Catoctin clarion., 1899-11-23

to send anything would be useless as the
custom house oficials In the States would
seize them.
wasn't in Yokohama 10 minutes before l
was being wbirled around over the city in
ricksha. dumped in one and gave fellow
q dime, who got in the shafts and started out
at q $40 gait, and after got tired 1t took
some time to tell him had enough.
Some streets are full of women hobbllng
around on their wooden shoes, some carrying
their kids on their backs the sans as our
American Indians, and smoking cigarettes
strong enough to lay man out
The "City Of Sydney" intended stopping
in Annoy or Hong Kong, but the day we
passed those place heavy sea was on and 1t
was not attempted.
Had some pretty rough, weather all the
way from Nagasaki but the whole trip didn't
affect me one bit, my experience on the At
lantic having made mo Indifferent as to
weather and high seas. After landing in the
yard here we came into our present barracks,
an old building occupied by Spaniards, Fill
pinos, the 10th Pennsylvania and marines,
but as 1t has been thoroughly renovated it
makes quite a respectable place. However,
II won't last long, as on Monday morning my
company will be sent out on the firing line
to relieve company Of infantry, and every
hour since here we haye been busy being
equipped for field duty. Each man now
carries 1870 rounds of ammunition, q rubber
blanket, two khaki uniforms, two suits Of
underwear, and only what is absolutely nee
essary, so may not have another chance to
write for some time. Will take . 3-inch
field pieces and Colt automatic guns along,
the Colt gun firing $50 shots minute and
being capable Of doing terrible execution.
All morning we have been firing at targets
in the bay, our target being the top of one Of
the Spanish ships sunk by Dewey. eight Of
which are visible from our quarters. We
can see the American and insurgent lines
plainly from here, the enemy now being
within easy striking distance of our army,
but why the delay no one here knows. Gen.
Otis Is thought but little Of now, but no
doubt he knows best.
After the American army drove the insur-
gents back into the hills, they retreated, pre-
sumably on account of too few men. and now
the insurgents have como out again and are
occupying their old trenches. Friendly ma
,ives here say it will take 100000 men to put
down the rebels, but that remains to be seen.
The wet season is now nearly over and
those here hope our government will push
the work this fall, as their strength and
ammunition gains all the time
Manila looks like a fine city from the har.
Dor and has between and 100000 inhah'
tapts, while this town (Cayite) has but 10000.
Some one just saying we will be sent up to
Subic bay this afternoon to locate 8 inch
gun which came near putting the Charles.
town out of commission, but can't put much
dependence in that
guess Thanksgiving Day will be rolling
round by the time this reaches you as this
mail system is somewhat uncertain.
We have been given to understand that
we will only be on the out post month at
time. and then be sent back here, so we
will have it pretty good. Am anxious to
take hand in the business and If do you
need not worry for I would rather rough it
than do yard duty. Am capable now OF
taking care of myself anywhere and I'll come
back home one of these days and tell you ali
some experiences which can only be gone
through with In this or some similar outfit.
Maybe l will run across some Thurmont
boys this fall as it is rumored here that more
volunteers will be called for this fall.
At every opportunity I will write, hut
make allowances for distance, the cnemys
country, etc., II you do not hear regularly.
10 of US out of Go. d have been transferred
to Co. H of let battalion, we of the Havana
crowd, expected to be more acclimated, and
will take our turn on the line first.
Will take good care of health and am not
the least apprehensive of sickness or such.
Must now close, but must give as an ex.
cuse for not writing with Ink, that there is
none in the building Many things like that
had to be left behind, SO guess you can make
Your son, q. W.,
Co. H, 1st Marine Battalion.
u. s. Naval Station,
Cayite, p. I.