The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-28
Sergeant Peterson Writes to a
Friend About Life In Manila

Sergeant Peterson Writes to a
Friend About Life In Manila.
Among the first members Of the
Third United States infantry to write
home since the regiment reached the
. Philippine Islands is Sergt. 8. q. Peter
son, of Company g. Under date Of April
"a he writes the following letter from
Malatoni to his friend, c. Stubs, 511
Washburn building, this city:
Malatoni, P. L, April "a. 1Sss-Brother
some leisure Me time Will fo fu my p nane
Use to write you. We have been on the
jump ever since We landed at Manila,
night and day, and the chances are that
it will continue that way for some time
to come. We have killed one and cap
tured another of the ring leaders, but
Aguinaldo himself is at large yet, and I
do not think there will be any such thing
as p see until we can get his scalp. 1t
has peen very pleasant campaign so
far, no sickness to speak Of, though
there are a few who were foolish enough
expect such things.
The first day of the campaign 1T did
look as though they were going to give
us go for our money, but this only
lasted one day and after that we had
them on the run, but had to fight for
every. foot Of ground we gained. 1t
took just one week to fight our way from
Manila to Mololos. twenty-eight miles
There had been practically no fighting
until two days after we arrived. AL
that our troops had was the city Of Ma
Mia and no more. There were never
troops enough here to open campaign,
and last winter We used to read about
the natives they killed. but they just
imagined they killed them. We passed
over the battle field for the whole week
and I never saw but six dead natives
don't know It Is claimed that they
burn them, but no one knows for sure.
We are now quartered here doing po-
Ice duty, and and the police force e. Of St;
old saying that g policeman can never
be found when one is wanted, but It
ways looking for trouble. We have a
sort Of jail here and every morning it
is filed with Cinnamon. for they are
the worst class with witty which we have 20 70
what they can't carry of, they will
break I'D.
1.-The business part of the town is
burned to the ground and the other
part don't amount to much. The houses
are built of bamboo, while the roofs and
sides are made of palms, and no matter
is never wet inside. In the dwelling
houses they use no windows, but slides
instead, so in case Of rain they can be
closed up Every house is built in the
great idea of comfort. They have the
most comfortable chairs I ever saw,
made so that one can lie down or sit I'D
at will.
There are two companies stationed
here; we use some of the native houses
for quarters. They are very comfort
able only at night. mosquitoes proved
botherSome. In general l like the place
first rate. I have not been sick since
we landed and indeed, feel much better
than when we were in Cuba. There
was some talk In Manila about start
ing a Knights of Pythlas lodge Some
one wrote to California for q charter
before we came here. but we want to get
our charter from Minnesota, if such a
thing is possible. One lodge, however,
though after a while there may be
room for another. You see there are so
many troops in the field and no one
knows how long the soldiers will re-
main in Manila. so 1t would be almost
Impossible to start lodge now. but we
will be sure to have one here before
long, in fact we have just got to have
one.
II have not seen Thompson or Keller
snice we left the boat. but Grimes was
over here last night and Bob Shaw is
also here. You will remember old Van
Sickles. He sends his best regards to
you. He says he has not forgotten you
and as soon as he gets any material, he
Will write you q letter. 1t Is only a
chance that / have anything of passing
interest to tell you. How is Bob Grady
getting along? He would lose some
Of his flesh if he were here for a while
l would like very much to have some
of his cool beer Just now We have TO
pay forty cents quart for beer here,
and 1t is warm at that. Anyone that
go most anything. Well old fellow, /
will have to close ROW as 1t is almost
time for me to go out on patrol again
Hoping to hear from you soon