The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-02-17
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
Allen p. Ferguson Writes an Interesting
Letter to The Times" from Manila.
MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,
December %, 1893.

MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,
December22, 1893.
Mr.. A. Fl. TURNER,
Editor CHANUTE TIMES,
Dear Sir:-After voyage OF forty
five days we reached Manila o. K
We were nine days from San francisco
to Honolulu, where we spent four
days, and 1 don't think l ever spent
four happier days Ia my life. Homo
lulu is very beautiful place and the
people are quite patriotic, and another
important thing is that the Twentieth
Kansas regiment held the first cleo.
tion ever held there, and am proud
to say 1t went Republican.
Then we started on our long and
dreaded voyage for Manila, which we
reached in twenty-one days. We had
the slowest vessel Of all the trans
ports, but l enjoyed the trip very
much and wasn't sick q minute.
Most of the boys wore so sick they
wanted the ship to sink. The worst
Of all was that when we reached our
ues,ttiination we were compelled to lay
in the bay ten days before we could
unloau. inere are no docks here, so
we had to anchor out from the city
about three miles, and you can guess
when the tug boat came out to take
US to shore that the boys sent up loud
cheers.
We were lucky to get such nice bar
racks as we now occupy. 1t is an ele-
CANT two-story building, IN about the
center of the city. Manila has about
260, 900 inhabitants, and there are
about 10000 captured Spanish SOL
diers here. The natives are something
like our negroes back there; they are
comical set indeed,
Some of the buildings are made of
stone. some of wood, and a great
many of bamboo. Everything is very
cheap-cigars, for instance. A cigar
that you would pay twenty-five cents
for we pay three cents for here; and
other things are in proportion, even
money. | think if some Of the free |
would come over here they |
would be cured. | went TO the bank |
the other day to get five dollar gold |
piece changed and got ten dollars and |
thirty cents in Spanish and Mexican
There is still some excitement about
the insurgents. About week ago
we were issued three-hundred and ten
rounds of ammunition and told to get
ourselves in readiness to go TO the
trenches at moments notice. Moth
ing has occurred, however, until this
evening, when we received the same
orders again; so you see we are liable
10 be called out at any time, aud all
are very anxious to go.
- oupPOoO yOu Nuu cCO w OuC pdpClo
that the Twentieth Kansas has great
1t is said to be the best
volunteer regiment on the Pacific
coast, and we are all proud Of it and
are trying hard to hold our reputa-
tion. We have the ranking colonel
also. Our guard duty is little tough
but we have to stand it just the same.
We go on about every Eve days.
| see by the papers that the people
IF Kansas have sent every man 10 the
regiment Christmas present, and l
I'm sure they will be greatly appre-
lated.
o yes. l had almost forgotten to tell
about the climate. 1t is very hot.
We only drill one hour day, and that
s early in the morning
We Chanute boys are all we'll and
hope to return to Chanute about Sep
,ember 1st, 1899.
Your friend,
ALLEN P. FERGUSON.