Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1900-02-23
FROM HONOLULU TO MANILA.
ACROSS THE 10th ME,
RIDIAN.
Novel Experience of Losing Day :
Death In Mid-Ocean-Christma
on Shipboaid.

letter received from Lieut.. J. Edward
Abbott. Of the 4znd Regiment, Infantry.
U. S. ", nov at La Iona Church. p. l.:
At Sea. on Board the United States Trans
port. "Dalney Vostock.
We left Honolulu on the afternoon of
December nth. after having stopped
there nearly three days to coaiup. While
there the transport Warren" arrived
with 4oth colored regiment aboard. also
bound for Manila. The weather at Homo
lulu is SO warm that bathing in the ocean
can be enjoyed every day in the year.
The most annoying thing there is the
pesky mosquitoes, which greatly interfere
with ones slumbers during the evening.
We had the pleasure of meeting many
prominent people at Honolulu. the popu-
lation OF which, by the way. is largely
American. Many people there are very
wealthy. Many of our newly-made
friends gathered at the pier to bid US bon
voyage. and placed wreaths of very beau
t,ful and fragrant flowers around our cam.
paign hats. this being one oil the customs
OF the people, as they constantly wear
flowers.
As we steamed out, a number of Kan
aka boys offered us much amusement by
diving tor nickles and dimes thrown into
the water. The troop ships Columbia
and "Dalney Vostock. with their noses
pointing westward. steamed safely out OF
the harbor, while the band struck up
"Auld Lang Syne." 1t was not long
before the land disappeared from our
view. The following morning we passed
the transport "Wyeheld. which was
bound to Manila with load of horses.
The farther west we went the warmer it
grew, until the mercury in my thermom-
eter registered o2o, and this in December.
One of the most interesting and instfuc-
tive things on this ship is the relative
change in time the farther we 90 west
ward. From San Francisco TO the I8oth
meridian, we lost about IL minutes daily.
This is the farthest point east, or halt
way round the world. On December
10th we reached the ISoth west logitude
from Greenwich, and here we practically
lost day Sunday. December 18TH, )and
jumped forward "a hours. and then ran
en- longitude east of Greenwich. 1t was
a most novel experience. The following
order was issued that day by the COM
manding officer. and will give you an
idea what happened to US:
"Order No. I3-Headqusrters First
Battalion. Forty-second Regiment. In
faniry, u. S. ". on Board the u. s.
Transport, Dalney Vostock. December
10th. IS99.,The transport carrying this
command having this day, 10th inst.
passed the 500 meridian, the next day
IN the calendar following the nautical Gus
tom, will be dropped. and it is hereby
ordered that all reports. returns and all
other official communications on board
this transport. will, tomorrow, bear the
date OF Monday, December 18th, 1899.
Sunday 18th being dropped as though it
did not exist. All work, other than the
necessary guard and fatigue. will tomor-
row. the 18th inst, be suspended.
Hence by an order OF the commanding
officer and ships captain. Sunday, De-
cember 18TH, did not exist. The reason
for the second part OF the order was that
it happened to be a Russian vessel we
were on. and the 18TH being a holiday.
and the Russian name day, or ST. Mich
olas Day, the patron saint, it was observ-
ed with appropriate ceremony, and the
officers were entertained by the captain
OF the ship with a champagne dinner. 1t
is a unique experience to be suddenly
robbed OF day. Many a day | have
sQuandered, and many day have lost,
but it seemed almost like robbery for
anyone else to take one deliberately out
OF my life. don't know how many
can spare. The men are not altogether
clear as to it yet. and some think they
may lose days pay by the operation.
One and all enjoyed the novelty any new
sensation causes.
My daily duties as Chief Signal Officer
kept me busy during the entire voyage.
We always keep within signal distance
of the columbia, on which are the
staff officers, band and FIVE companies.
Communication is constantly kept up be-
tween both vessels. While signaling on
December 10th noticed the Columbia S
flag drop TO half-mast. Immediate in.
curry was made of its cause. and it was
then learned that Private Hall. of Co. L
had Just died of meningitis. Our flag
was at once lowered to half mast. The
poor fellows death was sudden, as he
was all right at Honolulu. We have
cofins and embalmers aboard each ves-
sci, and il a man dies, he is embalmed
and brought into port. A death like this
in mid-ocean generally attracts attention,
but while in action. a poor fellow may
drop out without being noticed.
Our means of signaling is by flag dur
ing the day and electric lights at night.
On two occasions slight breaks in the
machinery of Vostock occurred, which
compelled us to stop for repairs. In
each case it only required an hour OF
two to fix things. Signals were at once
sent to the Columbia apprising her OF
the fact in order that she might slow
down and be near to render any needed
assistance. find that my experience in
signaling during the Spanish-American
war was of much benefit. Before reach.
ing Manila, which will probably be JAM
uary Ist, 1900. | shall have had the move
experience OF celebrating Thanksgiving
Day, Christmas and New Years at sea
while making a voyage on the Pacific
Ocean.
Our Christmas celebration was highl
successful as well as an enjoyable affair
Approaching the fact that we were q
great distance from our native soil, and
that the thoughts OF the 76 officers and
775 men would naturally revert to scene:
and FESTIVITIES at home on Christmas day