The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-17
LETTER FROM JAPAN.
Walter Sanders. Sumter Boy ina Uni
ted States Army. Writes Interest
ingly of Japan.

Letter Of Walter Sanders, bound
for United States from the Philippines
en- board transport Sherman, Decem-
Der %. 1911.
The weather is fine and we are
making good time. Expect TO get TO
Honolulu on the 30th and to San
Francisco on the 7th of January.
1912. We left Nagasaki, Japan on
the 18th. The Sherman took on coal
there. Coal is very cheap there. Most .
Of the big liners Or The Pacific go
there to coal. japanese women coal
ed the boat. There must have been
five or six hundred of them. They
would form five lines on each side of
the ship and pass the baskets from
the barges to the coal-chutes in the
sides of the ship. They kept this ur
day and night. We we're there the
10th and 18th. Nagasaki is one of
the prettiest towns I've ever seen.
was on shore long time, and sure,
enjoyed myself. Went all around the
city, in a jiurikisha and around
the harbor in a sampan. A jiuri
kisha is little cart with rubber tire
wheels pulled by a man. It's sure
fine riding. The coolie trots around
Tor hours at time without getting
tired. The fare is only 20 sun an
hour, which is 10 cents gold. Things
are very cheap there. They have lotS
OF fruit, oranges cost 10 cents a
dozen. The japanese are very polite
people. The police there wear
SWORDS Don't guess they make many
arrests, ac everybody there seems to
be quiet and good-natured. 1t was
pretty cool when We were thereEs
Some of the men wore their overcoats.
Got some mighty fine oysters there.
There are several hotels there. Well.
day after tomorrow is Christmas. we
are going to have lots of turkey.
fruit etc. 1 don't guess our Christ
mas will be very merry, as no on6
hkes to be on the ocean on Christi
mas day. We may have two Christ
mas days, one on the east side and
one on the west of the $50 Meridian.
as We will cross the International
Date line about the 25th.
1t is getting warmer again now
We are going southeast. Think we
will be in Honolulu about one day.
VIII be sure to see you all in the
spring. 1t is not dull here on the
boat. We have two band concerts a
day. We get the latest news by wire
less. We have service by the chap
lain on Sundays and Wednesdays. We
have lots to read as each company
brought books and magazines from
its library. 1 will mail this at HON.
olulu. Guess we'll stay in Frisco a
couple of days. Will write YOU from
there also.-W.
December %, 1911.
Well, we had a pretty merry time
on board Christmas Had lots of
turkey. cake. fruit, etc for dinner.
and band concert and a minstrel
show that night. The talent for the
show was selected from among tr1w
men of the regiment. Had singing.
dancing, etc. 1t was pretty good.
We had two December 26ths. one.
on each side Of the 1SOth meridian.
We will get to Honolulu early tomor-
row morning. Will stay there one.
day. Honolulu is a pretty good town =
Expect to enjoy myself there. Saw
a lot Of it when 1 was there be-
fore. Will see all of 1t this time.
We will get to San Francisco about
January Z, 1912. We will stay there.
a day ov two and will get to Kansas
City about the 12th. Will be glad to-
get 'lch to the United States. Don't
know which road We'll take. either
the Un;on-Pacific or the Sante Fe.
Hope we use the L. p. as l have been
the other route.
My address will be Co. &C" 7th
Infantry. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. "A,
Walter Sanders -