The Big Sandy news., 1908-07-10
A LETTER
From a Big Sandy Boy Who Is
Now Soldering in The
Philippines.

est III ItddlHS Tue Dig SduuN NSN'
while at home, and thinking thai
You might like to hear from an ole
subscriber who is now soldering in
the Philippines, take pleasure in
sending you a brief description OF
my trip over here.
When the order assigning us for
duty in the Philippines was pub
lished our regiment was stationed at
Vancouver Barracks, Wash.
We left Vancouver for San Fran
cisco, in a special train consisting
of three sections. We We're placed
three in a section in the tourist
sleeepers, and were fed on corned
beef(tough Willie,) beans, tomatoes,
hard tack and coffee until we arriv-
ed in San Francisco, January 4, 1908,
We We're given liberty in the city
of the Golden Gate, and l for one
was only too glad to take advantage
Of this chance to see the ruins the
earthquake of 1906 had wrought. A
great deal has already been done to
repair the havoc; but even vet, af-
ter leaving the business part of
town, entire streets many blocks in
length are in ruins. The arch of
scme once magnificent home may
be the only land mark now standing,
or 1t may be that only mass of
fallen brick and twisted pipe remain
to make its mute appeal to the
casual observer. After seeing the
desolation of the city, and noting the
eheerfulness of the people, one can
mot help but admire the native sons
and native daughters for their pluck.
visited the famous Golden Gate
Park, which is said to be the most
beautiful of its kind the world, and
came away believing this to be true.
There are miles and miles of shady
walks and drives winding about
through an ever-changing garden fill
ec with the most beautiful of natures
most precious gifts Magnificent
specimens of the sculptor's art are
to be seen In the little hooks and
crannies where one least expects to
lind them. Every known plant. tree
and herb that will thrive in the warm
California sunshine is to be found
growing here, and the combination
lof these many tropical and temper
)Ate zone plants leads one into be-
lieying himself in the garden of
Eden. The city as a whole, is one
OF the most beautiful it has ever
beeen my fortune to see. -.
We left San Francisco for Manila,
Philippine Islands, via Honolulu. T.
H and Guam, January 6, 1908 Be-
fore we were outside the Golden Gate
some Of tn lads were sea sick, and
a few of them remained so during
the entire trip. No, l was not sea
sick; though several times begged
them to throw me overheard so that !
my agony would be ended.
Life aboard the ship was much the
sanle, the only thing to liven us
up being the evening concerts given
by the regimental band, and 1t was
much too crowded for us to dance,
Taking the sea sickness and the
monotony of the life into consider
alton it is not to wondered at that
We were glad when we arrived in
Honolulu, and We're turned loose to
do as we pleased
This island city is in my estimation
one of the most beautiful in the
world. With the exception of the
bFisiness blocks there are few two
story buildings. Nearly all the
homes are pretty little cottages.
These little cottages are built in
the center of large and we'll kept
grounds, in which are to be found
III the beauties of tropical verdure.
The streets are broad and shady, well
paved and resmbl a drive in beau
tiful park more than the streets of
/ modern and enterprising city.
There are many quaint little pleas
ire resorts along the beach, and the
surf bathing is not to be excelled
by any of the famous coast resorts
n the States. | visited the extinct
at Diamond Head, which
he superstitious natives hold in
I'VE and reverence. After climbing
o the top of the volcanoes sides
me can look down into the crater
which resembles a gigantic basin
cooped or dug in the earth. Need
ess to say ! was sorry when the
ime came for US to leave this
wonderful tropical city and begin life
new on the crowded transport.
We left Honolulu January Is, 1908,
nd arriving in Guam January 20,
sOs; but left there almost immed-
ltely arriving in Manila February
1908. i
We we're ashore for only short
line here so could see but little, The Il