The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-08-15
A LETTER FROM THR PHILIP
PINES.
Our Philippine Correspondent Writes of
the Situation and Life Generally in
Our New Possessions.
JARo, Panay Island, P. l.,

June 8 1899
Correspondence Of The Progressive Farmer.
Since writing my letter preceding
this I've received two issues of your
most welcome paper.
On May goth rain began falling here,
and continued a steady downpour for
three days and three nights. Every
thing became flooded; the large river
overlooked; the water came rushing
through the streets Of Jaro, and sew
eral of our boys padded canoes
through the town. When the river
was at it's highest, and the men of my
company were in quarters, three "B0lo"
men built q small raft of bamboo and
doated down stream on it. When they
reached DUR outpost, the sentry yelled
to them to pull into shore, but the
water was rushing along at such a
furious rate that they couldn't steer
their raft to shore; they continued On
down stream until they reached the
bridge, where there il a bend in the
river, so they landed and were imme-
diately surrounded by our boys, all
anxious to learn the news from the
enemy.
They we're very acantily dressed, one
fellow having on just a small piece of
cloth around him. They were tremb
ling and looked hungry, so we took
them to the guard house, where they
were questioned. Much interesting in
formation was gained from them
They said their general had no
''denerio" (money) with which to pay
his ''soldados' %(soldiers) that the SOL
diers told him unless they received
their pay soon they would shoot him.
That privates in the Insurgent Army
receive the promise Of 81, Mexican, a
month, and don't receive the real
money. That a corporal Of insurgents
is promised IS, Mexican, a month; a
sergeant 80, a captain $50, and a lieu
tenant colonel $50. All their money is
worth just one-half as much as ours
Women and children are suffering
from hunger at Santa Barbara, and
yearly all the B DO men would surren-
der to us, but for two reasons: First,
they are afraid Of being caught in the
attempt by their officers, who would
shoot them; and they fear we would
massacre them, as the Germans told
them we would.
The Insurgents Of this island have
made nine bamboo guns, with which
they hope to US much damage when
We advance on Santa Barbara, but we
don't fear them, as they ere worthless
after one shot. They have diRged a
deep canal across the country between
here and Santa Barbara, and have
driven sharpened sticks Of bamboo in
it, covered it over with leaves and ba-
mana bushes. Their plan is that when
our forces advance they will rapidly
retreat, and we will fall into the ditch,
and those sharp sticks would go clear
through our bod les, killing us instant
.ly. But thanks to III informants, we
kaow all about their little game, 80 if
We advance, we will be on the watch
for the pittall.
The three prisoners who surrendered
are now working in the regimentel |
c~anteeD, receiving $50, gold, and found, |
per month, and they sly Americana
mucho bueno" (America is very good.) |
The third battalion OF the first reg.
ment Tennessee volunteers has moved
from IIoilo to Jaro, being quartered in
splendid dwellings, near the IS b in
tantry officers q I~arters.
The Tennesseeans are a billy, good
natured, soldierly set of fellows, and
are we'll liked by many Of the 185h's
boys.
On they first night after they came
up here, while their candles were burn
ing, Insurgents spied the lights in the
usually dark buildings, and sent sew
eral Mausers and R mipgtons into that
section, b1t luckily no one wa hit.
The boys quickly put put the lights,
and the enemy ceased fling. 1t is
thought Insurgents slipped close up to
the river, which is about IS yards
vide, as We had withdrawn our out
post from the opposite side of it, on &C
count Of the high water carrying away
the centre of the bridge. There was
therefore nothing to prevent a regi
ment of them stealing close up to our
lines at night, and fling many volleys
into town. The water has fallen in the
river, bat on acc unt Of the centre of
the bridge being gone, we haven't
again put our outpost on the other
side of the river. There is some talk