The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-12-15
The Home Circle.
A Washington Boy in the Phil
ippine Islands.


BEN FouLo1s, SON on HENRY FoULors
ONE OF THE .RsTEEMED RESIDENTS Oh
WASHINGTON DEPOT.
El Deposito, northeast OF Manila, DC.
tober 4, 1899
we have made another move since ]
wrote last. We left Camp Mariquina,
september ~, and moved northeast TO-
wards Manila, to what is known as "El
Deposito." 1t is place where there are
several big reservoirs, which supply
Manila with water. There ia q great
deal of ammunition stored here, 80 it is
very important position. 1t was at
lacked by the rebels about week before
we were stationed here. There were
several companies Of colored troops here
then. They had several men killed. but
drove the insurgents back. We have
been expecting an attack, but 80 far moth
ing has happened, except a few shots
fred at night. We have had q great
deal of sickness in the company fer the
last two weeks. Up to last night, we
Ii
around In mud and water is beginning to
tell on most Of them. Yet the men are
as much to blame, fer not taking care of
themselves as they should. The country
that we are in Just now has seen a great
deal of fighting. l am on guard to-day,
and about 20 feet from where am writ
ing is one Of the Spanish trenches. About
1OO feet to the right stands q cross, be-
meath 1t are buried several Spanish fl
GERS and soldiers. ALI slong the front
OF our position the ground is cut up by
trenches, which ara guarded by our men.
Our company Is expected to move to San
Fernando on the north line, soon. live
do we will have some lively times. lam
glad to hear that Russell has got the
New Preston depot. I hope he gets
s1ong all right. Tel him that I have a
class in signaling. That is, flag signal
ing. | suppose the nights are getting
rr3tty frosty now. Just imagine US run
ming around in our shirt sleeves hunting
fer q cool place to rest in. 1 will close
now as have to 60 on duty soon. II
had just finished writing, when one of the
boys brought me letter. 1t was one
written July 81. 1t was on the morgan
City," the steamer which went down off
the Japan coast. L thought that perhaps
you would like souvenir that had been
to the bottom of the Japan Sea, 80 / en-
closed it with my letter.
El Deposito, northeast Of Manila. DC.
tober s, 1899.
l. received Florrie's letter yesterday, |
and with it some papers. We have been
having hard time for the last week with
sickness. We have only about 80 men |
out OF 128 that are ft for duty. Each
corporal has seven men, a squad, to look
out for. Mysquad is No. Is in the COM
pany. Up to yesterday had only one
man fit fer duty. The other six are down
with fever. The well man and myself
have been up for three nights watching
them. / think [ will study to be q doc
tor. have been the dispensary for halt
the company. Every night three or four
men who have been out on guard, are
carried In with fever. There is no doctt
within mile of us. So play the doc
tor. Each man gets dose of quinine,
and Ia wrapped up in two or three blan-
kets. In the morning he has head big
30 bushel basket, and feels as il he had
treatment has been effective in nearly
every case. There are about 10 who have
been sent to the hospital. This morning
every man>had to march up to the first
tent, and get his ration of
quinine, and he had to swallow it right
there. 1t is a good thing, too, as there
are a number of the men who don't be-
Iieve in using it. It the sickness keeps
up very much longer, there won't be
enough men to mount guard. Don't let
This worry you, as am taking care of
myself, and know what to do, and what
not to do. Yesterday two Of US walked
20 Manila, nearly two miles, to get some
hing fit to eat for my sick men. We got
several jars of extract of beef, and have
been feeding them on that. Night before
asst there was quite lively engagement
1t linus, about eight miles south of us.
Parts of the 4th and 18th infantries were
stationed In the town, along with a bat
cry of artillery. The Insurgents attack
ID the town, and nearly drove the Amer
cans out. The only thing that saved
our troops from being driven out, were
which arrived just in
ime. All the talk In the papers, about
he war being at an end, is nearly 81
guess work. The insurgents are putting
Up stiff fight, and don't run until they
ire driven at the point Of the bayonet.
To read the papers one would think that
1ur troops had possession Of nearly all
.he island. But we haven't barely got
away from Manila. The north line is
put about 80 miles, and the south line
about six. Our troops have been over
great deal more country. A town or fort
would be captured, and then left, as
there were not enough men to nc Id them.
Luzon 10 the largest island in the group,
and when all the new regiments get here,
there won't be any too many to cover 1t.
Il ID Sunday to-day and am on guard
again. We get guard every other day
now. on account OF 80 many being sick.
T have often wished that had camera
here with me. / could get some fine
pictures, and some queer ones, too. It
would be impossible to carry it around
with me, because we have all we can car
~ as IL is. Florrie wished TO know how
I liked Manila. Il Is fine old city, and |
one could spend long time in it and not |
become tired. Il begins to look like an |