The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-12-15

hear it long after we left the house.
mos, certainly will visit these kind and
hospitab!e people if it is ever my luck to
touch at Honolulu again.
Well! we left the islands where they
wear flower wreaths, on the evening of
the 1lth and pushed out into the broad
Pacific tor the long stretch. The only
episode of note unit we sighted Luzon
was passing close to volcano in the
I>adrone Islands, named Pharos, which
was i'll active eruption. 1t is sight of a
lifetime, and this special mountain seems
to rise abruptly from the ocean; in fact
the island itself comprises the volcano or
vice versa. We sighted. it just before
sunset, SO had good view of it both by
day and night. We skirted ong the
north shore of Luzon and strange to saw
were .neven spoken. Ishonld think there
ought to be strict patrol kept on this
Japan, etc. Well! we passed Corregidor
Island, which lies at the entrance to the
harbor, or Bay OF Manila to speak more
correctly, at daybreak ofJuly Both, and
passed close to Cavite and Bacoor Bay,
where Dewey did 'em. The wrecks Of
many Of the Spanish vessels are to be
seen, some beeched, others showing their
upperworks. We did not get ashore till
August LIST and had to march from the
dock up to the exposition grounds,
Ermlta, where our regiment had its head
quarters. We put in very nice time at
Ermita, being contiguous to the city,
played concerts frequently on the Luneta
the fashionable drlvei and got in the
time comfortably enough, but were glad
W Ell our barracks were ready for us.
Our horses followed us about three
weeks after we landed here, but we got
very little use Of them, as they took them
from us to mount some of the troops.
Well! Harry, I've not killed any Fill
pinos yet and am hardly likely to, but
we've been under arms several times an
also had night alarms. The fighting line
is only short distance away. We can
hear the firing distinctly and sometimes
Mauser comes ripping through the
bamboo thicke.s around. us, but we're
not liable to be molested any more just
at present as the boys gained decisive
victory over the instructors the day be-
fore yesterday, killing an awful lot of
them. We, that is the band, have been
left to garrison the fort tor the last week;
as all the troops are at the front, and it's
quite move ty for us to be doing SOL
DIES duty. There's some talk about
vo unteerlng as body to 20 out. to the
firing line and l believe it will stick.
These natives are not to be compared
to my Kanaka friends; they are treacl,er-
GUS and greedy, but not savages by any
mean-, Ill fact, most of them can read
and write. They are enthusiastic mu-
sicians. 1t is comical to see lot OF picca-
nlnnies about six to twelve years old,
naked tor the most part, holding band
rehearsal. had the privilege the other
morning to witness one, unseen myself.
The leader had a baton and stood on
raised block. The kids had bogus
instruments, made mostly of bamboo.
The signal was given and away they
went, in.talIns very creditably march
named "Geralda," with their mouths.
We had played this two days before for
the first time and these little rats had the
most OF the melody perfect, and even got
in bass drum and cymbal parts. laugh.
ed quietly till could hold in no longer
1T the gesticulalions of the leader, then
exploded. III one second, by the watch,
that Sand vanished.
We,!! Harry, remember me to all old
friends in dear PemDina. I'll not specify
any names but mean all the boys and
girls too, both old and young. was
shocked to hear Of the death of Major
and Vim. Moornead. Write me long
letter as soon as possible for charity's
sake, and pardon my seemin. neglect
I may drop you another before get an
answer to this. SO do not delay answer.
inp. Aid ess me, Z. OLpFIkLD,
Fourth Cavalry Band. Manila, P. l. |