The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-21
4 LETTER FROM MANILA
Written Under the Protection of
Dewey's Guns.
AT THE CAPTURE OF GUAM
Herbert Mum Writes Entertainingly OF
the Trip of the First Expedition
of Troops to the Phil
ippines.

Charles Ellis of the Montana hotel has
friend of his, Herbert Mum. who was
with one of the first expeditions TO
Manila. The letter is dated "Cavite.
Manila bay. under the protection of
Dewey's fleet and is as follows:
II hope you received my letter from
Honolulu. We are, for a wonder, all
alive and well, with the exception of
one of the volunteers. who died from
the effects of an operation for appendi-
cftis. He died at the island of Guam
on the Goth of June m was buried at
sea with appropriate services, which
were very sad.
I'VE left Honolulu on Saturday, the
4th of June, and sailed very slowly to-
ward the west. We a hot water, ba-
con and hard tack, which was poor food
for such a hot climate. l was vacci-
mated and had such a sore arm. The
heat was almost s~uffocating and the
decks were burning hot. The sea was
calm and we had rain every night,
which wet he soldiers who slept on
deck.
I'VE arrived~at Guam on the goth and
stayed two days. The Charleston slipped
in and knocked out the Spaniards in
seven shots. We captured "a privates,
five officers and the governor and put
them aboard u ship. / never saw a
more wicked looking set of devils. We
treat them good: better than we should.
They cannot talk English.
After leaving Guam, which is a
beautiful island, covered with tropical
vegetation and hungry natives, we
sailed southwest-by the by, we are
nearly down to the eq~uator-until the
9th, when we came in sight of more
islands, and, passing through the
straits, we were Joined by the Balti-
more.
Il Cannot tell you of all the pretty
forts and castles we saw PIN the shores
in old Spanish settlements. We contin-
ued to pass these islands until yester-
day, the 30th. 1t stormed the 2Sth and
a good many of the soldiers were scared
nearly to death.
I'VE had muster yesterday and came
in sight of the large island on which
Manila is situated. We could see a
train running along the shore, and l tell
you it looked nice to us poor devils.
This is a large bay, SO miles across.
We can see Manila and it's electric
lights at night. We are at Cavite,
across the bay, where Dewey sunk the
Spaniards. We are anchored near the
Olympia. Dewey's flagship. l can see
the remains of the big Spanish war yes
sells where they ram ashore and were
lOiH 70 pleCeS ny DcNey , guns II
looks very sad to see such a fine fleet
torn up put it was goodSfor them.
w have nine vessels here, Germany
has seven Japan has four and England
has several, in fact, there are warships
from all nations. / never saw anything
like it. We could heal the Spaniards
and the insurgents fighting last night;
the first time l ever heard a real bat
tie. The guns sounded very wicked.
"Cavite has a big fort i'm sight, and il
painted white and most of them are
stone. We wear flannel ~bandages to
keep away fever and cholera.
1T is very zoo here to-day. We have
not been paid for two MONTHS, and I
have not been on shore for a month. 1
tell you, it is a shame the way the
United States has treated its soldiers.
There are $500 sailors aboard these
ships. We expect to land soon, and a
hard fight it VIII be unless we have
more soldiers. The population of Ma
Mia is about 260, 900.
Il would like to know that you are
all well. We a an hour to write af-
ter drill. / am drilling some volunteers
to-day. Tell Roy it would do him good
to see his big brother marching the SOL
diers around. / send a picture / got in
Honolulu. 1t is a good picture of the
point which you see as you enter the
bay. Save all l send. as l would like TO
rave them if 1 get back. / guess we
all will not get hurt. at least / hope l
will not. / would like to see a fight as
soon as possible. / feel dangerous, and
when I feel that way, look QUIT"