La Junta tribune., 1909-10-16

We left here June 10th and trav.
eled most OF the time. In all about
l.200 miles. Our first stop after we
left here was Honolulu. Most of
the ships crew were new hands at
the business. Everything went all
right until about the third day out,
and then We struck some rough
weather. 'and that was where bust.
ness picked up" You could see the
| boys hunting the sides Of the ship In
all directions, and some Of them said
they knew they would die. and they
wished they would. To make 1t
worse, the old timers were standing
around making all kinds OF fun, bet.
ting one could throw further than
another. and all such expressions.
And maybe you think the ship wasn't
a sight. Some Of the fellows didn't
get over 1t for two or three days.
while others didn't get sick at all.
was one Of the latter.
The rough weather only lasted
about three days. After that the sea
was nice and smooth. and everything
went all right. 1t commenced get
blue to white uniforms.
( AS we neared Honolulu We began
to see flying fish. They kept get
ting thicker and thicker all the time
and would get up in front OF the
ship like bunch of quail They
can't fly more than hundred yards
at a time, but as soon as they touch
the water and wet their wings they
can 10 on again. They have two
wings just behind the gills. and two
near the tail. The forward ones are
much the larger.
We were accompanied by birds all
the way over They would stay on
the wing during the day. and at
night they would light on the yard
arms and stay there until morning.
There was four OF them made the
trip.
We anchored at Honolulu on the
29th. 1t was Just after pay day. and
we all had plenty OF money. and may
: be you think we didn't eat fruit.
There were bananas. pineapples and
cocoanuts galore. and they sure did
taste good. They seem to be so niue ]
better than We get In the
. States.
= We got three shore librties while
! there. and guess We took In every
= thing OF interest there was to he
seen. The thing that Interested me
most was the surf riding. They get
out from the beach about mile.
) and Just ms the waves break they
get on top and ride them in. Some
stand, and some lie down. and the
:. way they come In isn't slow. II is
l. great sport. | didn't try any OF IL.
I but the next time get there | am
e going to have that experience.
The people there are mostly Japs.
y There were two OF their war ships
lHcTc WHtH We e"iH', pu' 'h'y N''
n couple OF days before We
{ did.
+ On July I'd We left Honolulu for
Sura, FIJI Islands. We crossed the
equator on the 9th. and NIL hands
!. who were going over for the first
o time were initiated. That In quite
g An item among sailors. and person
!. who has not been initiated is not
1 thought much Of. They have u large
\ tank Of water. and over II In = chair
u that tips. They get their victim In
:. that. paint his face with lampblsck.
!. molasses. vinegar and several other
y disxxrccAblc mixtures. give him q
e piece Of soap or quinine TO cat. and
J. then he is dumped over backwards
e into the tank. where there are about
b . dosen waiting for him. A. soon ~
he strikes the water he IL duckcd
Z until he 10 Just about ali In. and
! when hs II pulled out he receives
:. The fall bsnseit q hose stream Ia
q bis face. after which he can 30 below
y and scrub himself. Hs II then en-
n titled 70 his Neptune papers.
:. We got into Sura On the l%th. and
!. all hands worked 70 clean W ths
. ship. A. sooa - ws had Il h shapt
II ws were granted libsfty. Sara 4
= an HnslisA port. and ws had SOM
v. troubls In sDsa1ias Our noasy. W.
% could gst Il cAaassA all right, but 4
4. took lots q sxDlaiaiag bssoes "
10 knew Tie vaius q Il. Il was q
pssss. sAtnas. Dessls. ~. vhScl