The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-02-17
FROM BEYOND
THE OCEAN.
Erie Taylor Writes an
Interesting Letter
FROM FAR-AWAY PHILIPPINES.
Scenes and Happenings at Manila-fhe
Soldier Boys Are Longing to Return
Homo and Meet Loved Ones Again.
FROM FAR-AWAY PHILIPPINES.
CAMP HUGHES, MANILA, P. I.

CAMP HUGHES, MANILA, P. I.
December II, 1893.
Dear MdHd:--I am very sleepy
and tired tonight, but must send
you letter by one of the transports
that leaves Monday.
Tired! Yes, tired! Co. +. has
done her first active duty, and the
first done by the regiment. Our
regiment now has charge of the
prison, and one company has to
go the five miles to the prison every
day. Company B. went over this
morning. There are about 5000
prisoners, consisting Of soldiers,
Chinese, natives, and Spanlards. l
had to guard prisoners when they
were at work or had to go some
where. 1t was pretty hard, as they
knew not my language nor | theirs,
except "mOve on, halt" etc., but,
with the aid of my bayOnet to touch
them up now and then, [ got along
all right. Guards are not allowed
to speak to prisoners except when
giving orders, nor to other guards
except officers. A man caught talk
ing or sitting down on post gets from
six months to two years in prison.
We carry 80 rounds of ammunition
in our belts, big "45" Springfield in
our guns, with orders to "shoot, and
shoot to kill" From s o'clock at
night, hours and half-hours are
called. No. | helloa's mo. l, 8
O'Clock, and all is we'll" No. 2
takes it up, and then No. 3, and so
on the entire round, and then No.
calls "All is wellw We also send
out men as provost guard, and to
guard government boats. There are
eighteen government boats in the
river to- night, so it takes eighteen
men to guard them. All this, with
our various other duties and drills,
are wearyIng to fellow. [ had to
guard back of the hospital one night,
over where the bay and river meet,
with no one in a hundred yards of
me, bushes and high weeds all
around.
One of the guards had some
trouble with some natives the night
, before, and had to almost shoot one.
, Col. Smith went out to establish the
post, for it was new one, and eau
toned me thus: Now, Sentry,
these natives are very sly and
treacherous. There is a lodge OF
. 'Macabels' here, the members of
which have sworn to kill an aver
age of one 'blue-coat' week
. Owing to last nights trouble | would
l advise you to be Uery careful, and
| nos let one of them slip up and stab
you. (rhe natives are experts with
, long knives.) Load your gun and
l allow no one to come very close.
Order them to Halt then Halt, or
| tire'-then fire! and fire to KILL"
), Well, my knees didn't tremble
a with fear, but L would have felt
i better at home in feather-bed, fol
g it was dark and lonesome, and from
t 10 to II and to o'clock.
,, Everything has not been in the
/, best shape since the 18th, wher
n Aguinaldo had sent word that h,
ii would attack. the city. Our out
= posts moved back that night, sew
f eral regiments were sent TO th'
trenches. The rest of us were issueC
our belts full of cartridges, anC
ordered to sleep on our guns, and b'
l. ready to go out at moments notice
/. 1t is reported that Gen. Otis sen
l. word to Aguinaldo few days ag'
;, to give up the several thousanC
u Spanish prisoners he holds. He re
l. fused, and in turn demanded tina
) the American ARM evacuate tn
n city. Now, you know we obeyed(?
. Not much! He has plenty of ammu
d milton and guns, Springfield, Mause
f. and Marlin rifles. When Dewe,
r destroyed the fleet at Montejo h
"a armed the insurgents with a mum
Der of guns. (His only mistake.
o Then, Germany has smuggled il
guns, and they have taken som
from the Spaniards. They don
1T know how to shoot-never brin
10 their pieces to the shoulder. w
are anxious for Gen. Otis to begi
y active operations, for the soone
AZ they are conquered, the sooner W
7e will get to go home.
O. Last Sunday l went in the Gov
ernment boat to Cavite, but be
se lieve told you about all saw ther,
to To-day L am quiet in camp. Their
to are about hundred pet monkeys i
r the camp, and they keep me laugh
. ing.
le The Astor battery left a few day
Id ago for home, and will be given
big reception on their arrival g
home; more than we expect of Nasf
20 Vile people after their farewell
us. But we don't care; to get HON
p' is enough.
a Santa Claus will hardly visit III
3 There is no snow for his sleigh an
-. it is too far from headquarters. \
. doubt sister has begun to prepar
~ her good things, and the big gobble
Id has grown so fat he can hardly ii
as upon the rOost. The children hav
all invested in large stocking
Clyde has asked the price of fire
rh crackers at every store, and Mab'
Id has picked out her doll, and expect
r. to get it. Tom and Leslie want
-. wheel, knife and maybe gul
:! Burt knows just what day he wi
y, go TO Columbia to see what to get Il
II. the fair little girl. Sister is guess
he ing just what she will get, and troI
a whom. Papa, Ohi he must hay
lots Of good things! Bro. Marion