The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-03-10
MANILA S|)LD|ERLETTER
Ernest Jordan Tells an Inter
esting Story of Early
Skirmishes.
CONCERNING CAPTAIN ELLIOT
The Brave, Courteous Gen
tleman Soldier of Whom
Kipling Wrote
AND MARK THEM WITH YOUR DEAD"
He Was Known in lola, and Holds u
Tender Spot in the Entire
Kansas Heart.
CONCERNING CAPTAIN ELLIOT
-" AND MARK THEM WITH YOUR DEAD"

The REGISTER this morning re-
eeived long letter from Ernest Jor-
dan dated January Is in which he
gives a chronological account of the
life of the Goth. from Honolulu to date.
Much of it has already been printed
in these columns, but large part
given below is new and interesting
although 1t happened in December
and January.
December 81 some ofthe "big guns"
wanted to see how we looked so we
were ordered out on Regimental Par
rade. We had to walk about,two miles,
and-well, guess they were satisfied
as it was the last time. Most people
over here think we are Regulars.
And while | think of it might say
that all who send letters to the Goth.
Kansas Volunteers should be sure to
put Goth. Kans. L. $. V. so that our
mail will not get mixed up with the
Goth. Regulars u. :. A. who left
Leavenworth and are now en- route.
Friday Friday is our day. the 23rd,
the Kansas regiment began doing
outpost guard duty. Charlie Smelt-
yer was sergeant of the guard and
Rail- aud | drew the lucky Numbers
for Company /. We had done guard
duty before,k but this was the first
time to COUP against the "real thing"
The Insurgents had been pushing in
toward the city and we had been sent
to establish new line and keep them
from encroaching any more. All
went well until the Inext morning
when was detailed to post the new
patrol where Hayes and / had been
keeping watch. Going out to the
rice field we met the last relief of the
old guard who informed us that the
Insurgents were having good time
out at the west end (near the bay)
aud would not let them approach
very near. | took the two new men
and went out there, but before reach
ing the "west endn we were halted
at least we took it for that and stop
ped-and about ten of the black ras-
Gals filed out and began to fix
bayonets, one or two began cleaning
their guns, and then little cOnsulta-
ton was held. Back of them we OBJ
served a block house of stone and
mortar where bamboo shack had
stood the day before. The new
guards came back a short distance
and watched while | retired and
pilOted the field officer and officer of
the day TO see what had been estab-
lished. The news was telegraphed
carbohydrates, and as result
gun boat was stationed about two
miles out in the say and the block
house was ord red to be vacated.
IL is almost needless to say that the
Insurgents retired the next day to
their former place and the Kansas
boys now hold possession ofthe stone
structure.
TAguinaldo had sent Admiral Dewey
word that If he didn't vacate tthe city
ne was going to take it, and as they
had been crowding in at every point
things began to look like there would
be little skirmish. So again;on the
oath. we were issued $50 rounds more
OF ammunition and ordered TO. be in
readiness to go on double quick at
any moment. The same orders were
in force on Christmas day, but that
did not keep US from enjoying our big
dinner and talking of the things that
might have been, or Wishing we
could put feet under pas table again,
-Just for today, even" Christmas
will also be remembered as the day
when the first case of smallpox de-
velOped in the regiment, and so far
has not carried off but seven men.
Very fortunate we are, sometimes,
indeed
December q / took tramp to Fort
Mulata, down the beach about four
miles, There is nothing much there
to be seen; the remnant of the first
flag hoisted over it stlll flies in the
breeze and the holes that were shot
through the old walls. No wondor
the Spainards couldn't stand it
neither could an American under
such fire as 1t had. In the first place
the United States would not build
such a crude fort
Keeping watch over the front door
of Gen. Otis headquarters closed the
old year.
The new year has dawned and
with it many speculatlons as to when