Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-12-30
FIFTH LETTER
SOLDIER p
BAN PEDRO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,
November 3, 1899.

Fan PEDRO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,
November b, 1899.
Editors Citizen,
Our long looked for orders to move
from Passy came on the 25th ult. and by
Z o'clock OF ths 9th We we're on the
move with the arst and second battsl-
ions, the band and the hospital corps.
our destination bpiug ssn Fernando on
the north line BY 10 o'clock 70 we're
In Manila and q little later at Londo
railway station, where We were loaded
aboard the cars In three sections, q de.
tschment Of tho Sixth artillery accom-
psnying us. The government operates
the railroad as far a. an Fernando. 1t
10 narrow gauge and the accommodations
do not BY any Q come up to the
standard Of an American broad gauge
fat Z The coaches are dumpy affairs,
about twenty feet long with four con-.
psrtments. two seats in each compart
msnt, the seats facing aud doors on
either side. A little 8xl2 inch window
pane In the doors, II II hasn't been shot
out, sfording light. Two tiers Of steps
adorn the whole length Of the
coach on both sides. and the
couplings are made BY chains.
There Is IN absence Of upholster.
ing on the interior that is conspicu us
and the lsvsrAtory and chandeliers are
conveniencss yet to be added. San Fer.
nsndo IL about afty miles from Manila,
and the whole evening was consumed In
making the run. arriving at our destins.
ton at 8 p. M. After some little delay
Company X Was assigned to very CON-
Portable quarters in the building where
tbs insurgent general. Luns. was assas.
sinated some months ago. I'm route we
passed Malabons. 6nsruin. Bsrssaui y
Mslolss, and several places Of lees his
toric Importance. The places named
have each been the scene Of encounters
with "Aggy's" troops.
At Cslumpit. six miles to the west OF
Mslolss, there has been several skirm-
ishes. In fact the section around these
towns was pretty warm at one time, 80
much 30 that soldiers are gArrisoniDg
the towns aud going prepared for any
attempted repetition Of former condi-
tions. All bridges and depots along the
line are guarded. but Notwithstanding
these precautions. trains are occasionally
fred upon by insurrsctos. Under many
difficulties the engineer corps has kept
the telegraph line open to this place,
though the unoffsnding little wire seems
to be u source for attack, a. this branch
Of the service Is kept pretty busy repair
ing.
The country between Manila and San
Fernando 10 a. One - I have ever sen,
and IL given over almost entirely 10 the
raising Of rice. As cotton Ia to the south
% IL the culture Of rice to the Filipino.
On either side Of the railroad q far a
the eye can reach, one sees the growing
fields Of rice, broken occasionally BY
ridges Of bamboo. that seem to act ~ the
division Of fields, for no fences OF any
kind are used.
Cane fields are not 30 plentiful In this
section, ~ Il would suppose, yet that
cereal IL no! neglected, for there eeems
TO be plenty Of sugar In the land.
Banana groves also come In for their
share OF notice, and they form q pleasing
view to the eye, while the train moves
along, and you fancy you could put In q
few minutes very probably upon q bunch
Of them. From our position upon the
csrs 1t seemed that portions Of thu
country would be a paradise fol
the sheep or cattle man, ~ ont
can see waving fields of native grass
which seem to be inexhsustible, anC
water IL la abundance. Yet there Is ar
absence Of cattle or sheep, Ia fact
haven't seen 2 hGOf Of cattle since Nv,
been on the island, except Austrian cat
tie shipped here for p%ssturage, and tn
water buffalo. that Is entirely used rs
beast OF burden. The horses are OF q
small specie, and the males are almos
entirely uled. They are not more thai
l4t hands high. aud will weigh abou
800 pOund+.
To return to our landing at San Fer
nando. This ia the place that WAS takel
on the i6lh ulI. and for thu possession o
which the insurgents put up the bss
hxht Of the season. But they wer,
forced 10 syacusts. not. however. befOr,
setting lrs to the town. The debris still
remains among the ruins, and has no
bsen disturbed save by occasional gronp
of soldiers who hsvs wandered anon
them for curiosity. and hope to make 4"
fad" by turning them over" Tn
town IL Al old one and vas we'll fortified
ami 70 look upon tho thick walls and th
many pieces OF refuge from shot an
she'll, ons som " to the conclusion tina
the Filipino 10 lacki e In nerve. Put
company Of American soldiers benin
such fortincations ~ are seen on ever
hand and they would defy an army a
long ~ rations held out. But they 81
all II takes to get the "niggers" on th
run, no diff srence about numbers, Ia
couple OF volleys and q yell and Its a
of, They scampsr like a herd Of stsu