The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-08-30

BY permission we print the follow
ing interesting letter from the other
side of the world;
MANILA, P. l., June %, 1902
Mr.. L. E. Johnson, Alma, Mo.
l left New York City February %.
The icy winds kept the deck well
cleared for the first three days excepta
short time at first while the passen-
gers were all excitement, and one
would venture forth well wrapped
and bundled up and so hurrying
forward to a warm, sheltered place
around the smokestack. All Satur-
day afternoon and Sunday until about
three O'Clock we lay in the bay wait
ing for the storm that was raging out
at sea to abate. A little after three
O'Clock Sunday afternoon, February
%, we started slowly around the bay
passing several Of Uncle Sans war
ships, gathered here TO welcome Prince
Henry, and soon VIZ headed for Sandy
Hook where we dropped our pilot and
cut loose from land for fourteen days.
The first three days, for some reason,
the passengers didn't feel much like
being on deck, but on the morning Of
the fourth day they began to come
out, looking as II they had lost their
best friend-also their appetites
Soon a stiff gale came up, and as the
day wore On the storm became more
severe. The vessel rocked from one
side to the other-and took a sudden
desire to stand first on one end then
on the other-all the time rolling in
such a manner as to make walking
about impossible. The seasick ones
went back to their berths and the
well ones found it very difficult to eat
anything-not from any d~lsinclina-
tlon, but because the food refused to
stay in m place on the table long
enough to be caught. My plate
managed to climb the fence around
the table and get owe into my
neighbours lap, and at last we gave
up our dinners and tried to amuse
ourselves by comforting the seasick
ones. The next day the sea had
Gained down some, and the weather
was much warmer, as we were in the
Gulf stream, and again the seasick
ones began to venture out to be
greeted with "Hellol When did you
get on?" During the rest Of the trip
to Gibraltar we put in our time get
ting acquainted and many Of the
young people were ''paired off" by the
time we arrived there. We began to
take the census of our boat and found
the population to be 1876. out Of
this number there we're SO teachers,
the rest being civil employees. Seven
teen of this number were from
Missouri.
A newspaper was started and "Billy
Bryan" McGrew, OF Nebraska, was
made editor. in-chief. The paper was
called the "Sea Gull, " and although
the poetic grandeur Of the contribu-
tlons did not soar very high, it fur
nished some good amusement for us
all. After fourteen days Of sailing
we sighted land. Early Sunday
morning, March 9th, a lighthouse on
Cape Spartel, Africa, was sighted,
and the news seemed to reach every
sleeper, and soon all were on deck.
There is something extremely graft
flying In the sight Of land after look
ing out oyer the uubroken sea for two
weeks. BY daylight we we're well
into the Straight and the sun came
up out Of the water directly ahead Of
US, his smiling face seeming to
welcome us to land, while It lighted
up the beautiful green hills Of ''Sunny
Spain" All we're so eager TO see the
rock Of Gibraltar that they neglected
to study that grand monument on the
African side, "The Pillar of
Hercules" The first site Of the rock
is a little disappointing, but as we
drew nearer we began TO appreciate
It's beauty and strength. AT about
half past seven We dropped anchor
beside the rock in the little bay
Going ashore we were struck by tbs
peculiar characters we met. TIE