Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-10-23
ED MORSE WRITES.
Lancaster Boy Describes Interesting Trip
In Far East.

In Far East.
u. S. S. "PoMPEY," AT SEA, OFF Ca
PONIES ISLAND LIGHT, WEST COAST
LUzoN, ENRoUTE TO SHANGHAI, $40 P.
NJ, THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 1902.
DEAR MOTHER AND FATHER did
not sleep much last night as knew l
had to get aboard early this morning.
Was surprised yesterday to get my pa
pers requesting permission to 60 north
to Shanghai on the Pompey back ap-
proved. So here am. I got up be-
fore five this morning and was down to
the yard at $50, though I did not get
a launch off until 6. When I came
alongside the Pompey she had an an
Choir up and was weighing the other
and we got under way five minutes af-
ter got aboard so I did not have any
spare time. The captain said he would
have waited little for me anyway.
am the only person on board beside
the officers and crew. This has been
an elegant day so far though it rained
nearly all night very hard So far |
have not been seasick though [ expect
to be. | think this trip will do me lots
of good and am glad of the opportuni
ty. Captain Scrivener and I mess to-
gether and he seems like a very nice
young fellow. He is very we'll liked in
the yard. | have borrowed Welch's
camera and am using films, which are
of course much lighter and easier to
handle than plates. Have already tax
en- several pictures. So far we have
not been out of sight of the coast and
at no time will we. be very far from
land. The views of the shore are very
pretty. Haven't done much so far ex-
cept walk up and down the deck and
read and eat.
SEPT. Is, 1902. To-day has been very
warm and most uneventful. Yesterday
we were along the east coast of Tor
mosa, very mountainous looking is
land. We picked up the light on her
southern point little after eight Sat-
urday evening and left the light on her
northern point behind about the same
time Sunday evening, having been very
close to her coast for "a hours. Have
had very pleasant trip so far and was
not very seasick. Have eaten an ew-
full lot today We rugged up a hook
and line shortly after lunch but to date
we have caught no fish. Captain
Scrivener appears to be very nice
young fellow and we have had quite a
pleasant time together. We expect to
come to an anchor about s o'clock to-
morrow evening at Woosung and
Wednesday morning if all is we'll he
and | are going to take train to Shang
hal. 1t has been very warm all day
and seems even warmer since leaving
the Japan stream. | have been watch
ing the course on the charts as we go
along and have been in the charthouse
and on the bridge a good deal. I have
just finished "In Connection with the
DeWilloughby Claim"by Francis Hodg-
son Burnett and Audrey" by Mary
Johnstone-two very interesting books.
I especially like the latter. They are
always painting in the navy. AS soon
as they get it all gone over once they
commence over again; they have been
painting every day. | have had salt
water plunge in the captains tub
every morning. We are just getting
into the Yellow Sea and the sea is
really yellow. By the time I return
home | shall be quite sailor, don't
you think?
SEPT. 16, 1902.-We passed the Sec
ond lightship off Woosung some little
time ago and expect to anchor between
nine and ten tonight. We took pilot
aboard at the PARKWAY Bell Buoy at 3
this afternoon and are at present in
the mouth of the Yanzte Kiang river
(lnispelled know.) The water all af-
ternoon and now is the color of mud
and the river is so wide that we could
not see land. The tide runs strongly
and we have made slow progress. The
run today has been very pretty as we
passed any number of islands and
lighthouses and we're surrounded by
hundreds of Chinese fishing junks. We
will be boarded by the quarantine doc
tor the first thing tomorrow morning.
Then shall go ashore and take the 9
o'clock train for Shanghai. We have
had moonlight nights all the way. 1t
has been a most pleasant trip and the
weather has been fine, especially well
come as this is the season for typhoons.
Hope the rest of my trip to Cavite will
be as pleasant There is nothing
more of interest so will close. With
love to all. Afectionately,
Ed.