Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-12
oTTuMwA BOYS STORY.
Dick Mitchell Writes of His Voyage to
Manila.

Over 10000 miles away from home
on board a transport in Manila bay,
Dick Mitchell, former Ottumwa boy,
ing the events that have happened
since he left this city for the service
of Uncle Sam. o. his visit to Homo
lulu and the voyage across the track
less sea, he writes in an interesting
manner. He tells of running aground
on coral reef off the coast of Luzon
and of the sights that are to be seen
in the bay of Manila. Here upon a
crowded transport he, with his COM
mand, await the unloading of provi-
sions and the coaling of the vessel
that they may proceed to their des-
| tination in Mindanao, an island near
| the southern extremity of the group.
Here his command will be stationed
and will probably spend the greater
part of the three years for which he
enlisted, doing the onerous and trying
garrison duty.
The Letter.
Dick Mitchell, member of Com
pany F, Tenth United States infantry,
writes from the Philippines as follows:
| Mduild, / T. 1.J &apiii o. LOVE-.
Dear Folks at Home:-I will send
you a short letter to let you know
/ that we have arrived in Manila bay
after a fine voyage and that | am in
the best of health. This is Sunday
and we are still on board the trans
port Hancock. We are now waiting
for the freight to be unloaded, after
which this transport will take us to
the island of Mindanao, which is To-
Gated near the southern end of the
group about 700 miles distant from
Manila Unless something unexpected
Happens we will be assigned to that is
Hand for duty. From all reports this
lis one of the most healthy localities
in the group.
81 often think of you all at home
and would like very much to see you
lbut suppose if everything goes well ii
Twill be about two years and half be
More can return to Iowa. I have been
Feeling exceedingly well and have been
lin good health ever since leaving San
francisco.
1--WE had one slight accident while
enroute to the islands. When we
were about twelve hours out of Ma
i Mia, coasting along the western coast
of the island about one mile from
shore the transport ran aground cor
al reef. At the time of the occurrence
1.-THE sea was perfectly smooth and nc
damage was occasioned, though il
took four tugs to pull the vessel of
the reef. We have now been in tn,
bay of Manila for three days, unload
ling provisions and coaling and will
probably start for the southern island
lin few days. / have not yet had al
opportunity to visit the city of Ma
Mia, though / have seen the place
where Admiral Dewey put the Spanish
fleet out Of action.
In Honolulu.
"On the voyage across the Pacific
we stopped for three days at Honolulu
land enjoyed seeing the sights of tha
lefty and the vicinity. Honolulu is al
most a paradise. The luxuriance O
the tropical verdure and the beauty O
1.-THE scenes make it one of the most at
tractive places l have ever seen. Dur
ling our stay in that harbor l VISITED
lQueen LIS palace. Honolulu is
4 most interesting city. 1t is most cos
mopolitan as to it's inhabitants ant
one may see great variety of per
sonages on the streets of that city a
!. any time
) Goodbye, with love to ALL
i ~. -.->-.,--.-,..--i.--s AAoAA'