Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-09-17
Cruelty of the Philip
pine Insurgents to the De-
feated Spaniards.
ROwed Among the Eleven War
Vessels Destroyed by Adj
miral Dewey.
MEN OF OUR NAVY NOT AFTER PRAISE

Timothy J. Riordan, formerly of this
city, but now at Cavite Arsenal, Manila,
has written an interesting letter to Mr.
Thomas Langan, from which we are al
lowed to publish a few extracts. Mr..
Riordan came to this country from Cork,
Ireland, five years ago, and while a resi-
dent of Louisville made many friends
He is member of Division No. 4 of the
Ancient Order of Hibernians, which pays
the dues and assessments of all its men,
bers while in the service of Uncle Sam.
The paper upon which his letter was
written is of very tough quality, and
was taken from one of the books used by
the Spanish Weather Bureau. The SOL
diers sent to the Philippines are much
more fortunate than those who went to
Cuba. His letter was as follows:
DEAR Toni take pleasure in writing
to you these few lines hoping they will
find you in good health as this leaves me
at present, thank God. Well, old man,
am now sleeping where the Spaniards
used to enjoy themselves. am quartered
in the Governor Generals building in
the navy-yard, and, l tell you, it was a
handsome place; but the insurgents tore
it all to pieces; everything that they
could lay hands on-even the affairs in
the churches-and also the graves of
some of the Spanish Generals.
Graves were opened and the bodies
thrown around, and every SPAN
lard that they caught got his
throat cut. They also killed the two
priests-to make it short, they destroyed
everything. We have about 500 Spanish
prisoners here and the insurgents got
about 600 more. Every place is prison
here-even the Catholic churches and
hospitals. We are getting ready to leave
here and take the field today or tomorrow.
The city of Manila is about a mile and a
half from where we are, and it won't take
us long to get there. Everything you
read in the papers about the battle of
Manila bay is all correct. There are
eleven Spanish ships sunk right outside
the navy-yard wall. We go out around
them in skiffs. They simply are sight
to see. Dewey did not lose a man, and
three days after the fight they found
large shell in the bunkers of the Balti-
more. was talking to some of the sail
ors, and they do not look for praise and
they said it was a pretty hard fight for
awhile, and that what they had done was
ha
just arrived and our fun will soon start,
as Dewey delayed the bombardment of
the city till she got here. Well, old man,
1 want to tell you something about our
trip. l was in San Francisco for couple
of weeks. 1t is fine place sure. From
Fort Mcpherson, Georgia, to Frisco, peo-
pie met us at every depot, at all hours of
the day and night, and we were covered
all over with flowers and our coaches
were filled with fruit of all kinds. AS I
am writing this letter telegram has been
received saying that Spain has asked for
peace, but it says that the war will go on
the same as ever. There was an engage
ment fought the other night I sat up
anu WotShSu IL thlOhSh a hSlu-SldSS. 4
could see the flashes of fire from the artil-
lery and rifles. There was only one
American killed and over 200 Spaniards
killed and wounded. That is a report
only. 1 am writing this letter on a can
non that Dewey knocked h out of and
killed eleven men. did not have any
writing paper, so thought would tear
leaf or two out of Spanish record
book and write to you, as it will be a
curiosity any way.
How is Division No getting along1
l wish them every kind of success.
Well, 1 guess have said enough.
will conclude by sending you and all my
friends my kindest regards.
TIMOTHY ]. RIoRDAN.
p. SIT took us five weeks to get here
from Frisco. We got here on July 81. 1t
was Sunday, and we had gay old time
on the trip. There were five ships, with
about 5000 men. There were $50 men
on the ship l was on, the Ohio. Two
fremen jumped overheard and commit
ted suicide. This will show you how
warm il was T r