Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-09

Yesterday Ensign John S. Doddridge,
of the United States protected cruiser
Boston, arrived in the city on the 11:40
B. & O. train from the west, after an
absence from the city dating from June,
1895. He found warm Welcome
awaiting him when he stepped from the
train and has been the recipient of en-
thusiastic attention at his aunts'. the
Misses Doddridge, at No. 12S North
Front street, Island, where he will make
his home during his indefinite stay in
the city.
Lieut.. Doddridge is a Wheeling pro-
duct of whom our citizens can well be
proud, and his active participation in
the great victory at Manila on the first
of May last, entities him to a share of
the honor so literally bestowed upon
that heroic squadron and its intrepid
leader. At the now historic battle of
Manila bay, Dewey's' fleet assumed
what is technically known as the coll
umn formation with the Boston at the
extreme rear. and as the ships enfillat-
ed past Cavite they were subjected to
terrible fusillade of shell and solid
shot from the shore batteries. All
through it Lieut.. Doddridge was at his
post on the upper deck, and he most
unassumingly but confidently AYERS he
80
tension greater than he has sometimes
felt over a tight tussle in a game of
foot ball. The Boston was struck six
times, one shell exploding in the young
heutenant's state room, but the story
first published by a San Francisco
paper that he was near by when the
incident occurred is erroneous. The
coclness of all on board throughout the
engagement, he says, was phenomenal
even when death screamed and roared
upon every side. The fact that there
were no casualties on the Boston gave
the men confidence, and they slipped
the coffee brought them by the ships
steward, while at their posts, when
given moments respite, as blandly as
though seated at the mess tables with
naught to harm or fear.
The young officer left Manila on board
the Z. s. mail ship Coptic on December
9TH, and arrived at San Francisco on Feb.
I'd. When he left the islands the temper
AZURE was ranging from 60 to 80 degrees,
and open air concerts by the marine bands
was feature of the evenings. Mr.. Dod-
bridge is bronZed by the southern heat
and has a rugged appearance that con-
firms his statements that he has enjoyed
excellent health all through his three
years and seven months cruise in Asiatic
waters. Just before the battle of Manila
he was fortunate in having secured few
hours sleep and a nibble of bareback.
which enabled him to pass through the
experiences with but slight feeling of ex-
haustion The only Ill effect was a sense
of numbness of the ears resulting from
conclusion.
Mr.. Doddridge describes the Filipinos
as small of stature. dark complexioned
but not black, with typical Malay features
and straight black hair. The Mestizos
are half breeds-Chnese and native-of
whom there are about 5000 in the city of
Manila. The social and business life of
the inhabitants is quite primitive. and
some of their customs appear very odd to
an American. For illustration they are
fervent religionists and are equally in love
with cockhghtng, which appears to be
the national sport. In the forenoon they
go to church with a rooster, gaffs and
other paraphernalia of the cooking main
tucked under their loose fitting shirts, and
after church enjoy themselves in a who.e-
sale Indulgence of the sport. The edu-
Gated class are good lingu!sts, well trav-
elled and shrewd. but they are triHing In