The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-03-21
ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE
PHILIPPINES.

NAAsA . eSAAS
Our New Possessions on the Other Side
of the Earth.-Letter Written Jan 23d
Received at Raleigh 46 Days Later.
On board U. 8 Transport Arizona, of
Iloilo. Philippine Islands, January
%, 1899.
correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
We have been on this ship since
Christmas Eve, and are packed on
here like so many cattle. The Fifty
first Regiment, Infantry, Of Iowa, are
on the transport Pennsylvania, which
is in the bay. They have been on that
ship now over 20 days, and a few days
ago they told their colonel that they
were tired, worn out, and sick of being
unnecessarily kept on that ship like so
many cattle. They are in bad condi
ton, as they are greatly in need OF
clothing. therefore have become IN
tested with vermiu. Last night eight
of them got in a small sail boat, left the
ship and have not returned. The ..
8. gunboat Petrol, which is here, went
in pursuit of them, but did not find
them. so it returned to this place. The
soldiers in the sail boat are supposed to
be trying to make their way to Hong
Kong, where, it is supposed, they will
ship on some steamer for the country
we all love-AmericR. They had
reached the point of desperation, so
some of our boys pity them.
Natives come on board and sell trop
ical fruits to our boys. At first their
prices were reasonable, but since our
boys showed an eagerness for the fruit,
they doubled, ..and even trebled their
prices. Eggs sell for rs cents per dozen,
cigarettes sell for 10 cents per pack,
and English made shoes sell for S. per
pair.
PAY day"-a very welcome thing
to the eXiled soldier-cRme three days
ago, and many boys spend their time
In gambling, monte, crap and poker
being favorites. They spread their
blankets on a goods box and open for
business. One fellow won $500, but
last night had it stolen. / laugh at it;
as he won il dishonesty, go did he lose
it. One fellow pays S5 each night for
electric lights. There is an article Of
war which prohibits gambling in the
army, but it is not enforced.
I do guard duty ono in 10 days.
Upon coming off guard Ihave "a hours
In which to sleep and rest. The third
day I "catch old guard fatigue" Ny
work consists of hosting supplies from
the ships hold and sweeping decks.
Sometimes I work only one hour dur
ing the day. w ehave on board Chinese
cooks and servants of our officers. We
have also several Filipinos who work
for the officers. There are two Span
iards with US; one q boy of II years,
who wasfound wandering in the streets
of Manila. He was cared for by our
boys, and will be taken to the United
States, where he will be educated. !
think he will become a smart man, as
he is quick to learn. The other, agrown
man, lives with n Of u companies.
We have about a dozen monkeys, as
many dogs and several Fighting birds
on board. They have a great time to
gether. The monkeys and the dogs
play together until the monkey gets
hurt, then he scampers away and
seemingly repents of having been too
familiar with the canine.
We have reveille at 6 a. m, coffee
and bareback" at $50, breakfast at
9, dinner at 8 p. m, and retreat at 6 D..
m. When the band strikes up The
Star Spanked Banner" we all take eff
our hats. At ten minutes after 6 we
have more coffee and ''hardtack," and
at 9 p. n. we retire to our sweat
boxes" in the ship There are electric
fans in Jul sleeping quarters, but they
don't keep it cool enough, therefore we
must suffer. There is not much sick
ness among our boys.
The arrival of mail is an important
event here. The eagerness shown by
the boys when mail is mentioned shows
clearly how glad they are to hear from
the loved one at home.
Why we are kept here, and not
allowed to land, is a mystery to me. 1
suppose 1t is because of a blunder at
Washington. Our officers have nice
times sailing on the bay, while we must
stay on the ship. Their quarters are
cool and clean. The natives Of this
island speak a different language from
those of Luzon. I'm told that on each
island the natives speak a different
language. While some Of my com.
rades were working On a tug boat,