The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-09

&
! the Forty-fourth regiment United States
/ volunteer infantry in Wichita last fall
( and left for service in the Philippines,
+ has written hi sbrother Robert here as
follows:
Manila. December q, 1899.
Dear Brother: You asked me TO write
a letter for print, so I will write TO you
now ,as we leave here tomorrow. On
Monday November %, the fighting Forty
fourth was ordered to Manila We left
San Francisco in the evening about dark,
with nine companies on board the trans
port Hancock. and three on the transport
. City Of Pueblo, and arrived in the harbor
at Honolulu about a. m. November IS.
The Hancock is a frst-class transport in
every respect, with neat, clean bath
rooms fore and aft. The sea was very
rough enroUte to Honolulu and the usual
sea sickness prevailed for the first few
days. After this attack, however, the
hungry soldiers made life a burden for
the quartermaster.
In a short time We began to enjoy our
novel experiences. The water dashing
over the decks drenched many Of the sol
diers. some of whom tried to play the
skating act. I remember one particular
soldier from Wichita who was constantly
hopping the decks in the same manner
thar a beginner learns to skate At mid
ocean the fire alarm was given Al
though we had no information that any
false alarms were TO be given, We all
came attention and showed nc signs Of
uneaSiuess. Upon our arrival a Honolulu
we we've given our khaki uniforms. These
made the boys al look like officers.
Passes were given three times a day and
the boys were glad 70 get them, as they
wanted 70 see as much of the metropolis
and political capital Of the Hawaiian
Islands Honolulu IS situated upon a good
harbor on the southeastern corner Of thu
island OF Oahu. The city plot is low for
some distance from the harbor. So that
il is nor necessary to go up in a balloon
70 get a birds eye view of the civ.
Punch Bowl IS an extinct volcano. It's
carter is we'll defined in spite Of the
jungle lining. Where domestic roofs have
been built within the last few years Il
is not a case Of being unable 10 see the
town for 50 many houses. II is rather
total eclipse Of architecture under a COR
seCUs curtain az foliage The majestic
banyaa fairly cnaxes Us 70 its cool shade
Everywhere rises the spreading tamirind
and mango, the long armed monkey pod.
the stately eucalyptus and many other
tropical trees and plants
There IS not a more balmy climate than
here in the Hawaiian Islands. Il was
here we spent Thanksgiving day. I ate
my dinner IN a Chinese res tauraut- De-
cember We had a reginentaI review in
Honolulu bail park and the praise that
the press showered on Us made Us all
proud Of cur regiment. The next day We
started on our Journey. Sometime dur
ing the night e the 7th OF December We
passed The 1soth meridian. thus Jumping
from the TN - the sth Of the month
On the morning OF the 18th We woke ID
- fra ourselves in Manila bay. exactly
where Admiral Dewey won his famous
victory The barbor tia, was once COW
cred with Spanish ships * now filed with
much finer ones Of American make. Our
coIone@ went ashore and received orders
FROM General Otis 90 land two bat-aIt5ns
here The third goes - the Island a
Negroes. about 80 miles distant Our
battalion : expected 70 take possession
- this SLAMS 50 We VII ~ thrown on
the fring line at once With best regards
10 al. ! remain. yours truly.
LESLIE ". NAITONFv