The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-20
4 TAGALO'S STORY.
INTERVIEW WITH A CAPTURED
FILIPINO SOLDIER.
Coaxed Into the Army by Promises
Of the Insurgent
Officers. ~,s

The following is from the Santa Rita
Up. - correspondence of the Boston
Globe:
Here is a story of a captured soldier
of the Filipino army, as told by himself.
have made only the necessary lido
NAUTICAL changes in his account, and
the whole may be taken as fair set
ting forth Of the situation as viewed by
the eyes Of a soldier for independence.
When 1 first saw this man he was in
cart that had toiled through the mud
from Bacolor to these headquarters,
and there was in his eyes that fearful
look so commonly seen among the ig-
norant when brought before those in
authority
On that day General Wheeler had
him brought before him, and it was
only with difficulty that anything could
be learned from the poor shaking crea-
ture, Notwithstanding the fact that the
General used his most kindly manner
and at first asked but trivial questions
To-day, however, when I entered the
prison room in the old convent that is
used as headquarters of our interior
guard, quick change in look and de-
SOIQleT,
though a captive, stood before me.
He brought up his hand smartly in
salute and when the courtesy had been
returned, began voluble but dignified
expression of appreciation of the treat
ment given him by our men, and, when
l explained my wishes, he stood for a
moment gazing out of the window, then
turning he spread out both hands with
quick downward thrust toward me-
saying in his native Tagal: "I'll do it,
With this determination all reserve
vanished, and he thus began: 81 am
Tagalo. and when the war was talked
OF lived in the Tondo district of Ma
nila- I am now % years old and was
formerly fisherman. have been mar
ried now little over a year and have
one child, but I have never seen my
baby"
He paused briefly, then continued: st
had not thought of going in, but in
FEBRUARY 1 got into it. I was not alone
In not wanting war; a great many of
us didn't want it, but we were forced
in by the Generals. They threatened
US with destroying our property and
killing US and our families.
COAXED INTO WAR.
zone day 1 met General Pataleon
Garcia in the street, and l had a long
talk with him about the war 1t lasted
about an hour. He told me a great
deal about independence. He told me
that when we got our independence we
would have good times; that some
would have fine positions; that the SOL
dlers especially would have good for
tune awaiting them. He said that, of
course, some of the soldiers would be
killed, but that there would not be
much of a fight, and that in a month
we would all be in Manila.
He also told me great deal about
the Americans, saying that they were a.
bad people, and would commit and were
committing all sorts of outrages on our
property and families; but he said moth
ing of the Americans as soldiers. He
did say lot about them as people. and
that they were no better than the Span
iSh.
We'll, l had a friend, and it was he
Who induced me to go. His name is
Feliz Carpio. and he is now a Lieuten-
ant I met him at Caloocan in the
street and had a talk with him about
the talk of war and what was to be
promising to make me a clerk if I
would go, and said that I'd go. No, I
never discussed my going with my wife.
simply went off and left her"
Then his dark, strong face was turned
away. 1t was very still in the guard
room.
From without came the sound of the
SLOW, steady tramp of the Ninth In
fantry sentinel as he paced back and
forth under the gray stone archway.
The interpreter looking down marked
lines with his toe ON the dust strewn
floor. Thus he waited. When he again
turned his face to resume his story his
eyes had been softened by tears, but
We two who sat waiting had also left
somebody miles and miles away. and
we easily pardoned the weakness of the
barefooted man insthe soiled blue and
white uniform.
Well he continued, when I de-
cided to go, the officers kept me with
them 1 never went home again, but
remained in Caloocan. There were no
ceremonies to undergo, no oath was
taken, no promises made by either side.
Neither were any papers signed. We do
not have enlistment papers The Cap
tains have the list of names of men in
their companies and that is all.
1t seems that all they want is men.
1 was put at some clerical work, had
little drill and did some manual labor.
but for the most of the day we sat
around and talked. Frequently our off,
GERS would come to US and tell us how
well we were doing, but for the most of
the time we just waited
BEGINNING OF THE FIGHTING.
i was still at Caloocan when the
fighting began. I was talking to
friend when the sound of firing came.
He was from my home and had just
been telling me that my wife wanted
me. Immediately there was great con-
fusion. Everybody that I saw was
hurrying; soldiers were rushing toward
Manila-the old men, women and chill
dren were hurrying the other way.
The next morning Sunday, a great
many people came out of Manila. Most
all of them carried great burdens. o,
how they were struggling to carry the
heavy loads! And that morning, when
the firing recommended, the soldiers
We're very much frightened. and tho
confusion began all over again A great
many soldiers were going toward Ma
Mia to help fight
Soon after noon a great many of the
soldiers came running back They were
much frightened. We could scarcely