The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-08-12
ATCAvITE.

Prof Schmitt:
Prof. Schmitt, Dear Sir:
After an uneventful voyage across the
wide Pacific, except the taking OF Guam
island, two Spanish officers and 81 nou-
CONS and privates. we arrived safely at
Manila after being on the water for about
IS days; two days before we came here
we were met by the Baltimore, which
acted As an escort for our expedition to
Manila.
Manila Bay is a fine hNrhor, being 2S
miles in length and large enough for all
the navies OF the world to parade On
the 2ud OF July we were landed at Cavite
Arsenal; which is q small island of about
10 or II acres, this is connected to the
mainland by causeway about 20 feet in
width nd mills long, across this
is situated the Old native town of Cavite.
The arsenal is surrounded by stone
wall about % feet in height and 10 feet
in thic kness, which would be very hard
to climb or get over without the aid of
heavy field artillery or the guns OF mod
ern war vessels.
! We have our quarters in one of the an
tiqne looking buildings at this place,
which, prior to our arrival had been oc-
cupied by Spanish so'diers; that is, be-
| fore Dewey sunk their tleet to the bot
| tom Of the bay. We found they had
made prisons where they intended To
place the Americans, ,as they were labeled
Americana de Calabozo; but it was
strange fate that placed their fleet in the
bottom of the bay and our soldiers IN
the buildings which they had intended
TO contne US in. We are very comforta-
bly, situated in one OF the buildings
which had sign which read Calabozo
and evidently has been used as n prison
by the Spanish. We are using bunAs
that had been used by the Spanish aud
many other things that had to be left be-
hind by the Spanish in their hasty de-
parture.
TIE buildings are mostly made OF stone
or brick wit,l walls about feet in thick
ness and covered with tile roofing; some
OF the buildings are very lLodern while
some have evidently stood Tor two or
three hundred years, The old fort here is
said to have been built before America
was discovered by Columbus. There are
churches here that have stood for years,
all built of stone and are very massive
looking affairs with their large stone
domes and spires rising over the build
churches are all Catholic and seem to
show that they exertei very large in.
huence over the people as there are about
six of these in this small place. One has
the date of It's building carved into the
stone at the entrance which is lass, so
we see they have been here for years
Our quarters are situated facing the
bay and in sigh. OF six of Spain's demol-
ished fleet, which, as near a. can aIcer-
tain, were all sunk By thu guns o. the
fetrsl, thus We can stand in our mess
rooms and gaze upon sight which
swells our hearts with pride and patrio-
tism, As We think OF the gallant work and
ieAt accomplished By Dewey and his
men.
We have now arranged upon the sunk
en- hulKs of Spain's pride and hope, tar
gets, and will in a few days have target
practice, and we will once more have
the honor Of sending lead into the sunken
ships OF Spain. These ships could all
be covered By a quarter OF mile in
length.
Tue insurgents are very active here
and Geaeral Aguinaldo, the insurgent !
chief, has 1 900 troops within half mile !
of the city and, they have, understand, ,
formed a government and asked recog- /
milton of Franc. and Germany. They 1
have battles almost every day and night. !
We can, at times, see ths cannonadln z !
across the bay, and at night can hear the i
sounds of guns for hours At time. They
have issued manifesto and therein have
it circulated that they have almost
achieved their end and are calling for =
general raliying of forces to take Manila.
The natives here are a very degenerate
looking race, and are on an averge about
5 It. in height for men, and the women
are about 4 It. 10 height. They 90 Dare-
forted most all the time. They carry
most everything on their neaGs and seem
to do this with naidly any effort what 4
ever. They eeem to be q very genial and
people aud say they and
the Americans are one; they invite you
into their homes and try 10 make II as
agreeable as possible uCder the cirrum-
tane es.
There are vendors here everywhere
and they sell all such fruits and produc-
tions that are grown in q tropical cnUn-
try.
Mexican money and Spanish money lie
the money used here exclusively. One
dollar of our money is equal To 1928 OF
Mexican or Spanish money. We also /
-
entrance to our quarters where you can 1
find al sorts OF books and magazines. (
This is in charge OF our Chaplain, Mr.. &
Gilbert, OF Eugene. Notices are up an (.
nouDcingIscrviee,to be held tomorroE un- Z
der the tree in the parade grounds. At
the library is also the poetofice. MaiI
sent from here cost ceuts for q 2 ounce !
letter or cent in Mexican money.
This lie the winter season here and is !
much warmer than it is IN Oregon at /
summer time. il seems to come down
more direct and so makes IL seem hotter
than We are accustomed to. It rains al
most every evening at about 1 O'Clock
then it never rains but pours; such thun-
deTsiorms as they do nave here | never
witnessed before, and l enjoy them very
much as think there is something that
is sublime in thunder storm.
We drill bet ween 8 and 7 each morn.
ing except Saturday and Sunday also be-
tween and 8 in the evening; have on
guard OF about so men, with outpost NOT
included. Had inspection yesterday by
General Anderso u, commanding one ex-
pedition, and ie,i you he made US toe
the scratch in great shape.
Our mess is a matter of general inter-
est to all our men and causes great
deal of kicking and picking which can
alway be expected in such places az this.
The common expression among ths boys
| is: It's surprising how little you can
live on. / am very well satisfied though,
have wished could have attended the
closing exercises of albany College.
Mem cries of the peasant hours spent
within ber walls will always remain with
me and shall be glad when / am per-
mitted to eit at the feet OF those whom /
venerate and have learned TO love.