Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-10
From Captain Elliott.

From Captain Elliott.
My Darling Wife and Precious Children:
1 just came in from the front for a few
hours rest. Corporal Elliott is with me
This is the second time that have been
absent from the firing line since the night
or the 4th--twenty-two days ago. l would
not be in now only for the fact that !
have suffered almost intolerable torture
for over week from an aching tooth;
as consequence my face and throat are
swollen and I can swallow only liquids.
But 1 am improving now, and In few
days expect to be all right. In the mean
time. understand me, I have not relin-
pushed my post of duty.
One night last week the rebels in the
city broke out and got between our lines
in the Tondo district. They fired their
own homes and those of the Chinese, and
such fire as followed was probably
never before witnessed on earth. The
burning Of Moscow, or the great fire in
London may have been greater but
doubt it. Sergeant Elliott and Corporal
Clark witnessed the appalling scene. The
crack of the rifles of the soldiers and the
kissing bullets from the insurgents guns,
and, too, the roar of the flames and the
crash of falling buildings was too terrible
for description. The fire covered a space
four miles long and from one to two miles
in width. reaching almost into the heart
Of the city. From 5000 to $4,000 people
rendered homeless. Hundreds and hundreds
were burned-how many. God only knows.
Talk about war being ''hell," this war
beats the hottest estimate ever made of
contain 1900 inhabitants. The Twentieth
Kansas swept through it and now Caloocan
contains not one living native. OF the
buildings, the battered walls Of the great
church and the dismal prison alone remain.
The shops, roundhouse and depot buildings
of the English railroad were spared, but
nothing else. The village of Maypaja,
where our first fight occurred on the night
of the 4th, had 5000 people in it at that
day-ncw not one stone remains upon top
Of another. You can only family imagine
this terrible scene Of desolation. War is
worse than hell. Through all this Company
G has escaped without casualty. Praise
the Lord. .-
Talk about soldiers No country under
God Almighty's sun ever put such gallant
heroes into the field Of strife and no state
in the Union has sent out better men
than Kansas The praises Of the TWEEN
tieth Kansas are heard on every side.
have company that will go anywhere,
stay anywhere and stand anywhere.
have had from seventy to seventy-five en-
listed men in the trenches every day since
the fight began. The sun is hot the duty
arduous, the mosquitoes terrible, but when
the work is to be done, my gallant boys
are always where they are needed. If
I live to see the end, or respite, I will
write you connected account of Company
G's part in the affair. Reinforcements are
arriving and ION to Malolos" will soon be
the cry. That city is the capital and strong
hold Of the enemy. When it is taken the
Twentieth will be there, and don't for
get 1t.
Monday. Feb. 27.-An quiet at our front.
1 will close my letter because 1 am not
making a success in writing. My throat
is sore and my jaw still pains me- Love
and kisses for all. God bless and keep
you. my precious ones.
YOUR HUSBAND AND PAPA.