The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-05
The Life of a Sold;.,
In The
Gloomy,
reacherous
Savan1p Lands
Of the
Pasig R!ver.

fight from daylight to dark, VIII
out food or rest or shelter from i. |
tropical heat; but when ,h.s
paused in front of the little mon.
grown stone church to await ,h.,.
orders for the night the Wasb;na,
ton boys wanted to 90 on. The,
were eager to fight, and there vs.,
nothing tishtable left in the pls,s
The sun had risen on town mi |
OF little men in blue and win.
striped soldier suits, armed vii,
Mausers and confident of VICTOR
1t set on the town full Of ii. |
Washington regiment, with thu |
Stars and Stripes floating over on
Of the few houses that had ESCAPED
the flames.
And the Washington boys new
went back. From that day TO h |
day they set sail on the Pennsyl
vania they guarded the countr
from Santa Ana to Pasig.
1t was lonely country to guard
and desperate one. There WI
a deal of treachery lurking in b. |
thick bainboos and plenty Of NJ
pa huts in which to harbor III |
enemy and weapons. The PAS,
river, with its swamps, was j
gloomy, lonely and dangerous
place for an outpost, and | fanr
there was never a night the bcy,|
were on duty that they escape
being fired upon and molested IN |
other ways. Soldier life is not th|
easiest in the world in the Philip
pine islands.
But the boys did their work
well, never faltering nor complain
ing, though battle followed baths
and one long march succeeded IN
other. They stood the heavy rains
and did their duty standing ID
mud and water to the waists, an
those that came back can than
their mothers for the constitutes
they received at their birth.
In Manila, at headquarters =
pecially, the Washington regimn;
was appreciated. No one heard d
any mass meetings held nor an
petitions to be sent home. The
were given practically a post O
honor, for they held position tna
was vital for the protection OF u
city; their colonel was given CON
mand of a brigade, and in vsry
large engagements they were caLa
out.
When the regiment marched
into Manila to set sail for hone
they were tired, many of them u
from long duty and hours Of mud
and rain-most Of them unshasea
and all unshorn. Many OF tnen
had seen little of Manila SINE %
fighting had begun, and some 1904
cd as though they had never hope,
to see it. But the old flag tlu'tee'
gavly in the sunlight and the reg
mental colors showed proudly =,
its side. and the Washington osaa
PLAYED "a Hot Time" with al y
melodious might. :.
There were vacant places in u
ranks, too-some who had mafea
ed into Manila eager and well Wv
were not there to march onf.
But for the loved ones at hons
that have 10 one to greet when V.
regiment marches in, ana oa' ~
memory Of dear eyes and lil's N =
hands, hands to carry them through !.
the years to come, there y :.
knowledge that none col1o -. 49,
been braver nor have dons -
duty better. -,
| saw them in peace and | :"
them fight, ana a few Of 'as -,
saw when they fell, on 'n ,. j
marches and in the hospi'sl, -
always tAey were Cheerful
brave AM loyal. .,,-.,r
And | have come 70 'ni. =. 1T
tho davs in the old white ci', Il /
the solder lad might brsa. -
eleven commandments ana !; I'd j
heaven, and that the old ia . !. y
the blue flannel shirts ana I'D
tered campaign hats ~
among royal robes. INT |