The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-28
HIS LETTER HOME
A Soldier Boy From Cary
at Manila.
Writes Of His Voyage From the Golden
Gate, Describing Honolulu, Guam.
the Rush Across the
Pacific.
Fort William II. Mckinley.
Philippine Islands.

Pnlnppne Islands.
April 1st, 1895.
on Board the Z. s. Transport Logan"
to the Philippines.
On Tuesday. the 2Sth of March. the
Logan" of the army transport fleet
pulled away from pier No. 9, San
Francisco harbOr, just as eight bells,
or twelve o'clock, struck. on board
were the 9th Infantry Band and
headquarters. consisting of about 9G0
officers and enlisted men; the End
Squadron of the Sth Cavalry, Band and
headquarters. consisting of about 800
officers and enlisted men; 20 recruits
and a detachment of 20 men of the L.
s. Marine Corps en- route to midway
Island. AS the boat slowly steamed
from the habor the 9th Infantry Band
PLAYED. Good Bye Little Girl" from
the forward deck, and the crowds or
the wharVes cheered a farewell. wav-
ing hats and handkerchiefs. Many q
soldiers heart felt sad as he gaZed
for the last time for two years on the
shores of Gods country.
Alcathaz Island on one side and old
Preside ON the other were passed;
then the cliff house, out through the
world-famed Golden Gate on the great
Pacific.
Nothing of especial interest happen.
ed i'm the next seven and one-half days
but the usual amount of seasicknesS.
The two bands gave concerts morning
and evening and the soldiers whiled
away the time playing cards and read
ing.
on the morning of the Sth land was
sighted and at I o'clock We steamed
into the harbor of Honolulu, one OF
the most beautiful cities of the
Orient The L. ). transport Thomas
lay at the docks, having just arrived
from Manila the day previous. Her
decks were covered with artillery,
cavalry and infantry, whose term of
two years in the Philippines had eX-
PRED and who. with glad hearts, were
returning to the United States.
About $50 the troops from our
boat were turned UP on the wharves
and then marched through the city
for exercise. Afterwards we We're al
lowed to go on pass and visit the
places of interest.
The city is on one of a group of
10 islands, of which are Inhabited
1t is the largest city, having about Co..
600 inhabitants, consisting of Ameri-
cans. English, Germans. Portuguese,
Japs. Chinese and native Hawiians. II
is modern; has electric cars. railways,
brewery, up-to-date drug stores. book
stores. and other commercial houses.
There are several fine hotels, the most
prominente being the Young and the
Hawaiian The Territorial building,
formerly the Queens palace under the
monarchy, is a very imposing build
ing. 1t is surrounded by a magnificent
park. all kinds of tropical trees and
flowers abound. The legislature was in
session. and. SONG. of its. members are
very intelligent looking men. The
most of them speak good English and
many orators are found among Them.
The Japs do most Of the work, and
injure the price Of labor, as they will
work for half what others do.
On the evening of the first day in
the harbor. the two bands gave cor
certs on the roof gardens of the Young
and Hawaiian hotels, which We're fol-
lowed by dances. / cOnVerSed with a
very intelligent member of the Terri
torial band. He said the Havaiians
are much pleased with their treatment
by Uncle Sam, and that they admired
Americans above any other nation Of
| people.
In the morning of the second day the
| 9Th Infantry officers. lead by Colonel
Duncan, called ON Governor Carter
| the chief magistrate of the island. in
| the Territorial building, and paid theiI
! respects. Governor Carter is a native
of Honolulu. He was educated al
| Yale.
| Alto a. m. on the second day, 1 visit
| ed the Government park about three
miles from the docks. 1t is luXuriant
with lovely flowers, tropical trees ana
plants. date and cocOanut. palms, etc
/ A fine collection of fish are found in
! the aquarium i'm the park -almos
! everything from a flying fish TO {
! shark.
! The principal income of the islant