The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-07-20
VOICE FROM CAPTIVITY.
DIARY OF BRUCE or A C0MRADE
FOUND IN A FILIPINO PRISON.

The following account Of the terrible
experiences Of American prisoners IN
the hands of the Filippinos, Is copied
from Freedom, a paper published In
Manila, and dated June 4th. We trust
that it will interest our readers. as it
contains news Of Bruce and his fellow
captives which has never before been
published by an American paper:
IN the capture OF San Isldro the
following astonishing scraps from a
diary were found by one of the Oregon
boys. It was discovered under the loose
bamboo flooring of the house used by
the insurgents as jail for their Amer
lean prison RS.
Tine papers purpoft to be the re-
cords of the life and treatment OF the
Americans, who some time ago were
luckless enough to fab into the gentle
hands of the insurgents. The first and
last pages we're missing, but on a sep
arate sheet were signed tho following
names: Lieut.. J. Q. Gilmore, Chief 9.
NJ, w. Walton r. Nandrt, J. Els
worth. Coxswain; L p Edwards, S.
Brisoless, A. Peterson and F. Anderson,
of the L. 5. S. Yorktown. and n. HUI
Der aud A. Sonriehsen, Hospital Corps
U. s. Ali. O'Brien, Z. S. Transport
seryice;W VIM. Bruce and E. Honnyman,
LIST Nevada Cavalry. and A. Bishop,
Battery II. Ord Artillery.
THE diary was written on old scraps
Of paper, now dirty and foul smelling
while the writing is barely 'iscernible,
and the identity of the writer is not
known.
THE DIARY.
aWere women and children all flee
ing from the advancing Americans. A
couple of hours march brought US to
Eu gwa, where all he Spaniards and
ourselves stopped for rest in con-
vent.
AT four we were on the march again.
Among the Spaniards was woman,
the wife of some officer. but she was al
lowed to ride in an ox-cart. About four
hours march brought us TO the banks
of large river, and here we were fer
ried across by large canoe. On the
other side lay Bollaway" our resting
place for the night. We were taken
into convent and put into room
about six by ten feet, with nothing 10
sleep on but the floor and a litter COW
cred with blood. I he sergeant OF the
guard was a Young Spaniard and he
tried to make it as easy as possible for
us, bringing us some rice and fish to
eat. We saw many wounded from the
front here. The next morning we were
awakened by the natives throwing
stones through the windows at us, to
see us move. Hundreds came to gaze
1t us through the door, including
priests.
At about 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
struck them with their guns 10 make
them move faster, shouting 'sigern all
he time. That word shall never for
get. for it rang continually in our ears,
sSigerl Sigerl Sigerl' like man driv-
ing cattle. We were in better condi-
zion than the Spaniards. so they put US
ahead, but every once in while we had
20 wait for the ''Cagandursn Eleven
months imprisonment, hunger and
harsh treatment had left them in a
poor condition 10 march in dusty
Dad under broiling hot sun. A three
hours march broughtus to San Rafael,
| right in the foot hills. They fed US
here on dry rice, without salt or any
hing else. AT this place Brown and
nad our coats stolen, but a Spaniard
'ound my coat hidden away Ia CARA
meta and recovered 1t for me, but every
thing was stolen from the pockets
Brown never heard from his again. Al
5wo we resumed the march, and the
woman had to tramp the same as The
men. We took To a road to the north.
ward now, parallel with the mountains
and soon came into q rather rough
country with not house in sight. AT
bout eight that evening we arrived al
small village called "Boolack" Here
I'll the Spaniards and myself were
.rowded into cellar about 20 by 20 fl.
In the morning we tried to pursuade
hem to give US something TO eat, but
even the officers told US that wind and
patience was all we could get. AT about
.leven we resumed the march for San
Miguel On the way 1t was found ne.
cessary to procure some more caribOus
md two soldiers went into somebody 81
held and took two without wing a word
TO the owners. The whole family came
out CRYING for the caribous. but it was
of no use. The oxen were impressed
into service. At about three in the af-
ternoon reached San Miguel, quite a
large town We were halted in the
plaza, while the people thronged around
Go see us, nearly smothering us. In
suits of all sorts were heaped upon us,
the more so az being desperate with
hunger we returned some OF them. One
kind hearted native at length gave US a
turnip apiece. We we're taken up into
convent at last and lay down on the
floor, trying to rest, but hunger kept
us awake. At length another kind
hearted Filipino offered us some cold
rice Ia a basket. but there was only
enough to irritate our hunger. At four
we we're taken across the plaza to a
prison where our friends, the Spaniards
we're confined. We were kept outside
the door so the populace could see us.
We saw cart pass with figure repre-
sentation of the last supper on IL.
thought how well we could live on the
price OF the rich silk robes which these
idols wore. We must have been hard
looking set, dusty, dirty, ragged aud
sun-burned as we sat there, wondering
how much longer we would be starved
A Spaniard motioned to me and asked
me II wanted drink OF water He
said that one at a time could come.
wasn't ally thirsty, but he lookel as
If he wanted to speak to one OF us pri-
vately for some reason, therefore | fol.
lowed him. He led me into the prison
into cell where two Spaniards sat at a
table. As came in, one jumped up
and gave me paper, and | could feel
that there was money In it. | tried to
thank him but the guard put in an APP
pearance, and was obliged to leave the
room. On opening tn paper We found
nearly two dollars in silver; enough TO