Evening star., 1899-04-01
A WOMAN UNDER FIRE
Experience of Mrs. John N. Stotsenburg in a
Philippine Fight.
Graphic Letter From a Lady Well
known In Washington, Who Mar
rowly Escaped Bullets.

Mrs. John M. Stotsenburg, wife of the
colonel of the 9th Cavalry, who Is now
colonel of the 1st Nebraska Regiment, on
duty in Manila, has been under the fire
of the Filipinos rifles. She Is well known
in Washington, as her husband was re-
Gently stationed at Fort Myer. She was
formerly Miss La Tourette. daughter of
the late Chaplain La Tourette of the army,
and is cousin of the wife of Gen. Greely.
In letter to her sister-in-law, Miss Laura
Stotsenburg of New Albany, Ind, dated
Manila, February r. she writes as follows:
''The past weeks experience has been very
trying to me. Quite Unexpectedly / was
under fire, they say in the army, for a
little while, contrary to my desire or ex-
pectation. l went out on Saturday last
TO Camp Santa Mesa, where the 1St Ne
braska was stationed, having heard that
the insurgents, who have been giving the
regiment much trouble for the last three
weeks by trying to come within our lines,
mad been reprimanded for doing So and
that their commanding officers had prom
ised that they would give our troops no
further annoyance by trying to pass by
the sentr1es. John would not believe their
statements and quietly doubled the guards.
As Seen Through Field Glasses.
"A little before dark We could see through
held glasses about 400 long haired savages
gathered together and undergoing inspec-
ton by 1nsurgent officers. These savages
had been brought down from the mountains
and carried shields, bows and arrows,
hatchets and spears. Their officers wore
red coats, and these mountain men were
placed in the front.
After watching them little while I sat
down and was conversing with one of the
ohlcers, when rifle shot rang out and in
a minute the sound seemed to me to be
ike that we hear the morning of the
fourth OF July, only many times multi
pnea. l came out to the camp in a uuelis
or Phlllppine wagonette, and some one
ofdefed the Philippine coachman to harness
the little ponies, when bullet went right
through the vehicle, and the Philippine
driver ran away as fast as he could
Inc doctor and quartermaster told me
10 lie down in a TRENCH and I assure YOU
that l laid low for time while the bullets
WhizZed over me. In little while l
walked about 800 yards to where the Utah
battery was stationed, and there by the
aid of DR.. Jensen, 1 procured a oleIis and
was driven into the city On the wav in 7
mad to get OUT for a little while and lie
DOWN by the roadside on account of the
storm of bullets, which cut the cane trees
on either side of the carriage | tried to
Keep cool and to appear brave, even if l
was not.
TidfnEs From Regiment.
When l reached Manila, l heard nothing
from the regiment until Monday, when
Gllson, whom you will remember as the old
Indian fighter who ACCOMPANIED Johns
regiment to Manila, came and told me that
Johh was safe and that the regiment was
hshtlng the insurgents to get possession
ana control OF the water works, which are
the main reliance of the city of Manila,
Late on Monday the battalion which Jonn
commanded succeeded in doing this 1t was
made up of his own and four other reri-
fnents, and his headquarters are now in
a large stone house formerly occupied by
the insurgent chiefs.
What pleases me most of all is the
splendid reputation which the 1st Nebra ska
regiment has gained here for good disci-
pine and gallant behavior on the battle
neld, and the whole regiment is proud of
John and declare that they will follow him
anywhere.
Miss O'Brien and 1 are now staying n,
the city. The house is owned by Filipino
whose wife is d European. Mrs Beach and
MRS Brayton, wives of two naval officers
are with u.s. and during the hottest of the
hshting we remained in the middle room
OF the house, as stray bullets kept hitting
the roof. On all of the next day the am
balances carrying the wounded and the
dead, mostly Filipinos, passed our house.
Ihe sight made us prayerfuly wish and
nope that the war would soon be over, and
that we may all soon get back to the best
and only good country, our much beloved
United States