The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1898-12-09
HEARD FROM MANILA
Frank McLain Writes a Let
ter Of Army Life in the
Philippine Islands.
They Anticipate Having Some
Trouble With Natives and
are in Readiness.
ON THE HOME GRIDIRON
High School Boys are Badly
Defeated by Third Eleven
Of the University.
ARE ANTICIPATING TROUBLE.
Things Are Looking Bad in Manila and
Trouble is Expected With the Natives.

AA~AO6
Trouble is Expected With the Natives.
EDITOR Republican,: Since writ
ing my last letter, of Oct. IA, there has
been quite a change in the situation,
and from really nothing to do we are
now in the midst OF strife with the
natives. We have been laboring pref
ty hard Of late. So our regiment has
had an outpost, about awo miles north
of town, on guard duty, which requires
fifteen men day.
| had an exciting experience two
days ago when on outpost duty, which
occurred along in the evening. The
post was on is beyond post of the
insurgents, which pens up our post be-
tween two native posts, and about ii
o'clock, while 1 was on No. 2, the
farthest out of town, q body of natives
came along the road. I tried to halt
them, but the officer in charge said,
mo savey," meaning he didn't un-
derstand, aud they kept advancing. I
put my gun in position to fire and
yelled: Turn out the guard" At
this the natives halted, evidently un-
derstanding what meant. In NOM
emit my relief FIVE were with me and
twenty more we're coming. The officer
in command of the natives said some
thing and they quietly turned around
and walked away.
We placed guard about fifty yards
farther up the road, and the officer
the guard took ten men and went up
road until he ran into the native camp
and they utterly refused to let him
come within thirty yards of their lines.
While they didn't bother US any more
that night we learned they tried the
same trick on all the posts around town
with the same result. This action of
the insurgents has aroused an air of ex-
pectancy among the men. Rumors of
all kinds about trouble with the natives
is afoat and the general is very strict
about letting limited number of men
away at time. The lieutenant of our
company says the natives have been
ordered to remain ten miles back from
town, but instead they have already
moved within two miles of the city.
They are throwing up works and plant
ing their cannon, all of which is direct
ed toward the town. Thus we are as
sured that they are preparing for US.
Sickness here is on the increase,
especially in the cases of smallpox,
which are confined in a tent located in
the center of a swampy open place in
old Manila.
By this time you have heard of the
death of Sergeant Major Roy Stoyer, q
brother of Lieut.. Col. Slower. The
latter had some trouble with Col.
Frost over our regimental physician,
and we all agree with the lieutenant
colonel, who is fine man and good
soldier and officer.
We have moved again and are now
located in the best and healthiest part
of town, and live in grand old man.
sion with open windows and halls, max
ing it as cool and airy as possible.
There are two factions of insurgents
fighting now and We are kept ready in
case of trouble. A California company
was put in the trenches last night and
a light battery of eight guns was hur.
ried to headquarters yesterday. The
officers seem TO think there is much
trouble brewing.
Yesterday 1 went to see q regular
oldfashioned bull fight. It was terri.
BILE sight and could not accustom my.
self to such an exhibition OF barbarism
The animal was killed in tho scrim.
mage and the matadors tainted at the
conclusion of the brutal exhibition.
| We hear there ia q mail on the way
from Hong Kong, and we hope SO, for
we are very anxious to hear from homo.
Yours respectfully,
FRANK T. MCLAIN,
Co. G, First Reg, S. D. V.
Manila, Oct. 25, 1898.