Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-08
TELLS OF HOLY LAND
FRANK w. SIMMONS WRITES TO
THIS CITY OF SIGHTS WIT.
MESSED in JERUSALEM.
Visits Jericho, the Jordan and the
Dead Sea With Party of voyagers-
Sees Church Of the Holy sepulchre
and Other Historical Sights.

Visits to Jericho. the Jordan and the
Dead Sea and practically all of Jeru-
salem are being enjoyed by Frank w.
Simmons, of this city, who Is mem
bez Of a party Of sightseers in the old
world.
Mr.. Simmons, under date of March
3, writes the following interesting let
ter, in which he tells of his travels in
the far east, and of the many places Of
historical interest which he has Wis
tied:
Jerusalem, March 25.
We'll, here am in great, old, sa
cred, but filthy Jerusalem. have been
here now for about four days. Just
got back from trip to Jericho, the
Jordan and the Dead Sea- Don't ex-
pect me to give you my impressions
In this letter. I must wait and let 1t
settle into me some before will trust
myself to say much. have two more
days to spend in this vicinity before
leaving for Egypt. We were at Caipho
q half day. This was the port we en-
tered to allow Gallilee passengers to
go ashore. We then came to Joppa,
where we landed in Palestine. We go
at once from Joppa into historical
scenes, first visiting the planes Of
Sharon. enclose you rose of
Sharon, which I picked myself. 1
only hope it will retain its color until
you get 1t. visited the house OF ST.
mon the tanner at Joppa. Leaving
Joppa, we came at once into the vale
OF Sharon In which valley Is sown
wheat and barley, and a landscape
very much like our own valleys in Col
orado and Wyoming, but what a diff
ference in the mode of cultivation.
Here we see an old wooden pillow
drawn by one camel or small OK
hitched with d donkey. The crop
through this valley is all In now and
begins to look green. About ten miles
out we stopped at Yasur, where Samp-
son caught the three hundred foxes
and fired their tails. We next came
to Dagon, the place where the ark was
kept and the abode Of the Phillistines.
The valley Of the Aggelon is on the
left, where Joshua is supposed to have
commanded the sun to stand still.
(The Arab and his camel are still
standing and looking at us). The land
OF the Cananites is to the right Of us
and there are many other places en-
route for fifty miles to Jerusalem. At
Joppa We saw Russian transport
filled with sick and wounded soldiers
on their way home from Port Arthur.
l really haven't the time to write about
what have seen. This is very big
trip for travel, but am not at all tired
and am as well and hearty as l ever
was In my life. Our party contains
many pleasant people and we are hav-
Ing a good time.
Visits Sacred Sights.
"As we approached Jerusalem and
came into the hills of Judea, had a
strange feeling. I realized how old
and sacred the place is. / thought If
these old hills could talk, but they
can't, and you must imagine things
from your knowledge Of history. Even
then you are lost after you get into
Jerusalem. You see so much that is
only traditionally and legionally. The
Church Of the Holy Sepulchre, the
Mosque of Omar, the place of the last
supper, the tomb of Christ, the stone
which was at the door of his tomb,
Mt. Moriah, Mount Calvary, Mount
Zion, Mount Olivet, the Garden of
Gethsemane, Absalom tomb, Davids
tomb, out to Jericho, the scenes on
the way, Bethany, the mountain where
Moses had his vision, the mountain
where Christ was tempted, the pool Of
Alisah, the Jordan, the Dead Sea, etc.
All this cannot attempt to write
about. One of the sights here is to
see the Jews at their wailing place
The beggary, the squalor, the filth, the
disease, the awful poverty of this place
simply cannot be described God GER
tainly does not mean to allow this holy
and sacred place to be much longer In
the hands of the Turkish empire. 1t
is the one crying duty, which the
Christian world owes to itself. to set
apart at least the province of Jerusa-
lem, clean 1t up and take care Of it.
Where Arabs and Bedoulns Live.
The ride to the plains of Jericho Is
through the most barren hills and
gorges / eyer saw The Dead Sea is
LOO feet below the level of the ocean
and from 1900 to 400 feet deep. Vege-
tation is, almost nothing for miles
around Us. Arabs and Bedouns are
the only inhabitants. The bows at
home would be greatly Interested in
our escort of Arabs mounted on their
dashing horses. Early in the morning
they line I'D along side of lis and would
ride their horses fast up the mountain
side to show us their horsemanship,
and 1t was something fine. They can
wheel horse at dead run, throwing
him up on his hind feet and turning
instantly. They carry guns to protect
us from possible danger in crossing the
mountains. Our calyacade presented
truly picturesque sight. There were
about one hundred of us. On our way
back We stopped at the good Samari-