The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-09-23

A.. A. Alderman, lieutenant United
States navy, in Golfers Weekly: In
looking over the insurgents who SIRE
brought in wounded or held as prison
ers in the Maestranza, at Old Manila,
and Fort San Felipe, at Cavite. one
cannot help but notice that they be-
long to two classes-the very young
and the DID. There are numerous
g~ray-haired men among them. One at
San Felipe bore the reputation of be-
ing a deadly sharpshooter, and yet he
was so old that his purple lips hung
loosely from his mumbling jaws, the
pupils Of his eyes melted gradually in
to the whites, and his hands shook
with palsy; in fact he was a very hor-
rid and wicked looking old fellow, but
apparently quite harmless. All
around him were boys from ii to 20,
small, but fairly strong in build. 1T
may be that they have followed the
practice of the Spanish in ecclesiastical
as well as military affairs-that of
yoking a strong arm and young heart
to an old head. The sergeant If the
guard F1fty-first Iowas, at the Maest-
rauza, thought differently. Said he:
"A well grown man has both the head
n the arm, or rather, the legs-they
need them most; the old men can't get
away fast enough, and the boys are
foolish or get ratified, so they are
caught" The prisoners do not seem
to worry unless deprived of their CT
garrillos, when they become nervous,
excitable and very respondent. They
are very anxious for employment on
outside details, and when a non-com-
missioned officer appeared with an or
der for Eight big fellows to put in
order some new quarters and move fur
nlture, there was a rush to the gate,
every one hoping to be selected. They
are given a few coppers, something ex-
ira to eat, or a little tobacco for their
services. In each quarter there is ap-
pointed a chief" who arranges the de-
tails for routine cleaning, cooking and
police work. At air hours of the day
women come and squat down at the
line drawn just across the Maestranza,
while their prisoner friends, standing
at the dead line" ten PAGES away,
converse with them. Some of the wom-
en- take it hard and cry bitterly, others
laugh and chat with evident enjoy
ment. All bring presents to the pris-
oners; and such presents. Many an
Iowa boy has got his fingers into queer
messes while overhauling their bum
dies. One united a handkerchief and
let loose a lot of sparring crabs. cat
least that's what they looked like"
said he; "but l can't imagine what they
wanted them for" Among the prison
ers were a number of Tinguians and
Ygerrotes-uncivilized m%ountaineers.
These when first captured were armed
with bows and arrows. They wore
their hair long and decorated it with
feathers, their only clothing was a di-
minutive breech-clout. They have now,
without exception, cut their hair short,
and wear anything they can get, gen.
orally a shirt and a stiff hat, the shape
OF which is certain to recall the Ger
man comedies of the variety stage at
home. One of these, who appeared
quite intelligent, was asked why he
had come down to Manila. He replied:
ITO fight" who did you come to
fight?' He shook his head; he had
just come to fight. He did not know
who or what it was about. Undoubted-
ly these people had been enticed from
their mountain homes by the promise
of unlimited loot.