Gilpin observer., 1899-03-02
INTERESTING MANILA LETTERS.
GALE DE ALIx, SAN SEBASTIAN,
NI.-;Ia ID

has elapsed since received your las
letter, and, neglect being one of my great
written You have learned of my well
fare through the boys which l have
written to.
After long time we have arrived at
our destination, Manila, arriving here
on November 26. We were kept on board
the ship until the first of this month,
December. We marched through a rain
storm to Colorado headquarters in heavy
marching order with the thermometer at
about 90 degrees above blood heat. Ohl
it was nice-I don't think. The first
thing to catch my eye upon arriving at
the Pasig river was score of monkeys
running around over the housetops. This
is quite common now. Next was Caribou
bulls instead of horses drawing heavy
drays driven by native Indians, and
Shetland ponies pulling street cars, etc.
Upon arriving at our company quarters
we had hot reception, all kinds of beer
-Schlitz', all the way from America
and plenty to eat. We were Just enjoy
ing a nice cool-off when we had call to
arms and had to fall in; call roll, fill our
belts with cartridges on the run, and go
to the trenches on the outpost. The in
surgent army was moving IN on us, but
they soon fell back when they heard the
roar of the Yankee Springfelds. We are
having no serious trouble with them, al
though we expect they will come in on
us soon. If they do that will put an end
to Aguinaldo's army. You remember we
have possession of the city of Manila
only, and the city Is under martial law.
The insurgents are allowed in the city,
but they must leave all arms at their
camp. If they are caught in the city
with anything they are arrested. Our
outpost searches all parties passing the
American lines. We are awaiting the
ratification of the Paris peace commits
sion by the senate.
The change from camp to garrison life
is so great that / am enjoying the best
of health. We do not wear any under
wear and light gingham shirt takes the
place of our heavy blouse, and our white
uniforms make it very comfortable. l
stepped on the scales of the U. NJ. de-
partment last week and l weighed l61
pounds, heavier than l ever weighed in
my life. All the Central City boys are
looking Just as well as l am. During .he
entire trip across the Pacific l did not
experience one moments seasickness,
greatly to my surprise; but those who
were sick had my sympathy. We made
remarkably quick trip from Honolulu
to Manila. We lay in the straits be-
tween Formosa and Luzon all one night,
afraid to venture further until daylight,
and then made the "trip in less than
fifteen days. The China sea, having such
a reputation, was Just as calm as could
be when we emerged into it on the morn
ing of November %, Thanksgiving day.
1t was then that l began to realize that
| was long way from home. 1t is Just
$50 miles from Hong Kong, China.
On tho rnornino Of Npvambnr SG We
entered the Bay of Manila, in rain
storm of course, passing Cavita, where
the famous Dewey lay with his fleet all
quiet as lambs, and just beyond lay the
once famous Spanish feet, and as we
pulled in close to the harbor, as close as
we could get-and that was three miles
away from land-we saw the German
cruiser Reina Christina, a beautiful
ship, with the Raleigh on our right.
If space would permit l could tell you
much that would interest you, hut there
are other things / want to tell you about.
Speaking of the Philippines; This is
practically brand new country, just as
much so as if it had fallen from the
heavens last spring. The islands are
abundant in gold, silver, copper, galena,
iron and coal. Gold and coal are the
most abundant. Spanish rule has re
tarded everything in the way of mining
aud the natives are very superstitious
about digging into the bowels OF the
earth, so much so that the deepest shaft
on the island of Luzon is % feet deep.
All kinds of good coal, and nothing but
the surface has been taken OIL, The
coal utilized by the vessels here comes
from Australia and Japan, while this
Philippine coal is much better quality.
have formed the acquaintance OF an
4 t1.V, h,s taE I.p y,
years, and through him ! get my infor-
nation, and also through mining en-
gineer, a German,who has been here for
n number of years, buying up sluice gold
from the Cinnamon and the natives and
Mt the same time prospecting for a Ger
man syndicate, but keeping all his dis
coveries secret, and now the Americans
have taken the place, he feels that he is
under obligations TO them, and when
everything is settled he will make known
to all who desire, the place whore their
mines are. They also feel that without
the American miner they can do nothing,
because they brought ten from Germany
two years ago and they could not work
the mine, and the natives will not work,
so they are waiting for American miners
to open up, and then they can know
how it is done.
| have seen sluice gold which the ma
tives bring in and sell, and it is good for
sore eyes. They pan it in a cocoanut
shell, and anything they cannot pick out
with their fingers they throw away.
The firm OF Hermann Bros, who are
the parties have Just been speaking of
offered me $3.50 per month and q resi-.
dence all furnished, il / would take
charge Of one of these mines. have al.
most decided to take the offer, and pros.
pect on the side. at the same time.
/ find good many Of the boys will
stay, 30 it will be no trouble TO get
American miners.
II do not take the offer Of Hermann
Bros. and / can get mustered out here,