Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-02-03
December II, 1909.

December II, 19U9.
Once more we viii try and write
you a short letter, after about three
days of uneventful run, we arrived
and dropped anchor outside of the
breakwater near Tdudiong-PriCk and
boarded a large tender and landed at
the wharf and was taken by train for
a five mile ride inland to Batavia,
where we arrived in about one half
half hour, where we took carriages for
a drive around the city, We 90 not
find much of historical interest, but
have a. fine ride about the new and old
town. We are very muen pleased to
find the natives very enthusiastic about
our visit, of such a large number of
Americans. They stand in groups alL
along the route, cheering and waving
their hands and do everything they
can to help US have q good time. The
Dutch residents are very courteous
and pleasant. This island is governed
by the Dutch. After our ride we are
driven to very fine garden with
large pavilion, nicely decorated, by the
town authorities and very nicely il was
done too all in American Flags, even
to the table cloths which were decora-
ted with American flags. There
There was room enough to set the
whole crowd at once. A band was
playing American airs and rag-time
music, which brought out the cheers in
great warmth, as we have not heard
much but German and classical music,
which becomes monotnous in time. All
around the outside was arranged na-
tive theatres and dancers, with native
music and all sorts of native games
were played, as in years ago. Well,
after luuch, we take another ride and
came in, tired and hungry and ready
for dinner, which was indeed a good
one. The grounds and buildings are
owned by club, which they turned
over to us and kept everyone else out.
We understand that some, if not all,
the amusements were furnished by the
Chinese residents. Well, about $50
we took the cars again and return to
the boat again for little sleep. We
thought that we were tired enough and
would not go back again, but when we
arose in the morning we could not re-
sist the temptation and we again went
to Batavia to spend few hours shop
ping among these pleasant people. AS
the ship sailed about two p. M, we go
for the boat, with all classes of peo-
pie lining the roads, cheering and
clapping their hands and we leave with
the impression that they are a happy,
prosperous people. We reach the ship
all right and almost immediatiately
up comes the anchor and we are again
on our way around the world. Again
we move along uneventful until near
Labuan, where we run into heavy
sea, but no storm, which sends most of
the passengers below. When we got
to Labuan they told US that they had
had a six months of rain, ending in a
hurricane and that we presume is what
we picked up the swell from. On the
18th we arrived at Labuna, a small Is-
sland attached to Borneo we dropped
anchor in Victoria harbor, very near
the shore for few hours, not much to
see but row of native ships, which
our people filed to overfowing and l
guess picked up all the old junk they
could find, at prices that must have
made the natives feel good all over.
We found it very warm; no breeze
blowing and we soon left for the good
ship, which is always comfortable and
we did not stop to see the games that
had been gotten up for our amusement.
At four p. M, we are again out of the
Chinese Sea, on our way to Manila,
for stay of about three days; after
which Twill try and write to you
again. l should have stated that on
14th at about three p. m., we re-crossed
the Equator and are now again in own
backyard, making for homo and, as
usual, all we'll and W hen say all well
mean the little party of four that
came with US from home. There are
some sick aboard and some very near
INTO death. Good bye for this time,
Yours Respectfully,
Mr.. and MRS. GEO. J. LABAR,
SOUTH CHINESE SEA, CHINA,
December 28 1909.
DEAR FRIENDS AT HOME:
We must try once more to write to
you, as we neglected to write you be.
fore reaching Hong Kong, as the time