The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-08-19
ATCAvITE.

From Sergeant Frank Stellmacher to
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 non
com's and privstes. we arrived safely at
Manila after being on the water for about
So days; two days before we came here
we were met by the Baltimore, which
acted as an escort for our expedition to
Manila.
Mania Bay is fine hNrhor, being 2S
miles In length and large enough for all
the navies OF the world to parade. On
the 2nd of July we were landed at Cavite
Arsenal; which is small island OF about
10 or II acres, this is connected to the
mainland by n causeway about 20 feet in
width nd IL mllts long. across this
is situated the Old native town OF Cavite.
The arsenal is surrounded by a stone
wall about % feet in height and 10 feet
in Lhic 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-
tique 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 fleet 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 Cslabozo; but it was
strange fate that placed their fleet in the |
bottom of the bay and our soldiers In !
the buildings which they had iAtendsd J
10 contne US in. We are very comforts /
bly, situated in one of the buildings |
which had sign which read Calabozo |
and evidently has been used as prison !
by the Spanish. We are using hunks /
that had been used by the Spanish and /
many other things that had TO be left ne-
nind by the Spanish in their hasty de-
parture.
TIE buildings are mostly made OF stone
or brick with wallis about 1 feet in thick
ness and covered with tile roofing; some
Of the buildings are very hodetn while
some have evidently stood for 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
ings of the surrounding arsenal; these
churches are all Catholic and seem 10
show that they exertel very large in.
huence over the people as there ale 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 1888, 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 the guns o. the
fetrel, thus we can stand in our mess
rooms and gaze upon sight which
sWells our hearts with pride aud patrio-
tism, as We think OF the gallant work and
ieAt accomplished by Dewey and HE
men.
We have now arranged upon the sunk
en- hulKs OF Spain's pride and hope, tar
gels, and will in 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 quarter OF mile in
length.
The insurgents are very active here
and General Aguinaldo, the ins1rgent
chief, hss 4 900 troops within half mile
of the city and, they have, ! understand,
formed a government and asked recog-
milton of France and Germany. They
have battles almost every day and night.
We can, at times, see the cannonading &
across the bay, and at night can hear the
sounds of guns for hours st time. They
have issued manifesto and therein have
it circulated that they have almost
achieved their end and are calling for 8
general raliying of forces to take Manila.
The natives here are q very degenerate
looking race, and are on an sverge about
B #. in height for men, and the women
are sbont 4 #. 10 height. They 60 uare-
forted most all the time. They carry
most everything on their heads and seem /
to do this with hardly any effort what 8
ever. They eeem TO be very genial and
people aud cay they and
the Americans are one; they invite you !
into their homes and try TO make II as |
agreeable as possible under the cirrum- /
tame es. II
There are venders here everywhere
and they cell all such fruits and produc- ,
tions that are grown IN tropical eoun-
try.
Mexican money and Spanish money is
the money used here exclusively. One
dollar of our money is equaI to $2.2o OF
Mexican or Spanish money. We also
have a circulating library arranged at the
entrance to our quarters where you can
find all sorts OF books and magazines
This is in charge of our Chaplain, Dir.
Gilbert, OF Eugene. Notices are up an
nouDcinglscryiee,to be held tomorrow un-
der the tree in the parade grounds. At
.he library is also the poetofhce- Maii
sent from here cost 5 cents Tor ounce
letter or cent in Mexican II noney. il
This is the winter season here and is
much warmer than il Is in Oregon st
summer time. il seems to come down
more direct and so makes IL seem hotter
than we are accustomed to. Il rains al
most every evening at about O'Clock
then il never rains but pours such tnun-
deIstorms as they do have here | never
witnessed before, and enjoy them very
much as / think there is something that
is sublime in thunder storm.
We drill bet 8 and each mora
ing except Saturday and Sunday also be-
tween and in the evening; have on
guard Of about so men, with outpost not /
included. Had inspection yefterdAy by !
General Andersen, commanding one ex-
pedition, and ie,l you he made us toe
the scratch in great shape.
Our mess is q matter OF general inter !
est to all our men and causes great !
deal of kicking and picking which Can
Away be expected in such places as 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.
Memories of the peasant hours spent
within ber walls will always remain with
me and l shall be glad when / am per-
mitted to cit at the feet OF those whom /
venerate and have learned to love.