Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-11-30
A SALEM LAWYER
Writes An Interesting Letter About
Life in the Philippines.
He Declares That Our Government Would
Make Mistake to Acquire
That Territory.

Geo. w. Holllster, a Marion County
boy, whose family resides near Stay
ton, and the well.known member Of
the Salem bar, distinguished himself
by gallant conduct at the first Battle
10 the Philippine Islands, on the eve
ming of the attack by the Spaniards
on the Americans in their trenches
before' camp Dewey. Sheridan, the
war correspondent of the San Fran
cisco Call, in speaking of the conduct
of the california regiments, makes
special mention Of the young Salem
lawyer who is chief musician OF the
first California Volunteers. In one
OF his letters TO the Call he writes as
follows.
"The first battalion was followed
by the band boys as ammunition
carriers, although every musician
was armed. Right here let me men
Jion the gallantry of Band-Master
HOllister, who, shouldering his mus
ket with the rest, led his men
through the hell of fire at the sec
ond line OF trenches on IA quick-run
and then, getting his right to the
front, fought as bravely as any man
IN the ranks, Let me mention like
wise the you ngest member Of the
band. st. Clair Moore, commonly
called the "Kid," lie is a mere lad
and yet in the early gray Of the
morning 1 found him on the firing
line beyond the trenches to the right
and although he was blue with cold
and wet, his one regret was that he
had not seen chance to shoot a
SpanIard."
Hon. VIM. ii, Holmes, OF this city io
In receipt OF a letter from Capt.
Hollister, which contains some very
interesting news. IL is dated Manila
Oct q, and the Journal is permitted
TO give its readers following extracts:
"Later on, as you see,we took Manila,
that was Angus 18th, so we'ihave
been here little over months,
There Is no need Of my stopping 70
describe IT,. IL was much harder,
sharper and longer fight than IL is
described as being, and only for what
l can call luck and quick work,
~e should all have been killed. This
part is never told in the papers and
hardly ever mentioned and cannot be
very we'll described on paper. IL /
have the good fortune Of meeting you
in the future / will be able TO explain
IL intelligcntly. Suffice TO say that
the main fortress and wall of old
Manila was not damaged In the least.
1t is immensely strong aud 10000 men
could stand Off successfully Ia my
opinion $4,000, aud but for the fact
that nearly half their troops were cut
or aud prevented from reaching this
citadel which was Ndone by luck, not
Intentionally, we should have been
slaughtered, as We were on an open
held abuOt mile wide running right
up TO this fortress, aud rot more than
400 yards from IL, behind which lay
5000 Spanish soldiers, opposed to our
not more than 1000 and they were all
ready TO receive us with cannons, all
shooted, aud when the white flag
went up you can bet felt relieved.
| saw in an instant the trap we were
ln. In this battle we had alltold about
$500 men engaged, while the Span
lards surrendered l3,50OO, 1t was a
very close call.
also send you a small map OF Ma
nlla and the Philippine Archipelago
which may be OF interest TO you II
you should not happen 10 have u
better one. AS toyOur advice TO keep
out OF danger IL comes rather late, but
l fully realize 10 Is right and good,
and, honestly, IL was always my
motto. But when things needed 10
be done men hesitated, not so much
from fear as from lack OF knOw-how,
II you will allow the expression. |
felt as though | ought TO go, yet
through IL all | used care and caution
and all the skill | possessed. You
must remember this regiment is com
posed almost entirely OF city meu and
boys who never knew anything else,
consequently lacked practical know
ledge. To give you an example: When
the First Battalion was ordered
forward, not single man or oniCer
knew the exact location OF the
trenches and Captain Connolly, of Co.
A, knowing that had been further
up than aDyoae asked me II / could
find them. This was after his first
sergeant was killed aud his men lying
down in the range Of a terrific fire.
| said yes. come ahead, and lead some
20 OF his men on the run TO The
trenches, the rest coming in a few
moments. Now, a few moments
hesitation on my part might have
meant a great deal, AS Co. A. OF the
18th Pennsylvania, was almost out Of
ammunition and stood with fixed
bayoDets, and the large amount we
carried, ( $50 rounds per man helped
them Odt. So you see. was only
doing what l knew had TO be done by
someone aud that quickly.
And now, for what will be, tO you,
1 pursume the most interesting part,
general description, with my
humble views on the subject