The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-03

From an United States volunteer at
Manila an interesting letter has been
received by his mother in Minnesota
and forwarded to a Scranton relative.
The writer is 22 years old and Is with
the First Montana Volunteer infantry.
The regiment was transported in the
steamer Pennsylvania and was a part
of the fourth expedition from San
Francisco.
The letter was written at a time
when the insurgents were making so
much trouble. From the letter it ap-
pears that the United States soldiers
anticipated more bother with the reb-
els than with Spanish soldiers. Follow
ing is the letter, in part:
Cavite, Luzon, Aug. 26, 1898.
Dearest mother: Here 1 am, away
off in the enemy's country, and l tell
you it is a hot time we are having in
more ways than one. We arrived here
on the oath after voyage lasting
thirty-four days. We were in Honolulu
six days. There were great demonstra-
tions when we left there and Frisco.
Early on the voyage we gave the
officers taste of mutiny-we struck
for better grub. We had them all right.
They realized it and we gained our
point and Jared better thereafter.
ROYALTY TREATED.
"At Honolulu the citizens treated us
royalty. We had a fine time while
there.
1T took us twenty-one days to get
here from Honolulu. They were the
most trying days 1 have ever expert
enced. Our ship was frightfully over
crowded, there being 1,500 men and off,
GERS on her, while her capacity was but
S00 We were up against all kinds of
bad luck, but are thankful to say we
did not lose man by accident or sick
ness. Our regiment is fortunate in be-
ing composed of so hardy set of men.
We stayed aboard ship one day after
arriving her.
Last night we killed five insurgents
Three of them were trying to steal stuff
from the wrecks of the Spanish gun
boats, which are about one hundred
yards from where we are quartered on
the shore.
II was on guard and had to fire twice
at insurgents who tried to cross our
| lines. / could have killed one of them,
| and, according to strict orders / should
| have done so, but 1 purposely missed.
Some of them are killed every night.
| They bother us and we will surely have
| to fight them-that is, lick them, be-
| cause that will be the result, they are
so thoroughly disorganized. They are
| poorly armed and poorly fed.
I'VE are living the strictest kind of
military life and under the strictest
| of discipline. Four men have received
| two years at hard labor without pay,
and dishonorable discharge when the
| term expires for what seems to be
trivial offences-but our officers think
| different.
| CAN'T TRUST THEM
"The insurgents pretend to be friend
ly, but they are two-faced devils.
| Our friend, Mr.. Dewey just gave
those Spaniards hades and knocked
them halfway into it. I can stand just
outside our quarters and see twelve
ships, or, part of them which he and
| his men sunk. He is certainly
king, chief and high muck muck
| here.
"The insurgents have murdered at
least 5000 Spaniards and if 1t had not
been for Dewey and the volunteers
here would have slaughtered 5000 more.
They cut their heads off-just like saw
ages. They killed two American SOL
diers the day we got here.
| Il enclose a fish scale which is the
| kind used here in windows in place of