The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-21
PHILIPPINES ARE CLEVER.

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Leon Dawson, a Seton Boy, Writes Roll
lin j. Dairy of the Prowess Of the In
surgents-Having a Hot and DAN
geroue Time-Dawson in the Thick Of
the Fighting Before Malolos-Thril-
ling Experience Related.
Rollin j. Dairy of Derby has received
ia letter from Leon Dawson, a we'll
known Shelton young man who cast
his fortunes with an expedition to the
Philippines. The letter follows:
In trenches before Malolos,
May 80, 49,
Dear Roll:
Well, Roll, have few minutes now
that l am off duty, and there being no
shade here. and it Is 10 degrees hotter
Mauser bullets flying around to disturb
me l will take advantage of 1t and write
to some of my friendh about this Hell
have struck. To begin with there is no
than h in the sun.
l was just five weeks getting here
from San Francisco and from that day
] landed, April IL, until this very day
have had continuous fighting I tell
you these insurgents are a clever lot of
Indians and you will think they know
how to fight properly if you could see
the condition of our regiments that are
here. I have already helped to take and
burn seven towns We would advance
upon their trenches under heavy fire and
after driving them from their trenches
we would have to rush upon their
towns and burn them and if you ever
saw a sight you should see one of these
bamboo towns burning.
A battalion of our regiment is here in
Malolos guarding the railroad and COM
missary supplies. The main forces adj
vanced yesterday and / suppose they
have taken a few towns by this time
Roll, could write a book on what I
have seen and been through so far in
this campaign, but cannot write long
as I don't know what minute Call to
Arms' will blow and we will have to
get out and scrap. tell you, Roll, IL
you think life in Shelton too tame. just
come out here and fight these insur-
gents. While I was on guard only two
nights ago away out on outpost, I
caught a niger crawling up on me
with knife. / didn't do thing but
pump him full of lead. We are lying /.
under arms now in one. of the trenches
awaiting an attack from them any
Take my word for 1t, Roll that
it is an awful thing to be under fire,
and I have had it now day and night
for five weeks. The only sleep have is
about an hour every day. No such
thing as sleep at night
I think l would be satisfied to get
back to the States at least and stay
H. -
back somewhere and look at some edu-
Gated faces. don't believe you would
know me now. I have a beard and
mustache. No such thing as a shave or
haircut here.
We have the report to-day that Agui- !
naldo and his staff have gone to Manila |
to sue for peace. think the insurrec-
ton is about to an end. We have driven
them back and burned so many Of their
towns, churches, and spoiled so many |
crops that I think they are getting dis
gusted. j would like the honor Of filing |
full of holes. He has these
people, all fooled. He made them get |
tibet I am off duty, and there being no
out and fight. All he is looking for is |
coin. If I ever leave these islands I
will be in luck, although I don't think
these insurgents can hi me.
BY the way, cigarettes are fifty cents
A pack here; beer. two glasses for fifty
cents, and everything in proportion.
have sworn off Say, Dairy. stop in
Jack McGee's and give him my kindest
Well, Roll, must quit. Write
1ften. l wrote to Everett and Roll
.o-day.
Pour old friend,
James L. Dawson,
Battery HI, Third u S. Artillery.
Manila, p I.
--Iln1hN NaWc |