The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-01-26
Yakima SOLDIER BOYS
Letters From Manila of Live Inter-
est to Our Readers.
COUGAR CAUGHT on NATCHEZ
Letter From Speaker Reed Endorsing Senator
Wilson Interesting Correspondence From
Manila Oriental Oddities In
Dewey Islands.
McCleary In Manila.

for allowing your esi aemed letter to re-
main unanswered so 'ong and trust you
will overlook my Negligence in this re-
gard. This is SUNDAY afternoon and will
try and write you lew lines while re-
clining upon my luxuriant bamboo bunk.
In fact, when off duty, this is about the
only position in which | may be found
as we are all afflicted with that "tired
feeling" so prevalent in tropical countries.
Our trip across the Pacific on the
"Ohio" occupied about twenty eight days
and was very much enjoyed with the
exception of the first two or three days
out, when it became necessary to chit
the rail' frequently; however, the
weather taken as whole, was fine and
our sea sickness lasted for a short time
only. 1t is fact, though, that had we
not been go much crowded or had the
grub been a little better, we should have
appreciated this trip more; but notwith.
standing these few drawb it was
fine trip and one that ! sha.l not soon
forget.
Our ship lay in Honolulu for two days
and as We boys had full liberty we made
the most OF our time in running around
seeing the sights. Honolnln Is d beauli
full place and here can bs seen many va
rieties OF tropical trees and plants, fruits
and vegetables 1t was qnite a novelty
to see the cocoanut grow and resolved
to climb one OF these tall palms and pos
sess myself of some OF the fruit. My eff
fors we're in vain, however, as the owner
of the grove, not thinking my intentions
were of the best, ca ne out with a stick
and persuaded me to get my coroanuts
some other place. The palace ground
is the most beautiful plaza was ever in
and hope you may some time visit Hon
oIulu and see it for yourself.
We arrived in Manila harbor on the
Goth inst, and were kept on board for al
most a week until our quarters could be
made ready for us. While lying there
we could see Dewey's fleet at anchor
off Cavite. Off our first port was
the German cruiser Irene, while our
Raleigh was off our stasboard and
number Of merchant vessels OF different
nstionalities scattered around. We were
finally taken ashore on native bargeg,
towed by a steamer up the river Pasig,
and landed. From here we marched
about one and one-halt miles to our quar-
tiers in an immense cigar factory where
we have been made as comfortable rs cir
cumstances would permit and are doing
outpost duty. The lines have been closed
since coming here and therefore ! have
not seen much OF the city. However, |
have been on pass several times and saw
some things which were quite interesting.
The town is very old and many Of the
walls are crumbling with age. The
streets are narrow and in some places
two can scarcely walk abreast on the side
walk. The principal buildings appear to
be ca'hedrals. of which there are quite
number and the insides OF which are
finely decorated. There are no other de-
nominations here as yet, but undoubted
ly soon will be. The natives are small,
but very intelligent and quick to learn.
They use the water buffalo, hitched by
yoke to cart and guided by rope at
tached to ring in the nose of the animal.
The horse here is quite small-but little
larger than good sized dog. Our mon
ey is worth twice as much as the Next
can coin in use here, and it was rather
confusing at first to make change with
the natives. as but few of us are familiar
with the Spanish language which they
talk. There is wall about twenty feet
high and thirty feet thick around por-
ton of the city. This is called the old
city, and here the Spanish prisoners are
kept. They are at liberty anywhere in
Manila until five o'clock p. m, when
they are obliged to be inside the walls.
visited old Fort Malate and saw the
holes made by Dewey's guns but was not
allowed inside-much to my disappoint-
ment, About mile from our quarters is
fine driveway and park at which can
be seen Of a nice evening the Spanish
residents out riding with their families.
saw some very pretty Spanish girls.
too, but nothing will induce look from
one of these proud senoritas to an Ameri-