The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-12-07
FROM THB FRONT.
Letters From Oar Boys In the Philippine
Islands.

L WElb6 you again DeChuS0 We nave
been having some very exciting times.
The night Of the 10Th we were marched
over to Santa Rita, and reached there
about 8 o'clock. After arriving there
We were told to make ourselves as COM
Portable as possible.
Patty, Reynolds and slept for three
hours, when we were lined up and
away. About o'clock we
came to place called Porac, which is
small town the nigers occupy. 1t was
just good day light when we went down
hill and struck the river. The river
is a rushing mountain stream about 75
feet wide and three feet deep, and a
very strong current. The water seemed
to be as cold as ice. Just before we
reached the river we saw three nigers,
who went sculking away. We could
have killed them, but were not given
the opportunity. We went across and
started up kind of road with small
creek for road bed. After about 200
yards we saw some nigers in a rice field
about 300 yards away. Wepoured 1t to
them, and they we're out Of sight in less
time than it takes to tell it. They were
quite a good distance away, but they
made the balls sing over orr heads. We
chased them all away aud marched
back to Porac We got back about $50
and stacked our arms in front of the
church, and most of us went over TO
the river to wash out our shoes. We
were having fine time in the water
when all at once the Mausers and Rem
ingtons came in showers. The foxy
uigers had followed us back to town
and took US very much by surprise.
We dropped what we had and run for
our guns, and the way went after the
nigers was plenty. Just back of the
church there are a number of rice
fields tnat are nothing but mud and
water with rice growing about 20 inches
high. They have system of dykes,
and they are from one to four feet high
and make the best kind of breast works.
The way we sent volleys after them
was plenty. It seemed as if every
one was trying to shoot as often as he
could. We chased them about mile,
and after we got them started they
went.
They wont make much of stand
they always fire from some point where
they can get away quick. 1t was the
greatest chase ! was ever in, and we
were certainly under FIRE. A shot hit
in the water about 30 feet in front of
me; if he had been q little higher he
would have got me. They killed Zeb
Winters OF Co. H. think he enlisted
with Cass at Johnson City. He was
hit in the side. The ball passed thro'
his heart, and came out on the other
side, killing him instantly. His broth
er is in my company, and it was pretty
hard for them both. A fellow by the
name of Sam Williams was hit in the
face. I did not see him, but it is said
he will lose one eye, and may probably
die. He is from Morristown.
| think we had another ono or two
hit, but not seriously. We captured Il
nigers, one Mauser rifle, six tandem
water buffalo teams with their loads oi
provisions and war materials. The
niger who shot winters was up in 9
tree. He was killed. / never got q
shot where I could be any ways sure Of
hitting my man. It was all kind o.
shoot too quick. 1t was an awful hike
| We call trip like this hike.
/ We we're on our feet almost all Of the
| "a hours, and marched % miles besides
the two fights, and as they were thro
rioe fields, almost no solid ground, go
ing in almost to our knees at every
step, you can imagine how near worr
out we were. My feet are worn off tC
the ankles; but guess am all right fol
another hike. Last evening two Of oul
men met couple of nigers who were
recruiting for the Filipino army, Oul
men agreed to meet them this morning
They did SO, and there five nigers. Oul
| men tried to- arrest them, but the1
started to run. One Of them is dead
being buried now-one in the hospita
with bullet in him, and one is in tn,
guard house. The others got away
Our guards brought in two more
while ago, but I don't know what the.
were taken for.
John South and myself got separated
little from the main push, and wer
going down through rice field, whel
we came to where some one had throw
away telescope. I cut the rope an
opened it, and it turned out to belon
to major in the niger army. l got
A calibre s. & ". of Spanish make an
few cartridges in o leather boz
South got set of surgeons tools an
long dagger. The revolver is in goo
working order, but is some what rusty
I cleaned it up this morning and sha
try and send it home. There was
small flag, some clothing, medIei
book, lot Of gun cartridges and . goo
many other things, which the boys Al
propriated to their own use. 1t ais
contained white cap with a shell bill
! and pair of shoulder straps, and Go
Bell told the First Sergeant that b
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