The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-11
IS COVERED With WATER
The Rainy Season Put a Quietus
on Campaigning.
STATIONED AT CAVITE
Montana Troops Get Rest From Active
Service Before Taking the Trans
ports for Home-Are Anx-
ious to Leave.


man of Boston Heights has received a
letter from his son, Clarence A. Board
man, first lieutenant of Company A,
dated at Cavite, July 2, which reads as
follows
We'll, here we are, back where we
started, in old Cavite. Our third bat
talon was ordered from San Fernando
wednesday, June 2S, to Cavite, to relive
the 10th Pennsylvania infantry, who
have gone home. Owing to a severe
storm We We're unable to cross the bay
until June 80, when we reached Cavite
safe and sound. Our battalion is not
right in Cavite, but occupies an out
post about three miles from here, on
the peninsula south of Cavite. The
duty is not hard, but it was not what
we expected when we We're ordered in
from the line for a rest.
Il am not with the battalion but am
| here in the town. l have been appoint
| ed judge of the provost court for this
district, but my appointment has not
| been confirmed by General Otis yet. l
| expect 1T Will be confirmed in a couple
| OF days. / am also judge of the sum
| mary court for this district and have
the California heavy artillery under my
jurisdiction. These appointments are
only temporary in character, but ex-
| pect to hold them until we start for
home. We will doubtless be stationed
at Cavite until we embark for home,
which we expect to do in a month or
| six weeks.
I'VE are, at least, away from the
front. Although the insurgents are not
supposed to be far away from here, still
they have never caused much trouble
at this point
"Two hattarieS of tho rolifor,;o bao1-y
artillery are occupying the town and
acting as provost guard. They have
under their charge about 500 Filipino
prisoners of war; of this number about
200 are sick and are in the old Spanish
marine hospital on Saumley's point.
They are dying off rather rapidly with
some kind of a prison fever.
Il have been entertaining Kansas
lieutenant from Manila to-day. We
hired boat and went out to visit the
wreck of the Spanish flagship, Reina
Christina. 1t was my third visit to
the wreck, but was still interested in
noting the terrible damage inflicted by
Dewey's guns.
1.-THE rainy season is now in full blast
and we are having almost constant
rain. AS we were coming in from San
Fernando last Wednesday l noticed
that the country seemed covered with
water. Here in this country every rice
field is divided into little square sec
lions by bikes of earth thrown up.
These keep the water from running off
and, as the soil is thoroughly saturated,
it does not seep through, and conse-
quently each field is a continuation of
square ponds. The only way these
fields can be crossed is by keeping on
the narrow bikes. l think that this
rainy weather will soon put an end to
the active campaign work.
nd hn To ra
still at San Fernando, but are expected
in from there in short time. I do
not know whether they will come to
Cavte or remain in Manila. Cavite is
rather short of troops, considering the
amount of guard duty to be performed.
Il feel rather lonesome, being the
only Montana officer here in the town
of Cavite. There are only five or six
of the California officers here and they
have no mess, so we all eat at res
taurants, and restaurants in this part
of the world are poor places to board.
We console ourselves, however, with
the hope that it will not be for very
long and, anyway, it Is better than we
had while in the San Fernando cam
paign. Day after tomorrow is the
glorious Fourth and l expect it will be
a rather quiet one for us. We can at
least hear the salutes fired by the war;
ships and batteries and that will make
cOnSlQeTaDle noise. COlOnel rope, COM
mander of the marines, has reception
for the officers in the afternoon and I
expect to go to that. There will not be
much to happen. George is out with
the company and will not be able to
send anything in this letter. / do not
suppose that | shall see him very often
now until | rejoin the company. He is
feeling quite well and so am I. with the
exception of an attack of rheumatism
that / have had for several months and
which has caused me great deal of
trouble.
I'VE expect to be paid in few days
for the months of May and June. Frank
Depew and the rest of the boys from
the addition are well. Seth Dibble will
probably be sent home before the regi-
ment goes. that is, if we do not go for
some time. He is still quite lame, but
is able to walk around without cane or
crutch and l do not think that he will
have any serious results from his
wounds.
Il am very sorry that we could not
get there during the summer and fear
bod ua shall he caught in a blizzard