The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-09-09
FROM SERGEANT srErLMAKER
Affairs at Manila Up to Aug. q.


Sydney arrived here June goth and
dropped anchor in Mania Bay at about
3 80 p. m. We were landed at Cayite
July End and were Immediately marched
to our quarters. where We worked like
beavers all the next day in cleaning up
and getting comfortably arranged. Al
ter We had all the building clean and |
tenantable, we were ordered the next day
day TO move into an old building which |
had over its entrance the following |
words, "Crestodio Calabozo," signifying
that prior to our arrival il had been used
as prison. OF course this created a
great deal of trouble and work, also az
much kicking from the men; bat this,
as heard one OF the regular officers re-
mark. while on ship. was soldiers only
privilege, and he was generally supposed
10 nee it.
The building We moved into, is about
100 It. long and 20 #. wide, in this are
quartered two companies. +. OF Portland
and l. Of Albany and Oregon City, max
ing ICE men in this one building; from
this can be seen how We are crowded for
room. We use as hunks the beds which
the Spaniards left behind in their hasty
departure On the lst of May.
When we arrived We found that the
spaniards had prepared prisons for the
Americans, who, they in their conceit
and over-confdence, expected to take.
But what difference, INSTEAD of occupy
ing them as prisoners. they are occupy
ing them as conouerors. The prisons
have the inscriptions, "Americano de
! CalaboEo"
| Cayite is quite pretty place, it con-
talns about % acres and is surrounded by
high stone wall, the wall being about
| 25 IL. in height and from 10 20 l2 II. in
thickness. thus forming almost an in
pregnablc fortifcation from land attacks i.
on top Of this wall are pieces OF RiA=.
stuck in the cement 10 prevent scaling,
also. at regular intervals, are ca,Hons
! pointing inland, showing that th"v were
used against an internal foe, rat.er than
a foreign one. These cannons are all
spiked aud thus rendered use less.
| Inside OF this wall are the barracks 8
and the other buildings OF the C2vite Ar
senal. as such prisons, dungeons and
churches, and various bulidings. In the
/ prisons II Is said there are about 5000
/ Spanish prisoners. which the Insurgents
/ have taken IN their battles the dungeons
are something terrible being dark holes
I in the side of the walls, in these can L.
found human bones, pits where their vic
I Tins gere placed and then water turned
in, 10 see II b. these means. and many
other lorgures, which / cannot begin "a
describe, If they were able to wiring con.
( iession from them.
The Catholic cAthedrals have been
structures Of surprising beauty and
grandeur, but since the natives bent on
plunder and destruction, have vacated
ihem, they present TO Us q aass OF ruins
One OF these c2shedrzls bears the da.e o.
l649, showing il has stood for years In
several OF these churches can Be found
stains OF blood where the natives had
murdered the priests.
The natives use many Of the buildings
in the Arsenal as stores and dweliinG
places. where they have on sale all ths
tropical fruits which the il and produces
such as bananas. coooanuis. gu2vas, man
goss and esc. The natives are very friend
ly 20 Us and think the Americzno. as fhey
call call them, are all right
In the rear os our quarters can be seer
seven OF SPANS demolished feet, all o.
which could be cuTcred by : circle {
quarter Of mile in lengsh. ! made
visit 20 four Of these ships and found thai
instead OF having old cut OF date guns o.
board they had modern. up 70 date guns
showing that the victory which Dewe,
and his brave men won, vas all the NOR
brilliant and complete achievement
Ii one wishes TO get faint idea OF til,
. power and deslTu tive ability OF our guns
he can get il by visiting the fort 10 ih,
north ot San Rogue, which the Bal;i
/ more blew up; this Vas the fort whicl
was equipped with modern inch guns
/, was IS years in being built and .
minutes in being destroyed.
When &c stop andthink. it strikes u
c that il WAS indeed s strange providenc
: that PLACED Spain's flee. in the bottom Q
: the bay and our soldiers in the prison
3, which they had intended for US.
r The rations are not always up TO tn
e standard that thew should be, and thu
! al times causes much dizcontent anon
s the men, neither are our accommodation
= what wc would desire. To fight for ou
king or country Is truly great. but it ha
its disadvantages.
The third expedition arrived here Sun
t day. the Slst of July. On the Indian
: there were deaths. one lieutenant.
. are sick, Ohio had death and Is sligh
!. cases oi measles, s cases of typhoid lever
5 The Morgan City had IRE break out il
E her coal bunkers, which lasted five DAYS
0 they fiiled them with water and neye
told the passengers concerning their grea
danger until il was all over with.
The night Of the 3lst the Spanish at
tackled the Nebraska men while engages
in tearing the floor out OF an old build.
ing. American shar, shooters immed
; lately opened fire on them and they re
treated, one man slightly wounded il
the biceps. On the night of the LIST O
. August the Spaniaris undertook 10 flanl
the position aud pitched battle ersued
which lasted from l. O'Clock till in tn,
morning. The Spanish were routed anC
driven back into the city. Our loss i:
said to have been killed and 20 wound.
ed : this morning il is reported that {
more Americans had died from wound.
received in the battle, Spanish los:
thought TO have been great, but uncer.
tain TO exact loss. 1t is thought a
serious lesson has been taught the Span
iards. The Americans now hold a posi-.
ton within the insurgents lines.
1t is daily expected an attack will be
made on Manila, but We are waiting for
the Monterey, which is reported to be a,
Guam Island. 1t is announced that the
Oregon Regiment will remain at Cavite
and hold it, while the remainder of our
forces move on Manila 1t is though.
the city will surrender soon after the first
shots are fired. Manila is our Mecca and
it we will have, whether by force or by
surrender, with insurgent lines all around
the city and the American forces almost
under their wall and Deweys fleet in the
bay, we will be able to make them come
to time. II they are taken by the insur-
gents they v i'll get their throats cut, and
If they surrender to the American forces
they will choose the latter.
With regards from all the boys to their
friends, and hoping we will soon be able
to send the news over the world that
Manila is in the hands of the Americans,
! will close.
! CTRAYED.-A light bay mare, 0 or 10
y years of age, white slot in forehead,
-