Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-02-06
CA9ToRIA.
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New Advertisements.
F.,rd's
Letter from the AniipOdes.
FRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
IN THE FAR EAST.

On October ED, We boarded the launch
for Woo Sung for our ship,th Nippon Mara
a Japanese vessel with an English captain,
for Hong Kong The boat was beautifully
appointed end the living excellent Our
trip was the usual one for the season of the
year, bright, clear skies with full moon and
very pleasant people, but as the trip is less
than four days, the distance $40 miles, one
did no, get SO well acquainted with the pas
sengers az one would on a trip of longer
duration. The harbor at Hong Kong is
beautiful; the city lies before you on plain
with tall hotels and warehouses and in the
distance up the hills are seen the very hand
some homes of tic wealthy English. The
peak 700 feet high rises abruptly but man has
done much in identifying it with terraces and
roads reaching to lis summit which is crown
ed with signal tower. The Peak Hotel
and homes are reached by an electric railway
and in Hong Kong chairs with four coolies
to carry you. The summit well repsys you
for the walk after you leave the cars, as the
waters of the bay and ocean are stem on all
sides. The beautiful island belonging to the
English is n precious possession and lately
they bought from the Chinese a large con-
cession opposite Hong Kong which is fast
being built up with warehouses and homes.
It is said to be much cooler than in Hong
Kong. The summers OF the first named
place are very hot and plague and cholera
abound. The plague last summer was quite
severe; some IA Europeans died and over
1000 Chinese. 1t is moi necessarily fatal To
Europeans as great many recover, but the
Chinese give up at once; they feel it is not
worth while to struggle against it, ard as
they are very superstitous, believing that
the spirits want them aud it is their time to
90. We were told in the Hong Kong hotel
that five walters at one time showed eymp-
toms of the disease and in few hours were
dead; made no effort to get well.
Not horse or vehicle for travelling or
pleasure is seen IN the streets; rickshaws and
the Hong Kong chairs are the only means Of
conveyance.
Beautiful stores abound and goods are
cheap; the streets are thronged with mixed
crowd who jostle against one another.
The hotels, bank buildings and the public
buildings are worthy of note and are a great
credit to the city. beautiful public garden
planted with trees and shrubbery from all
parts IF tie world is full of interest, and as
each tree and plant Is plainly l.belled it is
most interesting to VISIT It is kept in perfect
order, the grass green and cool looking, aud
the fine gravelled walks pleasure to tread
on.
Canton, 140 miles north of Hong Kong, 10
reached by very good boats but taking very
| few first class passengers The money is
| made on the Chinese coolies who travel by
the hundreds every day. We were surprised
In the main saloon to find & great
stock of rifles, and were informed by the
captain thst sometimes it was found neccs-
sary to use them On more than one occa-
sion the Chinese passengers have risen over
powered the crew and seized the boats cargo
and robbed the passengers during the night.
We did not feel so very comfortable until he
told us to go back in the boat and see how
the coolies were locked in. We found heavy
prison doors separating them from our part
of the boat and all means of egress for them
barred 10 tue same way. The Chinese who
attempt to take boat now are bebeaded
and Are called pirates. A few days after we
were in Canton, SO pirates were beheaded
We saw on visiting the execution ground
the heads of three or four who had recently
suffered for their crimes We also saw the
chief excculioner, a tall Chinese with not Il