The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1901-05-31
Letter From Capt. Chamberlin.
TRANSPORT INDIANA,
En- Rou Guam, Long, 1SO West

En- Rou Guam, Long, 1S0 West.
Dear Friends: Am at loss to know
Just when it is; yesterday was Saturday
March 30. and today is April /. Guess
there is where the skipper captain says
"a pril fool!" But there is no use worry
ing, for when we come back, no matter
what month, an extra day will be added.
The men in my employ on the ship draw
but part months pay because we sailed
the midGle of the month and they are
paid per day until April 1. They are very
much disappointed at not receiving pay
for March 81. | think the chaplain is in
quandary whether he shall hold his
Sunday services on Monday morning or
omit them.
we sailed into the harbor, | was remind
ed of the view of Bradford from Haver-
hill. The volcanic hills rise as abruptly
as Mount lug and, | think, little high
er. They are treeless. but covered with
green grass. These encircle the city on
three sizes. leaving the bay it's fourth and
northerly boundary. | was very happily
disappointed in the city. 1t is up-to-date
and very cosmopolitan, has good churches,
schools, stores, streets and dwellings,
electric ca S, line of automobile hacks,
and well dressed white population of
5000 and an average class of colored of
10000. They spot an American instantly
and prices rise accordingly. | desired to
purchase some little relic, but when in
formed of the price had to step to the
door for my breath. Soon as recovered,
told the fellow | guessed | would not
take it, as it was not quite good enough.
On Monday morning all hands went out
TO the beach to enjoy the surf bathing,
and although mother came near losing
her little Willie, it is a sport that dis
counts coaSting five to one. | hired a
boatman and ten little natives to take me
out mile. Each one is provided with a
board about four feet long by six inches
wide. These little fellows will come back
the mile standing up on that board in
about five minutes. / was advised by the
boatman to take it belly bump and did so.
The trick is to ride the crest of the large
wave and keep the board exactly perpen-
Cicular to the wave. Well, | was so long
my legs would get little out of line, and
then for while it was matter Of guess
work whether board or | was on top most
of the time. foolIshly opened my mouth
once and took in so much water | am
sure it lowered the bay some. Mr.. Par
ever happen this way, don't fail to try ii.
Either one OF you would cut quite figure.
We take the cars and go up the side OF
the mountain to the summit to look down
into the volcano, and see the surrounding
country. And as l stood there, looked
CdSJ anu L WAS O,UOU ulleS lTODu
home; then turned west and felt | was
headed $3.50 miles further before my next
stop. The principal occupations of the Ia
boring class of the city is fishing | am
told that few miles out there are ele-
CANT plantations and the soil is very rich
and productive. But we have no time to
see them or go into the museum or libra
ry. We sailed March 25 at noon and thus
far have not seen boat of any kind
April 8.-We are anchored in the har-
Dor San Luis de Apra, Guam. The gen.
eral outline of the island is high, rocky
bluffs, showing the volcanic nature of it.
We are about mile from the shore and
the town of Pete. The capital, Agaua, is
four miles up the coast but has no har
Dor. This island is now being used as a
prison for Filipino prisoners. They are
guarded in little prison on an island in
the bay near us.
We are called upon by the officers on
duty here, among them Lieut.. Paul E.
Chamberlin, U. S. NJ. G., whose father is
Simon P. Chamberlin, formerly of Straf-
ford, Vt.
The troops are nearly out of food, ours
being the first ship in two months. You |
would be surprised to see how eager these |
officers are for papers. Even Queen Vic
toria'S funeral was news. We loaded |
them up, or rather down. with provisions,
all the different kinds we could spare,
beef, one ton; potatoes, two tons; -four.
three tons; bacon, one ton.
| understand it is the intention of the
secretary of war to make this coaling
station. and, located as it is, with twen-
ty fathom bay, well locked with coral
reefs and easily fortified, it must prove a
strategic point.
We are headed for San Bernandino
straits, intending to approach Manila
rom the south. st. Valentines day finds
is in the straits in temperature of 90
iegrees, with smooth seas, a school of
whales playing around (some of which
ire good large fellows), and nearing the
md of long and tedious voyage. Aside
rom measles and mumps, the troops have
,een very healthy. We expect to reach
Manila tomorrow evening, having made
,275 miles in thirty-one days, including
tops at Honolulu and Guam.
| am surprised to find it is not warmer
ere, so near the equator. l think but
vice has the thermometer registered
ver 81, and then but for a few hours.
Adi0S