The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-22

is a city essentially and first of all of
surrounded with high and impenetrable
walls. built OF heavy stone and securely
cemented so as To bid defiance to earth
quakeS and TO the elements. AS the city
gradually grew each resident surrounded his
own house with wall. Every public build
ing is SO fortified. Finally the walls of .old
Manila We're erected. Just when this was
begun it is well nigh impossible to learn
At any rate some of the gates. in appear
ance more modern than the remainder of
the fortfication bear the date of the early
part of the eighteenth century
"Old Manila IS the citadel. It's area is
not large, but every available inch of ground
is built upon. Two walls surround 1t. an
inner and outer wall. Around the latter
runs the moat deep ditch some fifty or
sixty feet wide. From the various gates
descend the draw-bridges These have been
recently used for the rust is broken on both
hinges and chains. It was here. surrounded
by these impenetrable and Formidable de-
lenses, with cannon mounted en- top that
the Spaniards, had it not been for fear of
Dewey's guns, would have made their last
stand.
The walls are from ter to thirty. and. in
some places, nfty feet in thickness made of
stone and earth. No army on earth, unless
aided and reinforced by the heaviest guns,
could ever nave scaled these walls had they
foe The moat, though overgrown with
weeds and trees, is still, nevertheless, i'm
passable Within the walls We're and still
are the Spanish barracks and Spanish SOL.
Jiery On the southwestern corner the flag
of surrender was planted. The guns, care
fully trained and even loaded. were never
fired, but rearing DeweyS Monterey. the
SpaniardS deserted them and the ammuni-
ton piled beside them. Though these can
tern, their destructive ability, fired from
such commanding point, can scarcely be
estimated. Without the aid OF. the. navy
nalf our army would have persisted before
the walls of "Old Manila"
CHIEF ADJUSTMENTS.
Among the places of amusement in Ma
Mia the theaters where the cock and bull
fighting occur are Of the most interest.
Cock fighting is the great national sport,
and, Illustrated by the amount of the tax
budgekRs regards this item alone, was con-
ducted extensively. The scenes of the
bloody little conflicts are large structures,
usually open and with matched roofs. The
cockpit is in the center, the spectators
standing on the sloping floor surrounding.
The natives are not slow to understand
and appreciate the few modern innovations
already made. Among these a rather
meager lin all respects) street-car system
alonG the main thoroughfare of the modern
city and through the residence portion of
the old city. The diminutive size of the
ponies of the Shetland variety, are CON
slant sources of amusement to the tall and
lanky Americans, who possessed of dos
Through the heart of Manila new flows
the Pasig river. 1t is narrow, deep and
In all save depth to the Chicago stream
Scattering vessels easily steam up to an an
chorage through its channels and remain
beside the Wharves- It's fish furnish one of
the main native diets and it's waters the
aqua prra' for the native washerwoman.
nor inspiring, and, save for it's mercantile
value, has no other use whatsoever Ma
Mia IS, perhaps, one of the coolest and most
healthful places in the south seas In tes-
tlmony Of these assertions, the health of our
soldiers and apparent comfort need only be
low and but little contagious disease is to
be met with. The climate it is true, is hot
and enervating, and the mercury has a
most decidedly upward tendency. At the
same time, however, alternating land and
sea breezes. tempered with moisture, over
spread the city and render the heat bear
able.
1t is the general opinion among all mer-
chants here that, if the United States will
retain Manila, or take possession of the en-
tire Philippine islands, unbounded benefit
will follow. The entire cost of the war, in
truth could soon be repaid into our treas
ury from import and export tax imposed
upon the harbor of Manila alone. The
wealth of LuZon island itself has never
been estimated nor it's interior really
veyed. 1t. typical of the remainder of the
archipelago presents unlimited riches and
an unbounded field for American energy
and industry. Manila is q gem of the
southern seas, the richest in the diadem of
the Spanish crown. Its rare strategic adj
vantages, aside from all other considera-
tions, have long attracted the gaze of the
civilized world. It's mercantile value is be-
yond estimate; 1t is a city of riches and
wealth in land of plenty.
Corporal, Company l., First Colorado In
fantry. s3fss