The Portland daily press., 1899-09-02
Lives in Court House
Like a Little Peacock.
Warm Fighting To Begin When
Rainy Season Is Over.


right at the front with the army sta.
toned ner Jloilo In the Philippines,
and he Is Lot 30 lar away as TO forget his
old home and with regularity he writes
to his mother. 5Irs. W. II. Turner, Civ
ing her an interesting account of his
daily life and experiences.
The young soldiers name is Fred II.
Doughty, He enlisted in the regular
army and was assigned to the 9th infan-
try stationed for some time In Texas
whence he went to the Philippines
among the first troops sent to those far
away islands.
Under date of July LIST, he sends home
very entertaining letter in which he
says:
81 am In the town called Jaro in the
Philippine Islands, just this side of a
little place called Iloilo. Both of these
towns were captured by the gallant 18th
New York, and we shall be called ON to
capture Santababa next and think we
shall do It, The 18th New York had a
very easy time in getting these two
towns, for the Filipinos ran like good
ones and left everything in their houses.
They were rich set of people and some
of the boys found S25, 600 In gold in Just
one house. They lett behind all kinds of
the richest silk goods too and the boys
got hold Of the dresses and tore them oil
up. 1t was real shame 20 see the stuff
which they destroyed. But such is wari
The most of the houses here are made
OF Bamboo and as to that other city, 1
expect we may have hard time taking
1t. These people are set of foxy devils
and they cover the walls Of their places
with fine glass with the sharp points I'D
at that. The Filipinos thai we are tax
ing care of just now Are only 600 yards
from us. We can see them every day
walking past and they are treacherous
set OF fellows. for at night they win
sneak up and before you know it fire one
or two shots at cur lights and we have to
put them out. But forgot to tell you
az soma time since we captured few
ships loaded with guns and ammunition
for our enemies.
ut does not cost-as cent to use the
tobacco here. make my own cigars ami
you may not believe it, but they are good
ones, too. l made about so today and
while they lasted had lot of yisitors.
To see me now you woul d never think
there was any war. We have got their
court house for barracks and are living
like peaoocks. We catch two or three
pigs every day and this very minute have
killed two young ones that will maze fine
eating.
II like my job as artificer very much.
/ have to look after the guns and do all
the carpenter work, and I am supposed
to do any odd jobs that come along. i
don't have to drill unless want to. but
turn out once in a while just to keen
in practice"
Under date of July IA, the young
soldier writes:
1.-THE most of the peoples money out
here is gold, but their silver does not
amount to much. One Of our dollars is
worth two of theirs. Their dollar has
more silver in it than ours, but 1t won't
buy so much. For little keepsake and
curiosity send you little piece of their
money.
I'VE get plenty to eat and to drink and
II.
And how 1t does raini All night and all |
day with no let up between perpetual
showers The work shop that / am in |
was their old jail where they put their |
unfortunate prisoners in stocks, and
when our soldiers broke in and took pos |
session they found one of the poor priso-
ners dead in the stocks. He was starved
to death on the very spot whers am
writing this letter. 1t was here they
found him lying.
"You would little think that there was
going to be any fighting If it wasn't for
the talk. We shall not do any lighting
until the rainy season is over. We are
soon going to build bridge across the |
river SO that we can get across when wo
want to. There is now big iron bridge
across the river. but the tricky Bilipinos
have got it all undermined SO that they
can blow it mp any time they want to.
"The town we are going to take is very
rich. wish you could seq some OF the |