The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-09
CHRISTMAS IN MANILA.
A Letter From the Philippines Written
Before the Fight.


Great Falls, Feb S.-W. F, Tanna-
hauser has received another letter. this
time from Charles S. Hoerman, SER
geant of Company A, written under
date of Dec. 2S. After describing the
scene when the Christmas boxes from
Great Falls were opened and the graft
tude of the boys at being remembered
the letter says:
christmas day in this ancient city
was a rather quiet one for the Ameri-
can soldiers, thousands of miles from
our dear old homes in Gods country,
the place most loved and desired by us
all, on that the greatest of feast days.
In the forenoon many of the boys at
tended services in the magnificent ca
thedrals, which We're constructed CEN
turtles ago. Within all was grandeur
and beauty, there stood marvellous pill
lars of ancient architecture, while beau
tiful paintings by great masters decked
the walls of this palace of worship. Its
blended in harmony with the beautiful
service and sermon we had the honor
to attend
Our Christmas dinner was enjoyed
by all. Our menu consisted of the best
to be obtained, all the way from a big
fattened gobbler to the good old fash
Toned pumpkin pies, such only as
lowed with genuine American cigars
and a delicious 40-pound fruit cake, pre-
scented by Great Falls citizens. The day
finally. closed, and our first Christmas,
and we hope the last, in the Philip
pinss,e was a pleasant--but quiet affair,
and all hoped that our Lords day one
year hence will be ,eommemorated in the
land of the free and home of the brave.
"All our boys are getting along nicely.
Mccormack will be back with the COM
pany in, a few days from the quarantine
hospital, where he has been for some
time. Brown is doing well. and Elliot.
who has been in the hospital ever since
we arrived, has undergone an examina-
ton for incapacitye and will be given
his discharge and sent home. The bal
ance Of the company are enjoying good
health, aud we can wish nothing more.
Our daity routine isi;yery light and the
boys do not exert themselves.
"a OF oyr GomRanygseveral are on de-
tached duty. Boots is clerking at head
quarters, Blair-is detailed for the same
? work with the quartermasters depart
ment, and Anspaeh is with Brigadier
General Macarthur, Thomas is baton
,slinger,, of the band and is doing well.
,Kuppar as sergeant major. has no equal
aud Sour guard-mount under his super
Vision presents a fine appearance.
1Sth-regulars, 18th, list Iowa vol
unteers and 9th artillery. proceeded to
Iloii a couple of days ago, where trou-
BILE has been brewing between the in
surgents and Spaniards for some time
Now we are able to see what stand
Aguinaldo takes in the situation. The
result is that the insurgent congress met
at Maloalis to discuss the ACCESSIBILITY
of laying down their arms. or to con-
tnue = hostilities. Aguinaldd favored
peace with the United States, as also
did one of his cabinet. He is no longer
insurgent leader, and-is now, auartered
at Cavite. No matter what the situa-
stion, the insurgents of the council who
voted to wage war will in the near
future, be compelled to fight or lay down
their arms. Were the United States to
establish civil government in Manila,
she would not tolerate an entrenched
enemy surrounding her. as is the situa-
ton at the present time, Something
would be DONE
Our regiment being in the second bri-
gade was called out one night last
week, it having been reported that the
insurgents had broken through the
outposts. This call happened about