Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-09-21
a TRIP TO San FERNANDO.


Il would be folly 70 expect first rate rail-
road ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS take lhank-
fully what we can get but I mention
the amusing side Of the situation In or
der TO fully illustrate the state Of affairs,
and TO show how soldiers can find fun
In discomfort, The peculiar sensation
consists especially In the starting OF the
train: when the great iron horse begins
TO puff and move. the cars shake vioient-
" and the loose chairs Ia tae officers
cars rock to and fro Is IL on the billowy
deep. Brace yourself some one calls
out merrily; "What are you laughing
at q asks one young officer of another
with pretended indignation, as be gath
efs himself together: "That engineer
thinks be might have some fun out OF
this iob," third wit excla'ms. nd so on.
Once started. however, we move along
all right, slowly at first through the city,
passing by the river and bay shore, now
down wide avenues, then amongst thick
clusters of nipa huts where may be seen
multitudes Of the poorer classes, fishing,
washing clothes and otherwise engaged.
This panorama soon gives place to coun.
Try scenery, the most conspicuous fea-
tnre OF which Is the rice crops. The
land IL very level ia most places aad Is
divided up into areas OF about the sire
of good kitchen garden; around each
OF these areas Is wallof earth about rs
inches In height, which serves as dixie
TO keep the rain water within, for rice
requires an abundance of water. This
checkered appearance OF the land in
creases in beauty when the rice is grown
in wide shallow valleys; then the areas
or rice-paddies rise on either side of the
depression in graceful terraces forming
q natural amphitheatre.
When we reached Malolos (the quon-
dam capital) our train was surrounded
by noisy. but polite, vendors of fruits
anti other eatables prices were quite
reasonable. A few miles further on
brought Us to the Bagbag river where we
came 10 an unexpected halt II so hap
pened that the bridge (brekea by Agui-
naldo's forces) was not yet repaired. and
consequently the train was obliged to
return. We, however, determined to
leave the car and press on TO our desti-
nation, having met acquaintances among
the guard there stationed. We crossed
this river in long-narrow-deep canoe
manned by two natives and were hospi-
tably received at dinner by the guard of
dozen men, They provided us with
army tin plates, cups, &C., and each in
turn dipped up his broiled chicken and
rice out Of the dinner pot bread. coffee
and macaroni were also supplied II
was very enjoyable, especially to me,
as 1t possessed the charm of novelty.
We spent couple of hours here in
pleasant conversation, taking photo
graphs, &C.. then about o'clock in the
afternoon, my companion (Mr. Peyton)
and started MP the railroad track with
two soldiers and soon reached Calumpit
IA mile distant. At this place the
soldiers "a company of the Third Artil-
iery) are quartered in a large barn-like
building with both ends entirely open.
and roof perforated by bullet holes.
This was formerly rice mill and just
outside may be seen huge pile of burnt
rice which has been smo1ldering for
two months.
Supper concluded here, we arranged
for an evening service We assembled
in large adjoining building table
was procured for my reading desk and
chairs were arranged in a circle. Ser
vice books were distributed and lighted
candles were held by every man las it
was getting dusk.) In this fashion some
80 or 40 men took part in the prayers
and praise and then listened to a brief
address upon Jacobs words Surely God
Is In this place" We then retired to the
barracks and were entertained with
singing and recitations by two gifted
soldiers. Our last occupation before
retiring was TO watch the moon become
fully eclipsed; we did not wait for it,
return from behind the earth's shadow,
but at 10 o'clock went TO rest.
Next day. the bridge on the Bagbac
being completed, the train came and
took Us 10 San Fernando. Out In thi.
country we saw many fields of corn and
OF sugar growing luxuriantlY. We saw
also in many places the deserted trench
es Of the Filipinos; these trenches arc
the admiration of all who see them !;
sometimes they are braced up with BAN
boo, sometimes covered over with rail-
road iron or whatever else is near a,
hand. Certainly skill and industry are
manifested in their construction.
The towns along the route show the
devastation of war. Before deserving a
place the Filipinos burn or blow up
many of the buildings. AS result 81
this policy we saw many charred ruins
and demolished churches and converts
At San Fernando we had so brief
time between trains that we could not
arrange for services on this trip. Later
/ returned and had service for each OF
the two regiments-the Bird Artillery and
the nth Infantry.
JAMES L. SMILEY,
Manila, July A, 1899