Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-02-21
CHRISTMAS ON
MAN A WAR
Guy E. Thornton, Tells Of the
Sports in HonskonE Bay on
Christmas Night.
HONGKONG, CHINA,
Dec. %, 1906.


Dec. %, 1906.
Miss Daisy Thornton, Grand Rapids,
Wis.
Dear Sis.-Yours dated Nov. IL,
just received. My! What a pleasure
it is to hear my name read off and
get letter from home.
1t was cold and rainy last night
with a stiff gale making it hard for
the men on watch. When day broke
it was still raining and about $50
land was sighted through the mist.
We ran for long way through net
work OF islands so close together and
so rocky and high it seemed all the
time as if we would run into them.
They are the tops of mountains stick
ing out of the sea, towering clear up
out OF sight in the clouds. Occasion
ally we passed a house which seemed
TO be stuck on to the perpendicular
sides of the mountains as if by magic.
We sped by hundreds of fishing junks
with peculiar sails like bats wings.
Their sterns rise clear up out of the
water but their bows almost protrude
down into it.
After twisting about among the
islands for about an hour we reached
Hongkong.
The city is built right on the face
of the rock Mount Victoria). 1t is
pretty place surrounded by lofty pre-
cipitous peaks capped with clouds.
On all sides the islands are packed in
as closely as can be. Just at the foot
and partly up the mountains which
form small bay, is Hongkong.
The city is composed mostly of
large stone buildings with great
arched windows.
The harbor is swarming with crafts
of all kinds, shapes and descriptions
from the Samram, "a small Chinese
boat) to the great ocean liners and
battleships The Cinnamon here are
quite civilized and look like human
beings, except for the cue, and are
pretty handy merchants. They use
for money, the Manila, China,
American or English all mixed up to-
gether, so it's pretty hard making
change.
Arose at 500 and shined the mess
gear as the cook was ashore and |
took his place. For breakfast we had
three hard boiled eggs, small piece of
bacon, bread and ''cafe noir." After
quarters we had cutter races and
other sports by the crew, with boxing
and wrestling for prizes in the even
ing. Among other things was cam
vass shoot about 25 feet long and
three feet in diameter laid on the
deck with twist in the center, also
lot of flour. The fellows come run
ming painting like dogs and dive into
it head first. They come out at the
other end white as costs, all hands
shouting and coaching them on.
The last stunt was sliding down the
back stay. 1t is difficult feat at
any time but for men so nearly ex-
hausted by previous efforts it is next
to impossible.
The first man started and the next
tried to pass him and they got to
scrapping on the stay. No. l sue
ceeded in knocking No. off who fell
about 45 feet onto the quarter deck
awning. He escaped with bad shak-
ing up. But in falling he broke No.
rs hold and he also hit the awning,
but for that both would have been
killed or injured for life. After box
ing bouts four fellows were put in the
ring blind folded, with a stick in their
left hands, boxing gloves on the right.
When the referee called slime" they
advanced from opposite corners drum
ming on the deck with their sticks,
when they think they have located
their man they swing with the right
with all their might, and miss-then
biff. he gets one on the ear, or in the
ribs. We laughed until we were sore
watching them. One, young husky
coal-heaser, got next to the ropes and
landed terrific swing just below the