Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-11-21
LETTER FROM MANILA.

by MIR. and Mrs. peterson OF Barton
village. from their son Ernest, who is
at Manila:
MANILA, PHILIPPINES, OCT. 4.
DEAR PARENTS:
We dropped anchor in Manila bay
yesterday at noon. We lay "hove
to'' on the outskirts Of a typhoon for
two days; it blew a gale and rained.
The matches were battened Idown and
it was like a monkey cage between
decks. I stayed on deck a greater
part of the time preferring wetness
to the other. I ate nothing, scarcely
slept and was generally miserable.
One of the nurses developed typhoid.
and the severe pitching and tumbling
of the vessel during the storm brought
on hemorrhage of the bowels and he
died the next day. He little thought
when he said goodbye to his parents
on the pier at Frisco that he would
not be alive at this port. He was an
| excellent young man, about 23, and
one of my trusted nurses at the Pre-
sidio. His name was Fred'k Jacobs.
| We embalmed the body and brought
| it to Manila with US. Two days ago
another Of my nurses developed ty-
phoid. He is doing nicely and we ex-
pect his recovery. Jacobs lost his
life through devotion to his sick COM
rade as truly as though he fell in line
of battle even if there was less glory
attached. I have tried to impress the
young men with the Importance Of
necessary precautionsin the care Of
typhoid fever but feel have not been
very successful. The example of
these two will no doubt preach louder
than my words and prove more ef-'
fective.
We are still on board the Scandal
awaiting orders from the Major who
is ashore, and we will soon have our
hands full establishing our hospital.
We do not yet know it's location or if
we will be in barracks or tents, prob
ably combination Of both. We are
anchored about two miles from the
city, and presume the press will give
you more news regarding the situa-
ton here than can at this writing.
Some rumors have come to our ship
since our arrival that are somewhat
alarming. Last night before sun
down we distinctly heard volleys of
musket firing back of the city where
our troops are in trenches skirmish
ing with the insurgents at intervals,
the latter refusing to come in and
give up their arms. The city being
under martial law no armed insurgent
is allowed to enter it's limits and our
troops find them more or less troub
lesome.
It is reported that we have 700 sick
soldiers and that twenty are dying
weekly. Typhoid, smallpox and
bowel complications prevail. Major
Shields, a wealthy and pronin ent
physician of San Francisco, attached
to the .. S. Army, is i'll at Cavite with
the fever mention it because he is
the very intimate friend and former
teacher of the young surgeon [ work
with on the Scandal, DIR. tombstone.
ever had the privilege to know.
Medical supplies and attendance
are evidently much needed by our
troops here, and the hospital corps
will be hard worked if so per cent of
the rumors are correct. TheIhospital
stewards and privates formerly with
us at the Preside and Camp Merritt
who preceded us here, have worked
Is hours daily much Of the time, and
one steward and two privates have
died. It is also reported that all vol
unteer troops are to be ordered home
and that these islands will be garri-
soned by regulars at an early date. l
have given you the worst side with
out detail. These rumors are not Of
fetal or authentic and much allow
ance should be made from the fact
that they are unconfrmed rumors.
Although I anticipate some hard SER
vice and lack of luxuries necessary to
comfort, doubt if the situation is as
bad as it is claimed. That smallpox
has appeared to some small extent
| among our troops is doubtless correct
| but I think typhoid the worst feature
of the two, and the present season is
now the best part of the year. The
rain should prevent smallpox from
spreading.
I have been informed that I am to
have the supervision of all the wards
of the headquarters hospital, prob
| ably 500 beds. am to have one act
ing steward as assistant; one to take
charge of the surgical ward and be-