Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1898-08-25
A Rocky Ford Boy In the Philippines.

A Rocky Ford Boy In the Philippines.
We make the following interesting ex-
tracts from q letter received by Frank
Clark from his son, Carl:
In camp, Island OF Luzon
July IL, 1898.
DEAR FATHER AND BRorHER:-We
landed on the island last Monday night.
We were taken of the China in little tug
boats and had to wade ashore in water
up to our waists. This is fine place.
Our camp is in a small open place DIV
hundred yards from the beach ind We
banana and bamboo trees. The natives
are very peculiar class OF people; they
go about half dressed but are quite intel
ligent. They have very queer why OF
fighting. In the morning they go ont in
parties OF three or four and fight while
and then come home. There is no regu.
lation at all to their army. We arr
camped about two miles from where they
are intrenched and can hear them shoot
ing nearly all the time.
Night before last our regiment and the
list California were called out to the fire
line. The company we hnd on guard
got scared because the Spanish bullets
were coming pretty thick aud sent in the
report that the insurgents were being
driven back and that the Spaniards were
advancing. We were all in bed when a
man came running through camp yelling
that the Spaniards were coming. Then
we heard ''assembly" and before could
get dressed the boys were on the road to
the front. 1t was just 20 minutes from
the time assembly blew until they were
at the first line Of insurgents. When
they got there they found it was n false
alarm. Frank Mertz was on guard with
company the first night we were here.
the natives and Frank said the bullets
were flying around him NIL night. When
we landed there was only one battalion
OF the California regiment on the island
but now the whole expedition is landed.
The boys are having good time buy
ing fruit aud wine from the natives. We
all take n swim in the surf every evening
just after dark.
was over to the natives hospital this
afternoon and saw some Spanish prison.
ers and several insurgents who had been
wounded. While was there there were
five deserters brought in. They had
been caught going into Manila. They
were tried and sentenced to be shot to-
morrow.
The natives are very friendly to the
"Americanos" and we were allowed to be
present at the trial when their own SOL
diers were not. They say Americana
PHILIPPINE amigo Espnnn" and then draw
their hands acioss their throats, which
means the Americans and natives are
friends and will kill all Spaniards.
This is thriving time for the natives.
The camp is lined with men. women md
children selling ban annas, oranges, lines,
cocoanuts, nutmegs, mangoes, native
sugar and.tobacco in all forms. We can
get fine Manila Gig ars for 8 cents which
are equal to the best 10 cent cigar you
can get in America.
We are living fine now. Our rations
from the government are all right and
then We buy all kinds of fruit. Last
night I had spring chicken for supper
and this morning had ham and eggs. A
nice, fat chicken Is worth about ~ cents,
American money, but eggs are ~ cents n
aG:-.An.
It rains here from once to three times
day. The first night we were here it
rained nearly half the night anu We had
no shelter at all. got soaked but did
not even catch cold. It is awful hot
here. Some Of the boys wear nothing
but Undertaking and n hat. The nights
are comparatively cool ms there is gener-
ally II breeze blowing off of the bay.
1t is Il funny sight to see the natives
farming. They work buffaloes with a
piece Of rope in their noses to drive them
with and all the harness they use Is n
yoke with Il couple Of ropes for traces.
They have horses, but they are very
small and are used only to ride and drive
to carriages. The carriages are about
like the American cab, but only have
two wheels. Just now about fifty natives
passed the camp by the road leading to
Manila pulling one of the big guns
Dewey captured on one OF their two
wheeled carts. They seem to be getting
ready to have big fight. They were
taking troops from Cavite over to tho
lines all day yesterday and there, was
heavy firing over there all last night.
will have to close now and go forag-
ing for wood. We have to carry wood
about three-quarters Of mile aud in the
middle of the day it is pretty hard work,
The officers advise us to sleep eight
hours a day, but they don't give us
chance to do it. CARL b. CLARK.