Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-27

Manila, philippine Islands.
August % 1901.
Editors Kennebec Journal.-The
Transport Thomas loaded with some
600 American teachers for the
Philippine Islands dropped anchor in
the stormy waters of Manila bay
&bout p. NJ. yesterday. after one of
the pleasantest voyages in the history
OF the transport service. Our % Maine
boys and all others are in perfect
health and in the best of spirits.
Many OF us We're anxious to land in
the afternoon after the health. officer
had boarded us, but Captain Couling
said NO and so we did not have
the privilege, and also today. so we
have as yet seen the city only in the
distance for we are anchored about
two miles off shore. The orders have
been issued that we are to be al
lowed to land early tomorrow NOM
ing providing the threatened typhoon
does not materalZc with violence
enough to drive us to sea
/ wrote from Honolulu giving a little
account of the Islands ard the teachers
we had on board. The trip since that
time has been Very uneventful. We
left Honolulu on August 3. and the
following Wednesday night about
1920 We crossed the 1S0th meridian.
the international date line at this
latitude, and so. according to the usual
procedure. we had no Thursday but
the following day was Friday, for in
going westward convention says that
after midnight OF that day the fol
lowing day is not reCkoned as the
usual uay would lie but is what
would usually be the second day.
This was something Of a surprise to
many on board who had expected the
day 10 be taken out beginning with
the hour Of crossing the line. The
"Crossing of the Line" as it is called
has come to bc celebrated by the
sailors in their usual rough and
ready. 1ollicking style. and SO on
Friday evening we saw something OF
the sailor fun. This Crossing of the
Line" has always been observed by
sailors crossing the equator, and was
first introduced on the crossing of the
date line" by the sailcrs on the
transports during the Spanish war.
Tie full program as observed on the
men-of-war was not observed. but we
were given ii SlI5lil view VI Aiit iuA''
In the afternoon large canvas tank
was hung on the forward starboard
deck ana filled with water and a
platform stretched near the top. About
< o'clock Il hail was huaru from the
wafer ami in Il minute or two Neptune
and his wife attendants came over the
side. walked down the bridge and
nrally mounted the platform. one OF
the attendants carried a huge razor.
another placard announcing that
shave was So. a hair cut 80 ana
bath free \ chair was placed with lis
back to the huge tank of water. Then
every employc on the ship who had not
..rossel the line before and also some
of the teachers We're dragged with or
without their consent to the char
where after a lather of a mixture OF
SOAP. tar. etc. the big razor was
scraped over their faces while the at
| terdant stood by ready with the latheF
| brush to fill the mouths Of such as
were unlucky enough to open them.
With the last scrape of the razor TIC
| occupant of the chair was given q
unsh which landed him headlong II!
| the tank of sea water, After a thorough
| iuclliug ne was allowed to crawl oul
| Julv initiated. \ large number were
mt through this. and shrleks OF
laughter could be heard from the as
| sembIcd teachers as some teacher
who had made himself particularly
| conspicuous on the trip would pc
| ro coGnized.
| after the other exercises had taken
place one of the sailors turned the big
he,
| had been watching from above with
the result that some of them were ~
III az those who had been in the
bath. but | was one Of the lucky ones
| who had foreseen this outcome ana
| sheltered myself behind large
| yentilator pipe. so | escaped with ohiy
a few drops.
several boxing bouts have tlkea
Mace for the amusement of the teach-
ers only one being Of any cohse
,,,erce This was between two OF the
scilors one afternoon for purse oil
s1no md was said to have been a
,arv lively exhibition as both men
were very clever
-rbe weather on the trip was very
| fine and so we were all the more uiS-
.n,,ointed to run into storm Just pc
fI~a reaching the island OF Sanldi
which we passed on Tuesday coming
INTO sight of Luzon about noon 81 tha'
a.. mt the outlines Of the bold mead
lands. we're much obs cured by tAe l'S'
and clouds, though the smoke 81 'h'
vn,caro could be distinguished ABOVE
~ ,1c1,ds which surrounded the pear
u. IA mountain. When we pass &c
INTO the entrance to the bay mace
famous by Dewey and his glorious rul
Nv The forts interest was intense ah'
ayno the poker player stopped Ions
enough to go on deck
The trip has been a very pieaSah
ana nc | have said, but there can p'
~ question but that it is very poo
ecopc,oy for the government 10 provide
euch slow transports, for not only ar
we under pay but at cost TO the gov
o,.pmant of SO a day for ratiphs $
III. Tho cost Of us for every day OF
t hoord was about $500 to say nothing o
2 ~ ,,ra1v. etc. Our fare has been YER.
! aI,d and we owe much to the wa
! a[,,,rtnent for their kindness il
! airing the ship up for US. Inc quar-
0 tara,o sters. Captains Couling an
: Garrord were both efficient and woul
hara been popular had it not been 70