Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-08-03
DIARY OF A PHILIPPINE CAPTIVE.

DIARY OF A PHILIPPINE CAPTIVE.
Mr.. A. Bishop referred to in the
following clipping is a brother of
Dentist John Bishop of this city.
AS the family have heard nothing
from thir absent member, they are
very anXiously awaiting for tidings.
1t is fine descriptive article and
will be read with interest:
Freedom. one of the American news
papers published in Manila, tells a strange
story revealed by scraps of paper discov-
as as a jail by the insurgents at San Isidor.
The scraps of paper purport to be a record
OF the life and treatment of the Americans
to fall into the gentle hands of the insl1rp-
ents; The first and last pages We're miss
ing, but on a separate sheet We're signed
the following names:
Lieutenant J. c. Gilmore chief quarter
master; W. Walton, p. Fandrit, ]. Ellis
worth, coxswain; l.. P. Edwards, S. Briso-
less: a. Jefferson and a. Anderson of the
II. HUBER and a. Sonnichsen, hospital
cor =: 5: A.; J. 3,BTien, United States
transport service; w. Bruce and Horny
Battery H. Third artillery.
The diary was written old scraps of
paper now dirty and foul smelling, While
the writing is barely discernible and the
identity of the writer is not known 1t
reads as follows:
At about 8 o'clock we were started on the
march again without breakfast. Many of
the Spaniards were so sick that they
could hardly walk, but the natives stuck
aser w aho snflr gsi aa all then tbe s
That word shall never forget. for it rang
continually cont y, ,ily in our ears, "SiseI; siger!
better condition he r1
so they put us ahead, but every once in
Will, While we had to stop and wait for the
onment, hunger and harsh treatment had
left them in a poor condition to march in
dusty road, under broiling hot sun. AT
TINS place Brown and | had our coats
stolen, but Spaniard found my coat
hidden away in a carramenta and recov-
cred it for me, but everything was stolen
from his again. AT 2 we resumed et the
march and the women had to tramp the
same as the men. We took to the road to
mountains and soon came into rather
rough country, with not house IN sight.
At ABOUT that evening we arrived at
Spaniards and myself were crowded into
cellar about 20x20 feet. In the morning
we tried to pursuade them to give us
something to eat, but even the officers
told US that wind and patience was all
we could get. At about II we resumed the
march for San Miguel. On the way it was
/
"somebody's" field and took them with 18th
out saying word to the owners. The
about three in the afternoon we reached
san Miguel, quite a large town. We were
halted in the plaza, while the people
thronged around to see u.s. nearly Snloth-
erlng us. Insults of all sorts were heaped
upon US, the more so as being desperate
With hunger we returned some of them
one kind. hearted native at length gave
us turnip apiece. We were taken up into
a convent at last and lay down on the
floor, trying to rest, but hunger kept us
awake. At length another Kind hearted
Philipino offered us some cold rice in a
basket, but there was only enough to irr-
across the plaza to prison where our
friends, the Spaniards, were confined. We
were kept outside the door so that the
populace could see us. We saw cart pass
with figure representation of the last
supper on it. thought how we'll we could
i've on the price of the rich silk robes
| been hard looking set, dusty. dirty, rag
| geed and sunburned as we sat there. wond-
erlng how much longer we would be
starved. 4 !Spaniard 1notioned to me and
| asked me If wasted a drink of water. He
SAID that one at time could come. L
wasn't really thirsty, but he looked as if
for some reason, therefore / followed him.
de led me into the prison into a cell where
two Spaniardss sat at table. AS came
and could feel that there was money in
| it. tried to thank him. but the guard
| put IN an appearance and | was obliged to
leave the room. On opening the paper we
| found nearly So in silver; enough to keep
! US in food for a week. We dared not thank
them openly before the guards, but have
no doubt that they could read the graft
! tude in our eyes. That evening the Span
| lards brought us rice, fish, cigars, two
chickens, biscuits and a whole bottle of
brandy. One of these Spaniards was a
merchant tor seven years in San Miguel.
| native parliament the day before and that
| all but one were in favor of surrenderinp
| to the Americans. Next morning at about
ii O'Clock we took to the road again after
eating good breakfast Many of the
Spaniards We're obliged to ride in the OK
carts, as they could no longer put one foot
before the other. We marched all day at
| good gait and in the evening found our
selves in San Isidor. The populace proved
themselves exceedingly hostile One
would dig us in the ribs and Jump back
| into the crowd to hide AT least fifty boxes
or matches were consumed in lighting up
our faces so that they could get good
| look at us. The cutthroat sign was made
| TO us by everyone of them and popular
| dlgnation ran high. We stood for about
two hours before we were moved to a large
brick building-a prison. They put us in a
cell that was very comfortable. They
gave us pot of rice for supper, then scarce
y barred the door. The next day the
Spaniards were prohibited from speaking
to US, but in spite of that we managed to
lind out that an armistic of two DAYS had
been declared. In the evening a process
| ion passed us. Four or five carts, gaily
decorated with representations of the