The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-10-26
ANOTHER LETTER FROM
CHAS. HENRY WISSNER.
His impressions Of Manila and
its Surroundings.
MALATE, Manila Province,
August 90, 1899.

nus tpN --''3 iN'''s
We left the steamer Tarter on
Saturday morning in the midst
of q terrific rain storm. The
lighter that carried us teamed
along the breakwater and docked
in the Pasig river a little ways
from It's mouth. A march of u
miles along the seaport brought
us TO Malate, two blocks inland,
and we came to the old exposition
buildings. Our barracks are
buildings built in Filipino style of
bamboo and thatched sides and
roof of palm leaves. They are
water proof and built on piles of
cocoanut palm. We seem to have
struck the only muddy spot in
Manila and its suberbs. Yester-
day, Sunday, secured consent
to attend Mass and had a long
stroll through the whole city.
Malate, 2000 population, is inhab-
tied mostly by natives and Chin
ese. The only large buildings are
the British Consulate and the U.
S. Hospitals. The old town Of
Manila has a wall around it just
like Nuremburg in Bavaria.
There are four gates, moat fill
ed with water and crossed by
four draw bridges surrounds the
wall. Inside the walls are the
homes of the old Spanish Gran
dees, the palace of the Governor
General, the four large churches
and cathedral, the mint, custom
house, court house and prisons.
| found the 25th Kansas holding
the old town and happy at the
idea of returning home. | saw
500 Filipino prisoners of war
guarded by two companies Of the
9th Artillery. The door of the
court house was covered with
Spanish official notices. | tried
to steal one for a relic but was
watched too closely. The houses
of old Manila are built about
court yards like any Spanish
town. One could hardly realize
that he was in the far away Fill
pinas but felt as if every moment
hewould see some Spanish knight
issuing forth to do battle with
the Moors. We entered the town
through the gate of Charles Puer-
to de Carolus) and left it through
the gate Isabella the 2nd puerto
de Isabel IL. Leaving the town
we found ourselves on the banks
of Pasig river which we crossed
on the Bridge of Spain. New Ma
Mia, the town across the river is
entirely given up to business.
Sunday, before the American oc-
cupation, was the busiest day
here. Now, everything is tight
ly closed ON that day. A short
walk through narrow streets
swarming with Filipinos in then
best clothes, brought us to Ton.
do This is the suberb where
the natives rose against the Amer
leans and where half the town
, was burned down. The services
in the two churches which | en-
, tered in old Manila were sparse
ly attended and | could see by
the contemptuous looks cast upor
me that | was out Of place,
The people, the natives, are un
dersized, if contrasted witt
= Americans. They have straight
) black hair and in all kinds o.
, weather are neatness personi
, fed. They wear the lightest
. and gauziest of materials. Theil
feelings towards Americans seen
, to be that of hatred even more
| bitter than against their old mas
terS, the Spaniards, besides they
if they should happen to be
( friendly, are afraid to show theil
e friendliness. Aguinaldo's spies
t throng everywhere and it ha'
) been the experience Of the natives
in the country who have beer
. friendly to the Americans tina
D they are liable to be assassinatet
5 at any time. The hauling here il
r done by means of East India but
I faloes The drivers are alwayi
= under escort of soldiers, and u
r night are placed in a fortified