The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-01

Treachery OF the F1llpinos toward
Americans.
Benjamin j. Evans, q member of
Company ID, Fourth Illinois infantry,
who left here in March 1898, for South
America, and afterwards Joined the
United States army, has written sew
eral interesting letters to his sister,
Mrs. p w. Tague, of West Scranton,
describing the life of the soldier in the
Philippine islands.
Mr.. Evans is a son Of Mine Foreman
James A. Evans, of the Diamond, and
is well-known throughout the city,
having been connected with the Young
Mems Christian association while here.
His latest letter, received a few days
ago. is descriptive of the hardships en-
dured by the Americans in Manila and
is as follows:
linus, p. J., June 1S 1899.
Dear Sister: Since writing your last we
nave had good taste of army life. Some
of our soldiers are nearly heart broken,
and we are all very anxious to get back
TO the states again. When l came here
l expected we would encounter some
hardships, but 1t has been tougher than l
from making one of the hardest marches
the American army has made. l have
the word of old soldiers to that effect
and l believe It,
HEAT WAS INTENSE.
We started out June and returned
June s. There were three thousand SOL
diers in the march but the heat was so
intense that they started to drop out the
first day. Some of the companies had
half OF their number fall out on the way
/ was very fortunate in making the trip.
but wouldn't care to make another like
it. One march like that is sufficient in
"A mans life time. We started out to
scout the eastern mountain range where
the insurgents supposed they had a reg
ular Gibraltar and had to climb up
mountains So steep that we had to Just
pail ourselves up by tio roots of trees
and vines, and the enemy was on top
firing at us, but we routed them out of
their strongholds in the mountajns down
to the valley below. There we were re-
lieYed by other regiments to start after
them and round them up.
The fat mules that hauled our provis-
ions when we started were as thin as
rails when we returned and a great num-
Der were in such lad shape they had to
be shot. After returning to the lines all
worn out from marching and loss of
sleep, we expected to have a rest and
rcCuperate before we started out again;
but next morning we had orders to start
on another trip. / presume the com.
manders thought that inasmuch as we
had them located they could capture
them, so we started on our march to as
sist the other regiments.
After travelling all day in the hot sun
and men were dropping out right and left,
overcome by the heat, we halted at
place by the name OF Bacoor which we
captured with very little fighting After
arriving here a heavy rain storm set in,
so the Fourth regiment took possession
of n large church and convent which
there is no scarcity of on these islands.
They are the first thing noticeable on
entering "a village. They are built of
stone and have no glass lights in the
windows, only large iron bars. and no
seats. The natives sit on the floor.
FOR A FORTIFICATION.
They are made with the expectation
of using them as fertilization if nee
essary: but they have learned by this
time that it is certain death to look for
protection in them any more. | wish
you could see some of their churches
where they sought refuge. After our ar
tllery got through with them they
looked like n sieve. Now they play a
ullItGtnI game Dy TellIlnB INTO the most
difficult country for our artillery to go
through
After a few more days rest four COM
panies from the Fourth infantry were
ordered out again to do some scouting
through the enemY's country to find
where they We're located, so the whole
brigade could make a charge on them the
next day. Company d, which l belong
to, was one of the unfortunate COM
hot Io1 e.
we lost eight men out of our company
which is decreasing very rapidly There
were fOrty-nine men off duty from sick
ness and the other companies are in
about the same condition.
1t is reported that there are 10000 sick
soldiers here. So to have men soldering
in this country the companies ought to
have double their force In starting on
this march we had only half the number
Of men our companies should have had.
After marching about eight miles we
were fired upon from both sides of the
road. AS soon as the first volley came,
every man OF his own accord dropped
fiat in the road I never before witnessed
a body of men drop so quickly without
being ordered.
The enemy were concealed In two
| creeks about 200 yards on both sides of
the road on which we were marching.
The creeks run in the same direction as
| the road.
FOOLED THE AMERICANS.
They generally have pickets around
their camping places the same as our
| army, but this time they fooled us Ohoy
must have been informed of a body of
! soldiers coming in their direction), by
| leaving us march right into their camp
| before they fire on us. We were com
| pletely surrounded and had no way of es-
cape, only to fight it out.
| We formed a skirmish line across the
road, each man about five feet apart
and had to shoot as fast as possible
We We're fighting in this locality six
| hours, Both sides of the road was
swampy, marshy land, and were nearly
up to our necks in mud and water, SC
you can Just imagine what a nice looking
| lot Of soldiers we were when we got
through. My rifle got so hot from firing
so long that my hands were one COM
| plete blister.
If 1t hadn't been for one of our mer
| riding back for reinforcements, as sooT
as the first shot was fired, | believe We
would have all been massacred, for oul
| ammunition was about run out when re-
| Inducements came 10 our assistance
| We couldn't retreat on account of having
so many wounded to take care of. The
enemy even chopped off the ears and cu
| out the tongues Of some Of our wounded
We held our post until the next morn
in when we made Il charge on their vii
lage. There was very little trouble II
capturing the place. After destroying
their powder mill we started to linus