Fergus County argus., 1902-12-24
LETTER FROM
THE ORIENT
Captain Harry o. willard Gives In.
teresting Facts Of Our Island
Possessions.
BEAUTIFUL CITY OF HONOLULU
Glowing Description Of the Queen
City Of the Sandwich Islands
Smith In Samar.

Through the courtesy OF DR.. J. II.
willard, excerpts from some letters
received by the doctor and his wife
from their son. Captain Harry o.
willard OF the d. U. s. cavalry now
stationed in the PHILIPPINES. are found
below and will, no doubt, prove In
teresting not only to the many per-
sonal acquaintances and friends OF
Captain willard in Lewistown. but
to every one who reads them. Many
of the best informed have. as yet,
very indefinite ideas of the extent
and nature Of our foreign possessions
and Captain Williard's letters con-
tain a graphically entertaining &C.
count Of those far away lands. The
letter from which the following stak-
en- was written on board the U. s. A.
transport, Thomas, which was seven.
ty miles from Manila. Speaking Of
their stop off at Guam and other
places he says: I'VE were royalty en-.
tertained at Guam and time will not
permit me to tell you all OF the de-
tails of our stay there. That same
night we sailed for Manila and yes
terday. we skirted along the north
coast of the island OF Samar, the
scene of blood and carnage. the soil
consecrated by the blood or the he
roes of Company M, 9th U. s. in.
fantry, who we're massacred at Bo-
langinga last fall and which was later
the battle ground Of Major Waller
and was made still more famous on
account of the campaign OF General
Jacob Smith who took vengence up
on those fiends in human shape for
their terrible deed at Bolangiga, by
almost extermnating the inhabitants
of the entire island. and finally end.
ing his brilliant campaign. one of the
fiercest of insurgent leaders, who had
sworn he would never surrender.
thus accomplishing in one short cam.
paign the subjugation Of this island
a feat never performed by Spain in
over 300 years domination" He
thus describes his visit to Honolulu:
I'VE started out early to visit the
city and the sights. They now have
trolley lines to all of the cities and
the principal points, and we availed
ourselves Of this opportunity and
were soon being whisked through the
beautiful streets OF Honolulu. lined
with cocoanut and royal palm trees.
banana and many other tropical trees
and plants. We visited the residence
hill known as Cottage hill. a very
beautiful portion OF the city. Thence
we went to Pacific heights whence
one has one OF the finest views II
was ever my fortune to see. A
beautiful panorama is spread out be-
fore one. The view is grand and awe
inspiring. In front, as far as the
eye can see on the placid waters Of
the immense Pacific which stretches
away to the right and left. Along the
coast at your feet, 1000 feet lower
down. nesting at the base Of the
the beautiful city OF Honolulu. Ha-
vain territory. U. S. A.. immense
buildings. residences and native huts
appearing as speci to the eye. while
the streets shaded by divers kinds Of
I tropical growths, appear in the glis.
ten OF the sun light. like threads.
running here. there and everywhere.
Along the water front can be seen
immense steamers and vessels OF all
kinds. and description. which. in the
distant, seem like toy boats. on to
your left on the outskirts of the city,
is the Punch bowl. an extinct volcano
the crater of which is concave and
immense In size. now no longer
belching forth fire. smoke and lava.
1t is a veritable garden. rich in ver-
dure and dotted here and there with
tropical residences. Away to your
right rear. is Pate. frightful pre-
cipice, 1000 feet in sheer depth, over
the edge of which one Of old native
kings drove one of his enemies, thus
putting him forever out OF his way.
Away to our right in the distance is
situated Pearl harbor, in years to
come, to be the greatest naval sta.
tion Of these rich and fertile islands
while still further on. as far as the
eye can see. are rolling hills and val.
leys OF that great source of wealth
= namely sugar cane. and In the dis.
tance vast range of mountains can
be seen which seems to tower up
from earth and meet the sky. Still
farther on to your left can be seen
the dotted houses, barracks and
quarters Of the U. 8. military post al
Honolulu. known as Post Mckinley
Words cannot adequately describe
the beauty OF the scenery nor the