Daily camera., 1898-08-25
Sp0[lS1 Ships
We're Formidable
RESTING ON THEIR OARS.

RES ING ON THEIR OARS.
Private Baker, OF BOulder's Company II
Tells of Manila Camp Life.
The following interesting letter was
received today from Private A. G. Baker
Company H, First Colorado volunteers.
whose splendid Communications from
the troops have appeared in these
columns from time to time:
Camp Dewey.
Philippine Islands. July 2S, 1898.
To the editor OF the Camera:
1t was a tranquil, peaceful Sabbath
morning when the China sailed into the
harbor of Cavite. The climate, instead
of being extremely hot as had been ex.
pected, was more like summer day in
Colorado. But it must be remembered
that this is the Philippine winter or rainy
season, and the dry season and hot
weather commences about the first of
September and lasts through our Ameri
can winter. Although the dry season is
hotter, it is claimed it is the healthier
time of the year, both natives and for
eigners doing better and keeping health
ier during the dry season.
The natives here are an odd looking
set of people. Their boats swarmed
around the China before she had been in
the harbor an hour. They are queer
craft, built of bamboo or palm or some
such wood. even the sails being neatly
of the same material. They
ride through the water with grace and
ease. Many of them were laden with
bananas, mangles and unripe oranges.
which were offered for sale. The boys.
after their long journey on hard tack and
salt pork. were eager for the tlult and a
great quantity of it came aboard, es
pecially bananas, which was the only
fruit fit to eat, this being their season
when most fruit is not supposed to be
ripe.
Cavite was the town which Dewey took
and was where the Spanish fleet was de.
molished, and all around in the hArbor
can be seen the results of his destruction.
Huge iron clads with their spars and
smoke stacks sticking out of the water,
are everywhere visible-some of them SO
close in shore as to show their huge hulls.
The claim made by Spain that they were
not formidable battleships can not be
credited when they are seen. Some of
them are horribly disfgured, their dis.
appearance giving evidence of
the terrible conflict they must have come
through. On the other hand Dewey's
feet was anchored about the harbor not
showing a scratch. Back half mile lay
at anchor English, German. Japanese,
Chinese and other warships, as if watch.
ing each other. Great precautions were
taken for the three or four days we re-
NAMED on the China before landing. No
lights we're allowed after dark on any of
the boats on our shore, SO that when the
sun vent down and darkness reigned it
reigned supreme over the harbor OF
Cavite.
Hospitals have been established in
Cavite and those who were sick on board
the China were removed to them about
the third day after our arrival. The next
day smaller boats came and after many
trips landed the we'll ones In camp, about
three or four miles from Manila, where
we are fairly comfortable and happy.
Some Of the regiments are using what
they call dog tents-little tents which are
only large enough for two men and the
apex of which rises only about two feet
from the ground, but Colorado still re-
tain their larger tents, each tent contain
ing from IL to 10 men. These are much
more comfortable and pleasant than the
others. We have elegant spring water
to use and are camped beneath the shade
of great banana palms.
1t rains nearly every day or night, and
some of the storms are hard ones but
there has not been such thing as thun-
der or lightning yet and we are beginning
to doubt if they ever have thunder show
ers here at all. These rains are cooling
and when they come at night it is no
trouble at all to sleep. Some nights,
however, are very warm and close.
There are not the number of sick from
climatic causes that was expected. It's
indeed wonderful how well the boys
kept up under the new change.
When battle will take place is all
uncertainty. As We have learned that
an armistice has been entered into be.
tween the United States and Spain until
September, no developments are expect
ed At least before then. In the mean
time We ian simply rest on our oars and
await the result Of the conference OF
powers which turns rs to war or back