The record-union., 1898-09-29
AN UNEVENTFUL VOYAGE.
HOW RAY TRASK LOOKS UPON
SOLDERING.
His Opinion of the Residents of
Manila and the Prospects
There.

Roy Trask, one of the boys from
down the Sacramento River, who en-
listed and went to Manila, has written
home to his family as follows:
Arrived here at the bay of Manila on
the list Of August, and landed in Ca
vite the I'D. We expected gunboat
to escort US in, so we entered the har-
Dor ourselves, passing a German
cruiser at the mouth of the bay, and
then sighting the blockade, which ex-
tends clear across the harbor There
are different men-of-war stationed near
the forts and arsenals and barracks to
keep the insurgents from committing
any depreciation, as they would destroy
everything that belongs to the Span
iards. There are the German, English,
japanese and American warships and
the Spanish submarine navy, which
looms up quite extensively.
We We're wishing they would land
US at Manila, so we could have some of
the excitement, but just as we'll here If
not better. We are stationed in bar
racks formerly occupied by the Span
iards, that is better than camping on
the ground, as we have beds to sleep on
made Of cane, same material used for
chair bottoms, and I can sleep pretty
good in that kind of bed, much bet
ter than our tents at the Preside.
The voyage from Honolulu was un:
eventful, and it took seventeen days
from there to make the trip, which was
very good time. One of the crew died
and was buried at sea. 1t was a long,
tiresome trip; much better food from
Honolulu than it was before we reach
ed the islands. All the boys were per-
fectly satisfied with the food on the
ship to Manila. I enjoyed the trip very
much. I never had a better appetite
in my life. They landed us from the
steamer Peru in small boats and buoys
that formerly belonged to the Spanish.
The Stars and Stripes float over every
thing, for all buildings in the surround
ing country, and everything is under
our control
August 18th they captured Manila,
with a loss Of about fifteen killed. The
Astor Battery won renowned fame by
doing such heroic work, as the Spanish
made dash on them and captured two
Of their guns and they retreated for
a hundred yards and rallied again and
drew their revolvers, which was all
they had. charged on the Spaniards,
drove them back and recaptured their
guns, and then slaughtered them. The
fighting is all over. The Spaniards are
glad to be under American protection
A lot Of natives will catch a Speniard
out alone Will murder him, mutilate him
horribly, so you can understand what
kind of people they are. They are very
much like the Indians.
I went over to Manila yesterday It
is eight miles across the bay from Ca
vite-just a nice trip. I found out
where John Taylor from Walnut Grove
is stationed. He was in the midst of
the battle-if he is not killed. 1t was
hard fight. They had to go through
water up to their waists. Everything
was at disadvantage. The Thirteenth
Infantry made a charge there and fired
all their ammunition and then charged
them with their bayonets and drove the
Spaniards back. They had plenty of
pluck.
This place is no good for an Ameri-
canal black, Malays, little people and
dirty and filthy.
I do not think America will keep this
country. The steamer leaves at .
o'clock to-day, so I will rush this let
ter, as the time is getting short. A
hundred yards to the right Of the bar
racks are six big warships, to the north
the flagship, UP the river two small
gunboats. They destroyed everything
in sight around the bay. Everything
is demolished. We have 100 Spanish
prisoners here, and guard duty is all
there is to do. The only people caus-
ing trouble are the insurgents who are
liable to break out any time. We had
the first trouble, or a kind Of skirmish,
with them yesterday. There were two
volunteers up town having good time
in general slightly jagged. and one of
them had trouble with the native SOL
diers, and was shot dead and the other
mortally wounded, not expected to re-
cover, and 300 of US charged up town
flying with our guns. The natives
raised the white flag, but no go, for C
Troop commenced firing, killed one in
surgent, wounded one, and three of our
men were wounded in the calf Of the
leg with buckshot, so I can say I nave
been in one skirnish, If we don't have
some more soon. I think 1 will close,
as I am writing at Disadvantage, as
we are not thoroughly settled down, SO
with lots Of love to all,
RAY TRASK,
Fourth U. S. Cavalry. Troop K.
Cayfta