Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-08-25


the little company OF people stationed
there. After leaving Midway we
travelled about 35 hours when We cross
ed the international date line, at which
time we had one day of AS hours dura-
ton, in other words we had two days,
both the 18th of December. Nothing
else OF Importance occurred until we
came in sight OF the Ladrone Islands
on the 23rd day OF December. The first
OF these we passed, flies the German
flag, the next is the island OF Guam on
which Is situated the old Spanish poll
tical prison. Since 1t has been owned
by the u. S. IL has been used as naval
station and members OF the u. S. Mar.
Inc Corps were about all the cauc asian
people we saw there. We were not
permitted to have shore leave on &C
count of the ship not staying in port
but few hours. From what l was
able to see OF the country from the ship
/ think that we would not have found
much of interest there. The surface
was very mountainous as as the vegeta-
ton to be seen from the ship was of a
dwarfy nature, Judge that the soil Is
not very fertile, However we saw
some fair specimens OF bananas and
pineapples in the surf boats that were
rowed along the side of the ship by the
natives for the purpose OF trading with
the passengers.
The entrance to the harbor at Guam
Is very dangerous one. A reef lies
along the entire coast and as evidence
OF danger in rough weather to vessels
we saw the wreckage Of three ships ly-
ing where they had gone down after
was unloaded we continued our journey
and on the fourth day out We sighted
the southern end of the island OF Luz
zon. Almost the first place was able
to distinguish was Mt. Bulassn, a val
cano on the extreme southern portion
OF the island. AS we drew near, this
formed quite an imposing spectacle. 1t
stands out in bold contradistinct ion
from the other peaks which surround
it; unlike the others It is bare OF all
vegetation and 1t Is such perfect cone
that 1t looks as IL it was some great
statue built by skilled architects, but
as we passed on the night began to fall
the heat OF its interior glared In the
form OF white light in its crater.
am told that it is frequently In erup-
tion but not very extensive or danger
Gus.
Soon after sighting land we entered
the st. Bernardino Straits where to
our left Is the island OF Samar and to
the right Luzon. Passing through the
straits we were in sight Of the islands
Nasbate, Martinique, Mindoro and at
the entrance OF Manila Bay, Corregi-
dor All OF interest that was to be seen
were the groves OF palms and bamboo
and the bamboo and nipa shacks OF
the natives.
About noon OF the asth day we anch-
ored outside the quarantine station at
Mariyeles. The quarantine officer
came on board and finding no sickness
or disease OF contagious nature, gave
US 4 clear bill of health and by three
O'Clock ws were lying In the bay just
outside the city Of Manila. The fol-
lowing day we disem barked and as
walked along the bay front l realized
that ] was In country entirely differ
ent than Lbs one from which | had so
recently departed.
The city OF Manila might be consid-
cred % being two separate and distinct
cities, the old or walled city and the
new city.
Old Manila was built about $50 years
ago. The buildings are OF an ancient
model, constructed OF heavy stone,
having barricaded windows and fat
roofs. tits surrounded by stone wall
from 80 to 40 feet In thickness and o.
about an equal height, on the outside
OF which are moats so constructed that
they can be Glled with water from tie
bay. At the time OF Gonetructiou they
we're no doubt almost impregnable. but
they would be OF little or no benefit 10
modern warfare,
The population OF the entire city is
about 200, 600, almost every nationality
In the world being represented, thei