under Gen Morgan.
The manager of the evenings entertain
ment was Lieut.. F. f. Lyman. .ir of the
[. >. Signal Service the interlocritor. Mr..
]. H. Svan, of the Pay Department. and
The orchestra was composed of Messrs.
HiSs0ng and Cuneo, of that Department.
and DIR. Oates. of the Medical Department
It included an address by Capt Blunt.
songs, dances, recitations. quartette sing
ng, specially acts, a grand cake walk for
orlZos, and concluded with "A Georgia
lamp Meeting"
Not the least Interesting feature of the
affair was the audience. composed largely
If co!ored soldiers and their powers OF
appreciation. AT such songs as pumpkin
,olored Coon" Come Along Child,d and
hing TO envy. while the dancing waves ont
'lde were not in it with their appreciation of
he clogs, buck and wings" and cake
walk dances. Considering the location.
and all, it was certainly n
miQue Christmas
This forenoon, passing along the forward
neSS-deck, a priZe-Winner of Yesterday
invited me TO listen while he read a letter fol
lis sweetheart. He was a dark-colored
10Y from Illinois. named Charlie, while his
cirl'S name was Lille. and among a flood
f endearing terms and phrases he had the
GLOWING:
20. what care if the winds blow high.
And the waves beat fierce and free?
There is no care to bring despair
When Charlie sails with Lille"
As Lille. with the accent on the ultima.
vaS way off in Illinois, the last line should
Ne regarded as figure of speech: but it un-
oubtedly shows the influence of the songs
t Christmas night.
The money for the prizes was raised very
by the U. S. Army officers and
thers, the Archbishop contributing no less
han Sch. c. KIRK.
OUR VISIT TO GUAM
SHERMAN, Dee 27. 1899.
Peering out of the port-hole of our state
oom about 4:30 this morning, il was an
agreeable sight to see Il few miles to the
outhward Il stretch of high land extending
parallel with the ships course It was
he island of Guam, at which it was ex-
,ected supply of coal would be obtained
md the passengers thereby have oppor-
unity to stretch their legs on shore for
several days.
After n haSty toilet and Il cup of coffee