Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-09
IN THE PHILIPPINE WAR.
During the Charge at Caloocan Men
Forgot the Roar Of Battle to
Chase Pig.

| 800 ~ SAoAlAoui, i1ellES anu glory is
drawn aside there is nothing left save
bleaching skeletons, and the dcsolate
homes. In battle there is the screech
of shells and the dull report of their
explosion, the thunder of field pieces,
sending pounds of solid steel toward
an enemy; there is the rattle Of small
arms. like the roll of distant drums,
the binding smoke, the singing of
mausers and the hum of remingtons;
there is the clatter of affrightencd
monkeys. the scolding of parrots, the
howls of Sinking ours and then, in
the wake of the victors arise the smoke
and flame of burning huts Add to this
pandemonium the hoarsc ye!ls Of the
conbatants, the cries OF homeless wom-
en- and children, the groans of the
wounded, the set faces Of the dead and
one may have faint conception of
small engagement in tropic land.
During the first engagement, while
the company was firing at will into the
woods ahead, a forlorn water buffalo,
the national beast Of burden, mean
dcred into thcrice-ficld direct " in front
OF the line. The writer immediately di-
rectcd his fire toward the buffalo with
no apparent result. Afterward, during
Il lull in the firing, we shamefully con-
fcSsed to having wasted our strength in
this ignoblc manner and were surprised
to learn that every man had done like
! wise. At all events, the beast made
good its escape, for it patiently plodded
ahead until the timber swallowed it M
During the charge ut Calooc;ln Il frell-
zied pig of tliminltivc size dashed from
beneath a bamboo hut and, apparently,
| judging that all the connection was for
his benefit, thought best to retire. AS
the pig dashed past the writer it was
gently assisted With Il shove from the
butt of our gun and thought no moro
of it for some time. Aftcrward, upon
glancing to the rear, we saw four or
five soldiers in hot pursuit of the same
poor little swine. 1t is laughablc, even
chase hog, but when men forsalc
their places, forget the roar Of conflict,
the hum of bullets. the shouts Of the
victors and the walls of the wounded,
to grapple with an eight-pound shoat,
the scene becomes ludicrous in the ex-
IRENE. We took the trouble to learn
that the pggot away.
At night the natives take great de
light in holding love fensts, and the
sound of reyelry is very distinct. The
tllipinos are natural born musicians,
and their band entertains us with such
tunes us "After the Ball, "Hot Time"
Stand Up for Jesus" ''The Star Span
! gled Banner" and Throw Out the Life
line" 1t isa mystery where and.when
they learned these American melodies,
but the fact remains that they do know
them and render the same with remark
able accuracy.
The Filipino has great contempt for
the Chnaman as fighter, hence ia
vorite yell Of the insurgentsis: "Amer-
icano Chino ngual!" (Amerisan and
Chinaman equnl) This sally always
brings forth the heartiest applause
from listening rebels. We were much
amused last night by one. ''Rcady!
Aim! FIRE." cried he, and laughed
loudly at his own wit. \ few nights
since one of our bug1ers played taps y
and Immediately some natives began
! the "reveile, ''intimating that no sooner
would we be in bed than we must, of
necessity, arise.
y most distressing accident befel!
'boatload oflgorrotes not long since. 1t
was in this wise: The monitor Monad-
| mock lies just off Malabon, and at night
lights up the whole country with its
searchlights. The wild men did not ex-
actly admire this method of competing
with the sun, SO bethought themselves
OF plan to capture the floating fort.
Accordingly, large rowbont was pro
cured and speedily filled with an ag-
gregation Of these patriots. Having APP
preached within 100 yards, the bar
barians discharged a volley of steel
tipped arrows. and waited patiently in
the hope Of seeing the ship sink. The
Monadnock discharged n three-inch
gun in return. So far, three arms, two
wisdom teeth, parts of four legs and n
piece Of wood have been recovered. 1t
is feared that some Of the natives were
killed
At Caloocan the rebels had mounted
two monstsous muzzle-loading guns
captured in former times from the
Spanish. They attempted to fire one Of
these, with direful results. The Amer
leans collected the remains OF 20 rebels
killed by the explosion Of the gun. The
insurgents had not the courage to fire
the remaining cannon, which was load
eel and primed when Caloocan was cap
tured.
The natives had loaded the gun with
complete curiosity shop. The can
non was filled with scissors, knives,
coal, pieces Of brick, nails, bolts, Their
mometer, a horse shoe, car link,
piece of rubber hose, and. to crown all,
4 large quantity of hoop iron had been
driven into the muzzle SO tightly that
1T was necessary to file it before the