Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-09
Co. M, 46TH INIT. U. s. V.
On BOARD U. S. TRANSPORT PATHoN,
PACIFIC OCEAN, Dec. 10, 1899.


ment left Frisco Nov. Ia, on two trans
ports, the City of Sidney and the Pathon,
the field and staff officers. band and Com
panies A, B, G, d, 4 and f going on the
Sidney and Companies g, II, |, K, L and
my company, NJ, going on the Pathon,
which is an English tramp steamer char
tered by the United States for transport;
as this is the first trip she has made every
thing is nice and clean. Each man has a
bunk made of woven wire and covered
with canvas; these hunks are three tiers
high and two wide, running in sections
lengthwise of the ship. Three companies
sleep forward and three aft.
There are very good bathing facilities
on board, there being two rows of shower
baths where one can get a good wash in
salt water any time he wants. The boys
have named it "the beach"
Our food is very good and plenty of it,
but the water has been rather poor until
the last few days, when they began putting
ice in it.
We left Frisco about 4 in the afternoon
on Nov. IA and by was as seasick as
anyone could wish to be, ''but l was not the
only one, Oh dear, MOI" This lasted for
two days, then l got my sea legs on and
soon was feeling as fine as any of them,
with an appetite ike morse.
Our trip WAS uneventful until we arrived
at Honolulu on Nov. %; the Sidney being a
faster boat reached there on the god. The
first day there we all went ashore and
marched out about five miles to Queen LIS
country place and took swim in the surf
Honolulu is the most beautiful city ever
saw. 1t is of about $1,000 inhabitants,
5000 of which are Americans. The coun-
trxr tybi nh
BILE garden Everywhere were huge palms,
cocoauut trees, and all kinds of tropical
plants and flowers. The houses are much
like our cottages at the lake, only more ex-
pansive. Very few have cellars. As we
passed further into the lcountry we went
by large banana and pineapple plantations
and groves of oranges, lemons and other
fruits. Oranges sell for 80 cents a bushel
and bananas for % cents a bunch.
The second day we were reviewed
by President John Dole and his cab
met at the parade ground back of the
palace. In the afternoon we had two
hours shore leave. | went through Queen
Lis palace, which is now used as gov
eminent building and is all cut up into Of
fees. Also we went through the court
house.
Wages are very high and American
labor is in great demand. Tell Barnes that
| was talking with fellow by the name Of
Hough who came from Maiden, Mass, TO
work in the Hobson Drug company and he
says they pay a man 500 month to begin
on in drug store there and registered
drug clerk gets from $l75 to $3.50 a month
but they are required to give three months
notice before leaving
Sergt Meigs, of Montpelier, and went
to see Hal Rabbit, Rev. Mr.. Rabbits son,
but he was not in the city.
We left Honolulu Saturday, Nov. %, at
Z o'clock in the evening and both boats
have kept together since so we have not
felt quite as lonesome as we did before
when we had only sea gulls, flying fish and
sharks for company
| We celebrated Thanksgiving on board
by having our usual meals with plum duff
for dinner and peach pie for supper, extra
in the evening we had musical and ply
steal entertainment.
That night we had funny experience
We all went TO bed as usual at nine O'Clock
on Nov. 80 and when we woke up at 5:3C
the next morning it was Dec. 9. Tha
was the first time ! ever slept eight hour
and still slept whole day. You see, a
about midnight we crossed the 1902 meri
dian east from Greenwich the plac,
where, going west you gain day, and 20
ing east you lose day, or have one da,
twice.
SATURDAY, Dec. 9.-We sighted land a
about in the morning and about o'clocl
we passed within half a mile of an activ
volcano. 1t was a grand sight to see tn
steam, smoke and lava squirting out Of tn
crater and was worth all the distance
have come and all / have gone through S
far. The volcano is named FarallOn, Of
an island by that name, and is one of tn
Ladrone group, belonging to Germany.
Saturday afternoon both boats stoppe
for an hour while the colonel came owe
and made us a call and the band on tn
other boat gave us a serenade. After tn
colonel left we got is, 900 rounds of ammu
milton out of the hold and unlocked tn
gun racks, picked out the men who are t
act as scouts, and also crews to row tn
boats in case we have to land where Their
is no wharf.
A sharp lookout is being kept all tn
time now, as there is possibility of DEF
patch boat meeting us tomorrow orderin
us either to land at the north end of Luzo
or 90 to Iloilo, in which case we should b
nearer the enemy than we will be if W
land at Manila and go over land.
: 1t seems queer to think of you people 9
home sitting around the fire tryin
to keep warm, while we are lyin
around bare foot and stripped to the waii
trying to keep cool.
Every one who can find room sleeps o
deck now, and at in the morning you ca
hear them being awakened by Malay an
Chinese crew wetting down the decks an
shouting "allee up, washee down."
We have not had our kahki uniforms i
sued yet, but have them on board and wi
get them before leaving the boat.
Every company has on board q, 0(
rounds OF ammunition and if we get
!, chance to use it, and we undoubtedly shal
some Filipinos are sure to drop.
Our routine of duty on board keeps
moving most of the time; get up at 5:3
breakfast at $3.50, inspection at 10, mo-
commissioned officers at school at IL, di
ner at IL; drill at $3.50, inspection at
supper at aud bed at $50 Tomorro
we will be 30 days out of Frisco al
soon will have something else to do.
WEDNESDAY. We passed through &
Balintang channel last night and have be-
running southwest along the west coast
Luzon, about three miles off shore,
day. We have not been attacked by al
Fihpinos yet, but neither have we sight
n any United States warships, which seer
- rather strange as we are told that tn
: patrol the coast all the way around the
t land
lie looked the country over through a he