The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-10

There are about fifty kinds of money
in circulation here. American money IS
worth twice as much as any other and
is accepted in very few places.
Hoskiwu, China, Sept %, 1900.
left Tien Tsin and moved TO Hos
kiwu by water.
corps left for Manila and the rest of US
are scattered all over China In the af-
ternoon the rest of US left Tien Tsin on
boats on the Pc He river, the boats are
| Chinese fiat boats and the cabin on
the one was on is ski feet. There were
nine of US on our boat, it was raining
when we got on and were packed like
sardines. We slept on board the first
night where we got on. There were
nine boats in the fleet.
We started out next morning at day
| break. The river is narrow and has
very swift current, the boats are lowed
| by Chinks A line running from the top
of the mast to the shore has five or six
sticks fastened to it. In these sticks the
ChinkS get and pull the boat along just
! like a mule in our canals They start
! the Chinks at or in the morning, stop
them for "chaW-chaw'' (eating) at
then they go again until dinner, when
they have 20 minutes to eat and rest
Again they start and this time don't
stop until dark when we have supper.
| After supper they are all sent down in
the hold and kept there.
The first night they all deserted and
the guard took his gun next morning
and hired" the first six he came across.
There is a guard behind them all the
time. They make about ID miles day.
The second day up we were short a few
Chinks. Came across an old man and
his son taking water out of the canal
for irrigation, we took the son and put
| him on the rope One fellow was going
! som eWhere with a bag of window cur
tains He also came to work for US.
The United States pays 81 for three days
of this work On the way up we count
cd a c a
three cows floating down the river. The
water is yellow and dirty, but the
ChinkS scoop up a double handful and
drink it the same as we would fine
spring water. They also use it for cook
ing their rice. They eat as much as a
horse, some eat three or four bowls of
it as fast as lightning. They put the
bowls to their mouth and scrape the
rice in with chop sticks. On the way up
we would get off and walk for few
hours and forage for corn, chickens and
eggs The corn was horse corn, but was
better than none.
The other day we were walking along
and came upon a dead Chink. His head
and feet were cut off, also his queue, and
were about ten feet from his body; the
work of boxers.
There are miles and miles Of corn go
ing to waste here; the country is almost
deserted They have some fine farms
and raise everything we do in Kansas,
even sunflOwers.
on the eve of the goth we arrived here
and were assigned to company G, Ninth
infantry for duty. They have not a full
company, so as long as / am here will
have a. snap, one of US go on duty every
four days. We have a fine doctor, COM
mon as anybody.
In camp there are Japs, English, Chi
nese, Germans and Russian soldiers
In the evening at retreat the Russians
sing a song and make the sign of the
cross during the song.
Yesterday, the doctor sent three of US
out foraging, we went to several towns
south of here We had a donkey along
with a pack-Saddle on. The towns here
and the other fellows stayed here and I
went on to the next town and tied the
donkey outside the wall; went to the
other end and found a joss house that
was unmolested- It took me quite awhile
to get in. When did busted the idols
and mud; the foundation is straw ard
bamboo with mud over it, They are
painted all colors. Some are all right
and some are as ugly as sin. When J
got through and went back my mule
was gone found the saddle, and start
ed out to track the mule which did for
about three miles, during which time I
went through several towns I was by
myself, but had six shooter Just as
soon as came in to the town every
body would run out the back end, away
in to the corn6elds and hide I came
upon six lying On the ground and be
lore knew IT they were running as fast
as they could. I met three Chinls on
the road at different times, and just as
soon as they would see me away they
would go l got lost in the cornfeId and
It was dark before I got back without
and when / told him he laughed and