Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-02-01
YlSIT i TO JERUSALEM
North Carolina Sailor Tells Things
He Saw.
SPENDS DAY AMONG HOLY SHRINES

Striking Description Of the Sights of
PaIestine-Wrter Thinks That There
Is Much About Jerusalem That Is
Different From Any Other City in
the World.
William P. Simpson, of Glen Alpine,
Burke county, n. Y, is in the navy, q
member Of the crew of the U. S. S. Fox.
Recently he paid a visit to Jerusalem
and other points of interest in Pales-
tine, and wrote his mother, Mrs. W. M.
Simpson, Of his trip. His letter fol-
lows:
THE distance from Haifa to Jerusa-
lem is about 80 miles via railway. l
left Monday morning at about 10 and
arrived in Jerusalem at about midnight
/ (fourteen hours to run 80 mileS).
Some travelling" Should have arrived
at about Z, but on account of the load
was about five hours late. Most of the
journey is continually winding around
huge mountains, which look to be of
solid rock The scenery on the way up
the mountains was very pretty. You
can bet I was some tired when the
train rolled up to the station. The train
ride was very disgusting, but after l
had seen the sights next day it was all
forgotten. 1 went to a hotel, got some
thing to eat and got to bed about 2 a.
m. The hotel was very nice, clean and
sanitary. Was somewhat surprised
when I saw the beautiful rooms. l eX-
pccted to find the place very dirty, but
was very glad when found it just the
opposite In order that might get an
early start I arose at about 6, had
breakfast and made ready to go about
| the city. I never had very much sleep,
but the sights being SO interesting it
| was unnoticed. I procured carriage
(the only means Of transportation in
the city,, and guide. At about 7.3O
we started out for Bethlehem, which is
about ten miles from Jerusalem. On
the way over we passed Rachels tomb,
the mother Of Benjamin. The first
great point of interest to see was the
place where our Saviour was born
There is large silver star shining at
the spot, which represents the star that
shined upon the spot where Jesus lay
and was a guide for the wise men that
they might find him who were sent to
look for Jesus by Herod the king. Just
across from the place Of his birth, a
distance Of about twenty feet is the
manger where he was laid and where
the wise men came and looked upon
him, and here also the wise men were
warned by the angel not to return to
Herod and tell him where the child
was, but to go in an opposite direction.
Herod, as our Bible tells us, being de-
ceived by the wise men, was greatly
angcred and sent out proclamation
ordering the soldiers to kill all male
children two years old and under. The
next point, which is only { short dis
tance of q few feet, is the spot where
the angel appeared and told Joseph to
take Mary and the child into Egypt
Close by is the cave where it is said all
the children that were slain were
placed.
Other places OF interest, not so inter-
csting, were also visited. All Of the
places mentioned above are very close
together and over them is erected a
Christian church, the foundation or
which is about l,6O0 years old. This
church is what might be called a
worldly church in that ii is used by all
Christian denominations. The above IS
all that IHad time to see in Bethlehem.
Got in the carriage and went back to
Jerusalem, arriving back just in time
for dinner. After dinner we left in the
carriage for the Mount Of Olives the
place Of our Saviour's ascension. l saw
the rock which is said 10 be the exact
SPOT where he stood and ascended from
On top of the mount is high tower,
called the tower of ascension. 1t con-
tains 2T3 steps. From this tower n
wonderful view Of the Holy City and
other places Of interest can be obtain
ed. Bethel could be seen very plainly;
the valley of the Jordan, Dead Sea and
Jordan river. From Mount Of olives
we walked down to the noted Garden
of Gethsemane, where Jesus was be-
trayed by Judas for thirty pieces OF Sill
YER. The garden is very beautiful and
is covered with the most beautiful flow
ers Standing within It's limits are
olive trees which date from the time of
Jesus and they certainly do show their
age. was permitted to pluck from the
garden some flowers and am sending
YOU one of them, trusting that this let
ter along with the flower reaches you
safely. The Golden Gate is very close 10
the garden. 1t once was open, but now
is sealed, and will continue 10 be sealed
unless Jesus comes back TO Jerusalem
to Judge the world. 1t was 1T this gate
where Jesus performed one Of his mir
acles by healing a lame man. On our
way from Ciethsemane to the mosque
that occupies the site of King Solo