The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-02

Esdras Herbert, a sergeant in Com
oany F, FIRST Colorado infantry, Uni
ted states volunteers, now stationed in
the Phn.-pina islands, writes inter-
estingly c, the country and other
matters connected with life in Manila.
He was formerly a resident of North
Scranton, and in a letter to his cousin
in this city. speaks in part, as follows,
of his experiences
Marisuina road, Manila, p. l.,
May 90, 1899.
Dear Cousin: When the war with
Spain was declared by the United
States, I belonged to Company f, Sec
ond regiment, Colorado National
Guard and Of course / wasn't going
to back out of it, 50 I enlisted in the
United States service for two years to
fight Spain, but little did ] think L
would wind up fighting Filipinos. The
regiment was lucky in having pleas
ant trip throughout from Denver TO
Manila. In fact, the regiment is
lucky one. We are the healthiest vol
unteer regiment on the island ana
have lost but very few men.
Just now we are guarding the vat
er supply of Manila Our company is
stationed about a mile above the
pumping station on the Mariguina
road and six miles from Manila. We
are cainpcd on a ridge overlooking the
beautiful valley of Mariguina. Just
now everything is dull and monoton-
Gus. The FilipinoS fire occasionally
on our outpost, but they always get
more than they send in return. They
are whipped. and badly too at that.
They haven't won Il battle since this
thing started on Feb. T.
FILIPINOS DONE FOR.
~ Filipino can't show himself any
where around whore we are but what
he gets fired upon. Our troops up
north at San Fernando up to San
lsidro have them done for, and it
won be many moons before they Will
be compelled to surrender. Their
army on the south line is all knocked
to pieces and are no more. The volun-
tecrs expect to be relieved at any time.
The majority of them are home sick
and want to get home as soon as pos
sible. Some are going to stay here
and try their fortune in the Philip
pines.
There are eighteen in our company
who are going to stay, and ! am one
of the number. There is about two
hundred in the regiment who are go
ing t. stay. OF course, l intend to
follow placer mining or washing gold.
The prospects are very good for good
placers ANA | am going to try my luck
have two good prospects picked out
There i2n't any danger of stranding
here for the government offers us free
TRANSPORTATION home, and rations,
with two months extra pay.
"If my propositions are failures all
have to do is to get my clothes to-
gether and take the first government
transport home to the United states.
When discharged l will have about
$500 in gold and free transportation
home if | wish it. But gold mining
is not the only thing to follow. There
are other opportunities here and
many of them The chances are much
better here if a man has a little money
than in the United States.
VIRGIN TERRITORY.
practically, the Philippines is vir-
gin territory-a new country, and the
opportunities are many to make
money. The Spaniards are slow and
the natives are worse, and between
the TWO OF tnell lney nave ueNeloptu
the country but very little. The roy
alties on mining were so high that it
did not pay to mine, and,anyhow, they
did not encourage mining in this coun-
cry. 1t is a vast, undeveloDed coun-
try and there are many tribes that
the Spaniard never did subdue, only
holding a few cities on the coast.
Manila is fast becoming American
izad. Old Manila, or the old walled
city Of Manila, is the most complete
and best preserved IN the world today,
that is of medaeeval times. Dewey
had snap here when he whipped the
Spanish fleet ] have examined all Of
the old Notifications and paid several
visits to the sunlen feet, on all the
forts ! seen but few modern guns,
the rest were brass muzzle-loading
oannons, built one hundred years ago,