Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1898-11-18
Letter rr.,. David ..nd..y.

CAv1TE, r. l.. Aug. 81, 1885,
DEAR SISTER: arrived here on the
18th. and have been very busy seeing
something to write about. We are gar
risoned 10 an old monastery. inside Of
large fort. the ancient masonry walls of
which are 80 feet wide on top. The in
side is full Of dungeons and dark passage
ways. The walls extend all the way
around the fort. in some places being SO
feet high and in others only s or 10.
Every building is built like a Ill, being
covered With thing and the windows and
doors barred with heavy iron bars or
CRATES. The wood work is Of fine black
mahogany; the window panes are four
by four inches and made OF Transparent,
sea shells the floors are kind of stone,
polished and engraved. with All kinds 81
colors. The buildings were deserted by
the Spaniards hundred years ago, where.
upon the natives took possession. The
buildings are like the ancient ruins you
read about.
The building we occupy is an old nun
merry. The cathedral is 205 by 300 feet,
three stories high. with 10 ceiling be-
tween the floor and roof. will draw
q plan of it on the back Of the first sheet
of this letter. The drawing is only the
sround-door plan. Keep it, and when
come home will tell You all about /,
The building was built 259 years ago.
! There is kind of lizard about six inches
oil k,o a.,
every where, cnckroaches and ants crawl
around, and criekets chirp all night long
Would you like to sleep in the building
for while?
The band has begun playing and can I
write very we'll; so will stop for the
present
Well, we have bad dinner. and it is now
SO warm that the Precipitation is dripping
from my face like rain, and / don't feel
much like writing.
what kind IF an enemy We have to buck.
They are called insurgents, and bush
whacking is their Nan Of campiagn The
first night we were here they surprised
one man on picket and killed him We
turned out and shot four and captured
three. The three prisoners were put in
the government prison. The next night
some of our boys got drunk and had q
brush with. the insurgents. and one was
killed. The insurgents took their own
men and court-martialed them, and they
were shot at sunrise next day. The mex,
night there was some shooting. and We
were called to arms at 8 o'clock in the
morning, We did not get chance TO do
any shooting
The next day l was on guard. Ny post
was about twenty feet from four OF the
insurgent posts. They were guarding
Spanish prisoners in an old building
The sergeant who posted me said that
my orders were to let them alone: but
that if three or four came for me, to lay
down my gun and thump them; but, II ten
came. should shoot five and take the
rest prisoners. He said 1t was shame to
touch such little chaps as they are. for
they don't average over five feet, and
weigh less than 125 pounds, while our av.
erage height 10 3 feet 10A inches and our
average weight les pounds So, you can
Gee what difference there is.
Well, l don't want to write too much,
for you will not get this letter until Oc.
tobef, and II you stop to read It on the
road home from Wiliismsport you will
freeze your fingers, while will be
mopping the sweat OF my forehead =
II We stay here that long.
Goodbye. Write soon.
b. G. LINDSAY,
1 %. "F," 1st 8. D. Vols,
i oF4S7}ssyE Nsx,ito y T.