The herald., 1898-09-07
REPAIRING CAPTURED CRAFT
Noss-C Covered Ramparts With Old
Nuzsle-Loading Cannon-An
r Adobe Town

loose articles that could be a menace to
those on board carefully slowed away;
what troops were still on the ships were
taken ashore this morning and there is
great activity in all the camps. and. TAX
ing everything into consideration. 1t is
hardly possible that. unless confirmation Of
the rumor that reached here from Hong
Kong day or SO ago that Spain was suing
for peace comes within few hours. decis-
i've action Of some sort will be delayed.
Every night flashes may be seen and the
noise of cannon and musketry heard by
those on board the ships and skrmishing
and desultory firing Is kept up by those in
the Spanish and American trenches day
and night. OF course there Is no accurate
means Of determining. but everything
tends to show a greater loss Of life on the
enemy's than on our side; one thing at least
IL certain. and that 10 that more Of their
shots 30 astray for they fire nearly three
times to our once.
Exaggerated reports Of the number Of
killed and wounded are being continually
received, but it IL none the less true that
new graves may be seen every day. the
funeral march and volleys are no longer
matters Of rare occurrence. and the in-
mates Of the various hospitals are becom-
ing more numerous every day.
Los Angeles Represented
California has 70 far been very fortunate
and has suffered less than any Of the others,
although the First regiment Is at the front
and holds the trenches in its turn. AL
though the Seventh regiment IS not yet
with the army Of occupation. Los Angeles Is
well represented at the front. Besides those
with Batteries H and X Of the Third artil-
iery. there are several men from our city
with the siganl corps; Chester Thomas
stamford 'ss) 10 a sergeant In Company K
Of the First regiment and there IL a de-
tachment Of twenty-five Of Battery D who
came with Captain 0eary and part Of Bat
terry A on the first expedition.
80 Captain 0eary's Command
Last Sunday had the pleasure Of visit
ing Captain Geary's command; they oc-
cupy a wing of the old Spanish fortifica-
tions at Cavite and are charged with the
guarding and care Of the prisoners brought
from Guam. Among the prisoners are a
number Of officers, chief among whom is
the ex-governor general Of that place, who
was 80 sorry that his powder supply was
30 short that he was unable to return the
Charleston's salute"
All Of the boys are in excellent health and,
with the exception Of G. w. Myr.ck, who
suffered somewhat on the voyage have
been go ever since leaving San Francisco.
They are rather chagrined at being COM
PEELED to occupy quarters in the fort in
stead Of being at the fighting front Of the
army, but take the philosophical view that
somebody has to do It, and they arc Just
Is we'll fitted to keep the Spanish spirits
Of the prisoners up az any one.
Monotony Of the Grub
Their chief complaint Is lack Of variety
In the bill Of fare furnished by the author
tiles, and not having received any pay up
10 date they are unable to add to It by pur-
chases Of their own. This. however, will
: not continue long. as the paymasters are
ashore today and will certainly pay them a
visit in a day or 80. They also complain
that they receive more than their share Of
the work. for of course the private has the
hardest part Of 1t and, while DIS detach-
ment has only six or seven non-commis-
stoned officers. considerably more than 80
per cent Of the twenty-five men from Bat
terry A are either sergeants or corDorals.
Cavities Navy Yard
In visiting Cavite one lands at what was
once the Spanish navy yard, but now doing
similar service for the American forces. It
-is on the south side Of the peninsula and
within the walls Of the old fort, and hero
one will see dry docks and all manner Of
machinery for the manufacture and repair
Of water craft. On tho dry docks are sew
erai launches and other small craft UNDER
going repairs and alterations, most Of them
having been captured from the Spanish.
They are now being fitted out for use
against their former owners.
Within the walls Of the fort (Cavite IL a
walled town. are General Andersons head
quarters, the headquarters OF the signal
corps. quartermaster's department. COM
missary and arsenal and the Oregon vol
unteers. Here also are kept the Spanish
~prisonerR,
Moss-C Covered Ramparts
i on the two sides Of the fort facing the
bay are solid masonry sea walls and RAM
parts, worn and moss-covered by time, yet
capable of strong defense with proper
guns and equipment. On these walls and
ramparts are many old. dismounted can
non (mussle-loaders with time fuses), some
OF them bearing datets Of manufacture
showing them to be over q hundred years
old. and hundreds Of cannon balls and shells
Of different sizes and materials. From these
eemlnders Of the armies Of bygone days one
nay trace the growth Of the modern big
runs. few Of which now keep guard over
their discarded brothers and point to the
open bay.
The fourth or laad side Of the fort also
aas = strong wall that would prove . very
hnicult problem to an attacking force.
Ind It is guarded az though such might re-
lily occur and no one. civilian or soldier.
native or American, is allowed to go
!aroush the gats without Z pass from
headquarters.
q stcns and Adobe
Justsutsids the gate The fort Il an open
0ace er'psass ofabout nve acres ana then
4 somss ~ tevns Thsre ars eniy snree