Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-05-26

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BURIAL OF WHITAKER
John Peterson Writes From Manila of
the Sad Death of the Sergeant
Major.

Manila. +. L.. April 16.-I)car Ones
at Home: There have been several
happenings since l last wrote YOU so |
will tell you of them. Three days ago
we buried Sergeant Alfred Whitaker.
who had been sick several weeks with
~dySentery. When we went to the
hospital that morning to bury poor
Whitaker we found two more boys
that had to be buried. They belonged
to the Third artillery and no friends
or members of their company to bury
them. as they were in the field. You
can't imagine the sad funeral it was.
Each coffin was wrapped in "Old
Glory" We buried them all ut one
time, laying them side by side. After
the sermon and volley firing. | had to
stand beside the grave and sound
taps" Oh. how hard it was to sound
it. 1t seemed l couldn't blow hard
enough. | thought | would surely
break down before l finished. but l
got through all right. but l don't think
l could even do it again. While in
quarters that night we received the
dreadful Jews that five boys in our
regiment had been killed. Their
names are Peter Tompkins, VIM. G.
Lamb, Alfred Amen. Corporal Dris-
coll of Co. G. and George Schneider.
bugler of Company 1. They were on
the right Of q scouting fire. and ran up
to within 80 feet. when the natives
fired into them.
George Schneider was a bugler since
we left Fargo. We We're very in
innate friends. He played in our
band here and was q fine musician.
Two nights before he was killed his
company relieved Company \ beyond
Guadalupe church. They came out
about midnight. We had quite Il chat
together. He told INC he was very
glad to get out. His home is in
Wahpeton. They We're buried the
same night they We're brought III, as
they couldn't keep them. The day
we. buried Whitaker there were 1856
graves there. I am in splendid health
and~have a good appetite. Can't com
plain about anything, except they don't
relieve lis. Many believe we will he
out here by the last Of May. 1 think
so myself. l was down to the Free
dom Office and l told him to send Free
don direct to you. Sometimes / can't
send them as soon as l would like as
I can't always get to town, and I want
YOU to have Freedom as soon as any.
I had Il very enjoyable day today.
This morning l went to church in the
walled city. 1t was a magnificent
church and had a splendid pipe organ.
after which I visited the arsenal,
where I saw a great many interesting
ordinance supplies which the Span
iards had. 1 also visited the insurgent
prisoners, which numbered about $50.
l arrived there just as they We're burn
ing their mat bedding, etc, rs a case
Of small poN was discovered among
them. They are kept in dungeons
in the welled city, but they have plenty
Of fresh air and shower baths. Some
Of them look as if they could eat a
person up. Harry Smith is going to
receive his discharge. If he hasn't al
ready. The transport Sheridan ar
rived here last week carrying the
Twelfth and one battalion Of the Sew
e%nteenth, besides officers wives and
children. Thirteen or fourteen chill
dren started with them and either six
or eight died IN the way here. One
officer mysteriously disappeared; some
think he committed suicide. but can't
rely on reports. Lieut.. Baldwin is
getting better; Morgan was just here
as I am writing this letter. Corporal