The Opelousas courier., 1900-03-03
Another Letter from, Jas. I shute.
ON BOARD U. s; "IRoogoIs,"

ON BOARD u. S. "IRoQUOIS,"
HONOLULU, II. l., Feb'y I, 1900.
Mg Dear Father Yours of Jan. 18th
to hand. I have q letter from FRANK
saving that he is studying hard and
learning medicine fast.
1 have been exploring the mountains
here for some time past, and last sun
day ran across a matched cabin and in
vestigated it: found an old hermit,
s.Kauaki,n with his little "poi,n dog and
patch of ground he had lived there for
ten years; his wife died % few months
ago, and he buried her just back OF his
hut, and from the looks of him, it won't
be long until they find him dead.
Istoed on O mountain 5000 feet above
"level" and saw a rainbow IN the valley.
/ went down to observe it it was about
fifty feet wide. Ifounl both ends, but
no "gold."
Tie health officers have been burning
out houses here to stamp out the
plague, and on the goth they set fire to
an infected house, and the wine rose
and sven sixteen blocks before they
conld get it under control. At 10 o'clock
we were called OH for assistance. We
ran up to within a few hundred yards
| of the fire, and attached two of our 2t-
inch hose, and soon had the fire under
control. The Cinnamon all stampeded,
and the guards could not control
them. The citizens and soldiers were
called on, and-after killing IA few, cor
rallied them and marched them off IN
droyes to open lots aud bearded them
Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, kanka-
kies, women and children-altOgether.
You know the plague-like smallpox
is not IA white mans disease, and
| think it is pretty well stamped and
burned out here, but we arc o stand
ing by our guns to repel a riot which is
threatening. They number between
two and three thousand. while we can
muster only about fifteen hundred.
Doc, these islands are the coming
country. Property has trebled in the
past two years. Americans are pouring
in by the thousand. 1t is the best
| country for a poor man to grow up with
| that | have seen in all my travels, and
| globe Of ours. | have a scheme for you
| and | over here, when | get out of this
layout.
During the holidays the Captain gave
me the ships steam launch, and with
the Boatswain, Mate aud the Captains
son, we started for "a grand hunt on
Kannallai island, leaving our uniforms
at a Japanese tailor establishment, and
when we got back the place was quar-
a~ntined-my keys to my sea chest and
letters-in fact, everything is in my
uniform. We arrived in kannahai at
%. m. Friday aud went quail hunting,
Saturday we went eight miles up in
the mountains to a family named Mey-
ers, where we boarded and hunted, and
on this day six of us killed "a deer. We
took the hides and hind quarters Of the
latest the following day five of MS
went out and only killed 4 !; on Monday
we killed 8 deer, 4 wild hogs, etc.
etc. While there we lived on peacocks
pheasants, quail, wild turkey, deer, hog
poy and God only knows what else. w
saw droves of deer of at least 500. M
lie). Our host is GA years old-wen'
hunting with us daily, as spry as a 16-y'
old boy /; has broad acres all improved
and lives by simply watching his income
come in.
Our vessel came down from Lahanii
on Wednesday, and we persuaded thu
Captain to take q hunt, which he did
and enjoyed it very much. At nigh
the boys went ashore, and sail0r-like
painted the town red"
This harhOr ia free of vessels, ant
business is sushing in spite OF tht
plague.
Doc, / have only a little over a yea
to serve now then | will be with yon
and we will plan for the future. | have
seen many countries and many peopl,
in the past two years, but / would rath
er see old Opelousas about now bette
than any other spot on eavth-"my own
my native land.n Write again by lei
transport. Love to all.
Your affectionate son,
j. /. SHUTE.