Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-06-14
CHAPTER XIV.

Mid October. The Queen of the Fleet,
the finest transport of the Pacific serv-
ice, thronged with boys in blue at last
ordered on to Manila, lay at the wharf
at Honolulu, awaiting her commanders
orders to cast loose. In strong force
and with stentorian voices, the Prime
val Dudes joined in rollcking chorus
to the crashing accompaniment of their
band, and, when they could take time
to rest, the crowd ashore set up a cheer.
The Hawaiian national band, in spotless
white, forming huge and meiodious cir
Gle on the wharf, wed with the musi-
clans from the states in the spirit and
swing of their stirring airs Aloha
Oe! Aloha Oe!" chorused the surging
throng, afoat and ashore, as wreaths
and garlands-the lcis of the islanders
were twined or hung about some fa-
vorite officer or favored man. The
troops still held to service in Hawaii
shouted goodwill and good-by to those
ordered on to the Philippines. The
Dudes of the Queen. and the lads from
the prairies and the mountains on other
transports anchored in the deep but
narrow harbor, yelled soldierly con-
dolence to those condemned TO stay.
The steam of the 'scape pipe roared
loudly and belched dense white clouds
on high, swelling the uproar. Dusky
little Kanaka boys, diving for nickels
and padding tireless about the ship,
aided their sLrill cries to the clamor.
The captain, in his natty uniform of
ct fnr+l n
bridge to take command, and raised his
banded cap in recognition Of the con-
stant cheer from the host ashore and
the throng of blue shirts on the fore
castle head. Then arose another shout,
as a veteran officer, in the undress uni
form of a general, appeared upon that
sacred bound, and, bowing to the
crowd, was escorted by the captain to
the end overlooking the animated scene
below; and then the signal was given,
the heavy lines We're cast off and hauled
swiftly in, the massive screw began
slowly to churn the waters at the stern,
and gently, almost imperceptbly at
first, the Queen slid noiselessly along
the edge of the dock, to the accompani-
ment of a little volley of flowers and
garlands tossed from eager hands, and
a cheer of godspeed from the swarm of
upturned faces. And then there up
rose another shout, a shout of mingled
merriment, surprise and applause;
for all on a sudden there dasrted up the
stairway from the crowded promenade
deck to the sacred perch above, defiant
of the lettered warning: "Passengers
are not allowed upon the bridge" a
dainty vision in filmy white, and all in
the next moment there appeared at the
generals side, smiling, bowing, blow
ing kisses, waving adieux, all sparkle,
animation, radiance and rejoicing, be-
witching little figure, in the aiTiest,
loveliest of summer toilets. The Red
Cross nurses on the deck below looked
, at one another and gasped. Two brave
army girls, wives of wounded officers in
the Philippines, who by special dispen-
sation We're making the voyage on the
Queen, glanced quickly at each other
and said-nothing audible. The gen
eral, lifting his cap, but looking both
depreciation and embarrassment, fell
back and gave his place at the white
rail to the new arrival, and colored high
when she suddenly turned and took his
arm. The captain, trying not to see her
or to appear conscious of this infrac-
ton of a stringent rule and invasion of
his dignity, grew redder as he shouted
rapid orders and swung his big, beauti-
full ship we'll out into the stream. The
guns of the Bennington doomed deaf
ening salute as the Queen turned her
sharp nose toward the open sea; and al
most the last thing Honolulu saw of
her human freight was the tiny, dainty,
Ninsome little figure in white, waving