The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-03-30

be true. But alas, when l walked over
the bodies of dead comrades, blood oozng
out of great, gaping wounds in their side
or head. knew it was hellish reality,
and PRAYED to God then as never
prayed before that | might be spared
from ever gazing on such another blood
curdling scene as long rs live. The
first man | saw fall was Just after we
started to charge. Our line of charge
was across rice field and creek, without
a particle OF protection. | started across
side by side with a fine young fellow
from NJ Company (did not learn his
name.) We were wading along, drag
ging first one foot and then the other out
of the mud; our progress was slow and
painful and the Maussr bullets were
Tipping" all around US. Just as we got
about three.fourths OF the wav across
bullet struck him he threw up his hands
and reeled backward There goes poor
Joe Lanier," some one said, and on We
went. The thought that flashed across
my mind at this moment will never for
get as long as live. saw some sights
on that Sunday morning that wish
might be shut out from my vision forever.
Some men are like tigers let them get
taste of blood and the last spark of
merciful, gentle, christian elevating char
acter is extinguished; for the time being
they are beasts, blood-thirsiy and re-
vengeful, and woe betide those on whom
they take revenge. Some of our men
think that because the Filipinos butcher
and torture our men that we ought to do
the same with them. l cannot feel any
personal hatred against the natives; |
only feel sorry for them. Poor devils.
they are ignorant and know not what
they do. They do not realize that they
are striking their best benefactOr; they
believe they are fighting for their liberty
and while they believe this | glory in
their spunk. But there are those who,
knowing better. deceive the Filipinos /;
who told them that they could whip US
and who, while claiming to be non-com-
can to assist our foe and to hinder our
cause; who oppose us for the same rea-
son that the silversmith opposed Paul,
because they see that their means of gain
is gone. On them ought to fall the full
penalty of a righteous Judgment. One
OF the wounded men we captured had a
square piece OF cardboard tied around
his neck. He said that all the Filipino
soldiers wore them; that the priests
blessed them and sold them to them,
telling them that they could not be hit
by bullet while wearing one of the
badges. This is Just sample of how
they dupe these ignorant people. We
captured 1000 or 5000 prisoners and
make them do all our work. The women
and children have not been molested.
They come out every day visiting the
men, bringing them food and clothing.
A woman came to our quarters the other
night, crying. She wanted to know if
her husband would be turned loose
"poka tempe" pretty soon) and she
went awav overjoyed. The prisoners
were sent out the day alter the battle to
bury the dead lying on the battlefield.
The women thought they we're being
taken out to be shot as that was the way
the Spaniards were used to treating them.
| Long before this reaches you | think
the fight will be over and the stars and
stripes will proudly wave over every city
and hamlet of the Philippines. Our
mode OF pushing things to a climax gets
away with these people. II is new
wrinkle" with them. In their fighting
with the Spanisrds they would line Up
and pump lead during the night, then
withdraw, recruit up during the day and
then go at it again the next night, charge
and fire and then retreat. But the Amer
lean soldier doesn't do business that way
Once let him get started and he's as hard
to stop as yearling calf. The insurgents
kept their rifles hot during the early
morning hours under the cover of dark
ness, but when morning came their firing
almost entirely ceased, showing they
were willing to retire but we didn't see
things that way. We thought we might
as well settle the thing once and forever
and at 'em we went. Our line was
drawn up in skirmish line in a large.
open rice field on one side OF the road
and on the other a few trees and native
huts furnished partial shelter for our
men. The open place was completely
surrounded by a forest and from this
shelter the eDemy's rifles cracked and