Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-04-18

Frank Il, Frazier, a town of Jefferson
| boy, son of William Frazier, not being
satisfied with his service with the Third
regiment at Porto Rico. rendered his
services to the government TO act in the
special mail service in the Philippine
Islands We CLEAN from letter written
to a young friend at Sparta. II is dated
in the China Sea, February 18th.
ClHotl Don't mention it. Seems queer
after so much cold weather Sailed from
Tacoma, January 18th, about Sa. M.
passed Seattle some two hours later. As
we went out of the sound there was
very heavy fog on. As soon as we struck
Cape Flattery, we saw rather rough
weather. The racks were put on the
tables for supper to hold the dishes on.
| AS you probably know the shortest dis
tance between two points on the surface
of a sphere is the arc of great circle
passing through those two points. Our
captain started to take the northern
circle, but when we got to 81 north
| latitude, he decided the weather was too
rough and harsh. so gradually worked
down to the regular steamship line be
tween Puget Sound and yokohama
Japan, followed that for number of
days, then struck SO a. to round the
| EoutnSlh tA0 VI 0hpdu anu pun up
through the Yellow sea to Nagasaki.
You may talk about your high rolling
seas, for three weeks steady, but lust let
me tell you about them when / get home
again Most OF the boys were sea sick
for the first two or three days. was
dizzy, but not rick. Three contract
doctors were sick TO- over week. The
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ar was sick too. We
had cold, disagreeabe weather most all
the way to Japan, and saw neither land
or ship till we saw some Japanese islands
enjoyed the trip, however. We ran
along the saloon decks wien the weather
permitted, merely for exercise and at
night days too we played cards, check
ers, had music, wrote letters. etc, etc
Sunday evenings we passengers gathered
IN the saloon, that's the fayorite club,
aud had all kinds of music, from Nearer
| My God to Thee, to John Browns
Body Hot Time" my Honolulu
Lady" down to the bear dance.
We postal clerks (six) get $14.00 each
with the same expense allowance as
have. The navy clerks get $12 and
have to stay two years or pay their own
passage home. | hope to return Via
New York. The service on board has
been fine. The room steward cleans up
every morning, fills the water Jars and
tank, You wake up and find your shoes
shined, the walters at table just dance
for you, the chief steward stands by the
pantry during meals and sees that every
thing goes right and if anything goes
wrong, off goes head These boys and
stewards excepting the chief steward,
are expecting tips, you know.
Have been in the chief officials room
a number of times To talk things over
with him. His name is Frank c. Fra
zier, and he gor letter addressed to
ME. Have learned something about
navigation from him, and / tell you its
an interesting science. We had one big
time the four days we were in Japan
Wish you could have seen the long
string of us fellows being pulled through
the Nagasaki streets at dog trot in
those rickshaws. We asked to be taken
to a tea house. Well, we got to tea
house The lady wanted us to take our
shoes off and put the slippers on; but ma,
M, Paulinel We drew the line there
aud we were ushered in shoes and all,
and seated on cushions on the floor,
which was covered with mating Girls
entered, and after bowling very grace
fully, even to dropping onto their knees,
brought in beautiful charcoal bowls 10
keep our fingers warm, then tea, oranges
and cake. We had good time squat.
ting there looking foolish at each other,
trying to talk The dancing girls came
in, and guess we could have had any
thing On Sunday, February 18th, the
Japs celebrated my twenty-first birth
day, national holiday in Japan. Ma
gasaki was decorated, as was every shiI
in the harbor. There were five Russian
one Italian and three or four Japan men
of-war blazing away at the same time
The harbor was full of vessels from al
nations. On Monday five of us went
over the mountains to Mogi, Japan, q
town If ABOUT io0 600. Took rickshaws
bun walked up the mountain. Had full
opportunity to SEE the marks of industry
The mountains are cut up into success
sive steps If fields and held level by
stone walls. Each notch is cultivated
and irrigated Jap labor is very cheap.
Rice is the princi pal product We left
Nagasakl AK p. m, the 18th for Manila.
We have had the finest weather any
man could wish for. We came down
the east cost of Formosa Passed little
island by the name of Kumi at five
o clock last evening 90 into Frazier's
|
Today we sighted a three-masted
schooner, and this afternoon we came
across full rugged ship (saiD and spoke
her. got two daisy" pictures of her.
1t was one of the prettiest sights | ever
saw. She was 154 days out from New
York and bound for Hong Kong, and
had gone around the Horn A United
States vessel, the Berlin, Bath, Maine.
We each dipped flags and then our
whistles opened up and gave her send.
off. Have coasted along four or five of
the Philippine islands TODAY, and will
probably see Luzon in the morning. Am
feeling fine and ann heavier than when
) left home
Manila Bay, February 18th, 900 p.
m, 600 a. N. at home. Here we are
at last and I've seen Manila. We had
fine weather all the way from Nagasaki.
Sighted Luzon island. the point that
sticks out at Lingaven gulf, after noon
yesterday, and ccasted down within
three or four miles of the coast all after
noon. Sighted three lighthouses at
different times last night, the last one
being the revolving one on Corregidor
island at the entrance to Manila Bay,
remained mp till we arrived here at -four
. lock this morning. Twas beauti
fal moonlight night and as we passed
forts. Cavite. and saw the lights OF
Manila ahead, my mind was full of the
. history of the place. After breakfast VT
six postal clerks went ashore together
: and dropped anchor at the postoffice
Superintendent Naille was there and
gave us a good welcome, with the Offer
/ E.s.s-. IL