Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-06-15
FRANK HALSTEAD
Writes Another Letter to the Fox Lake.
Wis.,, Representative,

WIS.,, Representative,
Malolos p. l., April IL, 1899.
Ed. Representative: Things have
changed materially since my last
letter. On the morning of March
25th we we're drawn up in line Of
skirmishers together with Pennsyl-
vania, Montana and Nebraska regi-
msnts and the Utah Artillery, form
ing line extending about three miles.
The order came at daybreak to
forward march," and away we went
from the trenches at the block houses.
We were now on our way to Malolas,
the rebel capital. We had gone about
200 yds. we were fired upon from the in
surgents trenches. The 4th infantry
which had just arrived from the states
were put In our trenches to guard the
city, and they say the charge We made
paralyzed them-said they saw moth.
ing like it In Cuba. AS our men were
armed with the old Springfield rifles
and the insurgents with long range
Mausers, the only way Of fighting them
is to charge under their terrible fire
until we can get in range Of them,
when invariably Mr.. Mig has urgent
business elsewhere. He strikes rag
time gait and the distance of rice
fields he can cover in short space OF
time is a marvel. When he arrived in
another place of shelter he makes
another stand and the same tactics
are gone through with as before.
Our pilgrimage to this place con-
sumed one weeks time, although it is
but 80 miles. All bridges were burn
ed and roads made as nearly impass-
able as possible by the heetcfooted
warriors. We forded rivers, climbed
mountains, carved our way through
dence underbrush, built bridges,
foundered In mud creeks, and used
uncomplimentary language about
things In general and Filipinos es.
pecially, every day Of the march.
Malolas was taken with little or nc
trouble, the natives having hit the
trail for parts unknown, taking their
worldly belongings with them in a
handkerchief, leaving their bamboo
homes 6esolate. Aguinaldo's palace
was burning, as was nearly all the
better class of shacks Of the town
when we got there. Since that time
March 3lst, we have done but little
are in camp near the city. Nearly
every night at about IL we have ar
attack on our camp by the dusky
neighbors, but they are easily driven
off.
Just what we will do next is a puzzle
1t has been clearly demonstrated that
we can whip them IL we could ONLY
catch them, but the latter Is tough
proposition. as 1t is so hot the msr
cannot stand it to hike" very fal
without seeking the shade of tree
Since arriving here the volunteer
have been issued Krag- Jorgsnsen rifle
and predict more fatalities in th'
Filipinos ranks from this on.
We have all hoped to see this scraI
ended with the Philippine Com
MISSIONS new proclamation to tn,
Filipinos, but they don't seem t.
listen to reason or argument. The
are going to Danish US from the islant
or die in the attempt. In the mean
time we homesick volunteers hav,
given up the idea OF going back +,
native land for another year.
Received two copies of Represent
ative today, also two sticks OF Yuca
tan chewing gum from my frlent
Potts. While i appreciate the latte
gift, both for its intrinsic value ant
the source from whence it came.
must remind the gentlemen that
chew nothing but spruce-genuin,
spruce. Another letter "poco tempo.
F. M. HALsTEAD,
Bandmaster, So. Oak. Volunteers