The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-02-09
30 RnF THOMAS.
Fho Goodsand Boy Describes His Trip 70
rhe PhHIDPlnes VIA the Forty
Fourth Infanfry.

-, o. this city, Who vent 20 the Philip
pines with the Forty fourth infantry,
sent the f0iloRiBg letter TO Dr.. Y. Q.
EDDY, Of Colby. The communication
bears q december date, and is given
Below IN full.
Monday, November %, was g very
busy Day for the Lucky Forty fourth
getting ready to sail We left San
Francisco in the evening about dark
with nine companies on the transport,
Hancock" and three companies on
the transport, "City Of Puebla," and
arrived in the harbOr st HOnOl1lu
about seven o'clock on the morning Of
November .. The Hancock is q first
class transport in every respect, with
neat, clean bath and wash rooms fore
and aft. Each soldier is provided with
q spring berth and the boat is supplied
throughout with ventilating shafts
through which air is forced by great
fans. The sea was very rough en- route
to Honolulu, and the usual seasickness
prevailed the first few days, but as
soon as the boys were well again, their
regular rations we're eagerly consumed,
and the new and varied experience was
great sport TO them The water dash
ing oyer the decks drenched many Of
the soldiers, some Of whom would mop
up the vet deck by slipping and slid
ing across it when the boat would roll
At mid-Oeean the alarm Of sire" was
sounded. and the soldiers were requir-
ed to stand at attention while the fire
detail executed its duties. Many Of
the boys who did not know whether
there was a fire or not we're set at ease
upon finding it was only a practice
drill, although their conduct during
the eutire time certainly did credit to
the regiment. Upon our arrival at
Honolulu our khaki uniforms were is
sued to rs, and we were then allowed
shore leave from time to time, and, of
course, we took every opportunity to
see as much Of the place as possible.
Honolulu, the commercial metropolis
as well as the political capital of Ha-
vail, IS sbeautiful for situation" 1t is
situated upon a good harbOr on the
south Of the eastern end OF the island
Of Oahu, which narrOws like the front
half Of a shoe in relation to the west
ern end. The city plot is low for some
distance from the hsrbOr front, taking
in the business quarter and a consider
able depth of the residential area. It
is not necessary to go up in a balloon
TO get a birdseye view Of the city.
q
Of the mountains overlooking the city
lends itself as a natural observatory
for this purpose. Its precipitous front
makes a crescent Of the back line Of the
built-up portion Of the city. Punch
bowl is an extinct volcano, its crater
well defined in spite OF jungle lining.
Where domestic roofs have been reared
within the few years past, it is not a
case Of being unable to see the town
for SO many houses. It is rather total
eclipse of architecture under a gorge
Gus curtain of foliage. The majestic
banyan fairly cOsxes Us to its cool
shade. Everywhere rise the spreading
tsmaFind, the denseIy Ieaved mango,
the long-armed monkey pod, the state
" eucalyptus, the fantastic limbed fg,
and sn innumsrable host of other trees
growing between. There is not a more
equabIe and balmy climate in the
world than that Of the Hawaiian
islands. Chiefly by a slight difference
in the proportion Of day and night do
the inhabitants distinguish between
summer and winter. There is also an
Increase in the average of clOudiness
and humidity in what is there called
winter out of courtesy to the almanac
maker. AS an old resident was heard
to put it: sOne has to turn around
twice and scratch his head to remem-
Der whether Christmas or the Fourth |
OF July comes next. There are no ex-
tremes of heat and cold at habitusl al !
titudes- Many more things may be
said Of this beautiful place, but time |
viii not permit me to say all would |
care to. 1t was in the harbor at this !
place we dined Thanksgiving day, and 1
the boys frequently mentioned home, /
turkey and cranberry sauce; however, !
having nothing to say against our din
ner, which was a good one. Friday, |
December L regimental review was /
had by the Forty fourth at the /
bah park in Honolulu, and the /
praise We received through the |
press vas q thing to be proud of. |
About ten o'clock Sunday forenoon, /
December 3, we sailed out Of the harbor /
enroute TO the Philippine islands, with
smooth, calm sea, and the usual .
duties continued on the vessel daily. I
Divine services were held on Sunday
afternoons, and in the evenings sing