Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-12-30
A Manila Cemetery.

A Manila Cemetery.
r. E. Marley of Company H of James
town, among other things in an interest
ing letter from Manila, says:
"Among the many interesting sightsi in
Manila may be mentioned Pace GENE
terry. This remarkable cemetery has a
many-sided interest to the North Dakota
volunteers. 1t was on the grassy plat in
front of this cemetery, on that memora-
BILE August ID, we had our first much
needed rest after entering the city. Here
VIC were given our first cool and refresh
ing drink of water: here we gave thanks
for our victory, and drank to the health
of 'Old Glory" which waved from the
mast on the five department. buildings
across the street.-the first United States
tins we saw waited to the breeze in the
city of Manila. Here, too, lie what is
mortal of North Dakota's sacrifice on the
altar Of liberty: also the remains of other
American patriots from the 18th Mime
sofa, Aston Battery, 23d U. S. infantry,
and others.
A feeling of sadness comes over the
American soldier as he enters this hal
lowed spot, not because of the ancient
and messy, walls which e~ncirclc it, the
antique chapel, standing prominently in
the center: the unique arrangements of
"bcrths, i'll which are placed the remains
OF the dead: the method of intcrment:
the piles of skeletons that meet your
gaze: the mournfui walls of friends of
the departed, but rather because here
lies the bones CT his comradcs-patriots
every one-far from the land that they
loved st well; that land for which they
gave up their lives. Here is Il spot of
earth canopied by the heavens and
shaded by the dropping palms, hallowed
and made sacred by their presence. Over
their tombs grow the grasses, moistcncd
by the tears of sorrow shed by thcil
comrades as they listened to the last
tattoo.
The massive walls enclosing this Gem
etcry suggest the idea that in this lane
even the last abode of the dead is not toe
sacred for the marauder and plundcrer
The walls of masonry and the massive
iron gates fastened by huge locks, war;
the plunderer that the enclosed ground
is at least forbidden ground. In the
wall of masonry, and extending around
tho entire wall, opening into the wal
from the inside, are "bcrths," one placed
above the other, into which are slid the
Baskets containing the dead, after which
the opening is carefully sealed. An an
nual rental is charged for each 'bcrth,'
and SO long as the rent is paid the bones
rest in peace, but in default of payment
thereof, the bones are consigned to tho
bone pile, which partially fills the open
ings between the outer and inner walls
in the rear end Of the cemetery. NJ
bodies are buried in mother earth here
except those of our boys. 1t is not thu
custom here. II the visitor only visit:
the main portion of the cemetery, he vii
be impressed by it's appearance. If h,
visits the rear portion, known as til,
bone-pile, he will be shocked, yea, ever
Mortified. We are somewhat hardened
by the fate of war, hence the scene,
which confront us have little effect OF
us. The effect IA year ago would hav,
been different. When We realize tina
some pay but a few years rent in ad
vance and are then consigned to tina
CHASTITY pile of human remains, we cal
form some idea of the spectacle.