Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-08
HOME FROM ILOILO.
An Augusta Boy Writes Of
Voyage on Transport.
Pen Picture Of General Smith Of
Samar Fame.
A Pleasant Stop of Several DAYS IN
Japan.

| Fernald d. Sawyer, a Maine boy for
| merry of the city staff of the Journa |
who has been teaching in the Philip
pines for year, is now in this country
again, being compelled by ill health to
resign his position. He sends the
Journal the following interesting let
ter concerning the voyage home. The
| U. S. army transport. Thomas. on
which he came, arrived in San Francis
co, August 1.
U. S. A. T., Thomas, July 81, 1902.
| Editors Kennebec Journal:
| After a severe attack of malariaI fe-
| Yer, and being compelled to enter the
| Iloilo Military hospital twice, l was adj
vised by the surgeon to resign and re-
turn. SO again l find myself on an
| army transport this time en- route for
| the States.
We embarked at Manila, June %,
| and the next day we steamed down to
| Merivales to the quarantine station,
where we We're scheduled to spend five
days. Unfortunately we had three or
| four cases of cholera during the first
| day or two SO we We're all compelled to
go on shore for disinfecting bath,
while the quarantine officials fumigat-
ed the ship. There was no more chol-
era ard at the end of five days we
were allowed to sail.
We had pleasant trip of four and
one half days to Nagasaki, Japan, when
we caught our first glimpse of the
most advanced nation of the far East.
The entrance to Nagasaki is pictur-
esque and beautiful in the extreme.
The mountains are high and many of
them are terraced to the tops for the
production of rice. The harbor is one
of the most easily fortified in the
world.
When we reached the quarantine
station We were informed that as We
had had cholera on board we must take
another bath on shore, and have the
ship disinfected again, so that day was
taken up in this. l went on shore in
the first boat, and I must confess that
the Nagasaki station was much better
equipped and more comfortably arrang-
ed than our own at Merivales. We We're
treated with every courtesy by the Of
ficials, who furnished tea and cigar
cites to us while we were waiting. 1t
was evening before the last of the 1900
on board had taken their turn at the
bath. The next morning all the sa-
loon passengers who wise We're Civ
en- shore leave. and o. course every
thing was very interesting to us, es-
pecially to all who hae. never been
there before.
For two and one half days while the
ship was coaling we were enjoying
ourselves thoroughly with visits to
the bazaars, trips into the country, etc.
One oil the interesting things of the
city is the Ricksha. This is the mode
of conveyance in japanese cities. IL
is sort of an overgrown baby carriage =,
and when one first steps in it gives
him something the feeling as though
he was an oVergrown baby, but as his
man starts off at brisk trOt this feel
ing soon disappears, and it is rather
a pleasant means of conveyance.
The silk houses with their wonderful
embroIderies are always very interest
ing, then the baZaars with their Won
derful toys, and quaint designs in silk,
wood, leather and ivory take quite
little of the travellers time.
The first afternoon l took a trip TO
the little town OF Mogi some three
miles away. This is said to give
very good idea of the general topos-
raphy of Japan. If it is the views in
Japan must be something delightful.
One is everywhere struck with the
great economy ofland on the part ofthe
natives. We passed over a well kept
road winding in and out through
splendid groves and all along bordered
by rice fields and patches. In some
places one could see where wall had
been built perhaps ten feet high and
30 feet long for the sake of diminu-
tive rice paddy not more than 20 feet
square. The sea view at Mogi isl
beautiful in the extreme. Owing tol
the Notifications we were not allowed
to take any pictures, much to our re-
gret.
Coming back from Mogi we visited
the Great Temple. The temple itself
is not so wonderful, but the ascent to it
is made by 500 granite steps, and the
view from the top is grand, and it was
well worth the trouble of getting there.
Weleft Nagasakiat noon, for our long
trip across the Pacific. The most
distinguished man on board was Cen
eral Jacob Smith, of Samar fame. He
is a small man, with piercing blue eyes,
a firm chin, a slightly Roman nose,
moustache somewhat tinged with grey.
He is a very pleasing man to talk with,
and it is easy to see that if he was only
a second lieutenant instead of a brig
adier-general he would be favorite
with the people on board. His blue
eyes. twinkling with good nature and
fun. and mis- pleasing smile make one
believe that il his orders in Samar
, were harsh, it was not from a cruel
nature, but because he felt that severe
measures were necessary, and the short
time he took in clearing up
Samar and making it ready for civil
| government. or at least bringing it to
| /. condition where the civil commission
were ready to give it civil rule, would
seem to prove that his method was ef-
| fective.
He does not seem to mind newspa-
| per criticism in the least, and l have
seen him laugh heartily after reading
some bitter attack on his methods.
There is no question that he has the
full support and sympathy of the army
| if one can judge from the opinion OF
those on board whom | have heard
| exnress their views on the subject.
General Smiths favorite pastime is
whist. and at this he is. indeed, an ex-