The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-09-06
IT is APPALLING.
Rainy Season in the Philippines
Beyond Description.

The Inteligencer's Soldier Correspcn.
dent With the American Forces ii
Lnzon, Tells an Interesting Story-a
Deluge Of the Entire Landscape Is 9
Not Unfrequent Occurrence som,
Amusing Side Lights.
Sergeant Ernest G.. Smith of tbs
18th regulars whose home is neal
Wheeling has been sending some in.
teresting and well written letters to
the Intelligencer from the Philip
pines. We appropriate the following
1t being part OF his last one that
will no doubt be read with interest:
SAN FERNANDO, Luzon, p. L., July
"A. Il believe every one has heard OF
a rainy season. In the Philippines
ever since he took enough interest In
the archipelago TO hunt up an atlas
and find whether or not there were
two ''l'ss, in the spelling. We, too,
had heard of snch period. When a
volunteer truthfully described some OF
the events which would follow in the
wake OF the deluge, we slyly winked
at each other and mentally put the
innocent volunteer down as having
long since graduated from Sunday
school without being thoroughly i'm
bued with the doctrines inculcated
there.
If we could find them, we would
humbly beg the volunteers pardon
now. This morning as we were steer
ing our mess table back from FORUM
ate lodgment In a bamboo clump, a
passing ''Chino" indicated that the
water would rise four feet higher.
That would cover every square inch
OF lani surface within a radius of fifty
miles, excepting the railroad at Mt
Arayat; but no one doubted the
"Chino's" word, and we promptly
hoisted the whole mess outfit into the
attic Of the highest deserted house on
the street.
But, seriously speaking, the down
pour Is something appalling. For five
DAYS there has been glimpse OF mel.
ther sun nor stars. Unlike heavy
rainfall elsewhere there is no cessation
to this. The latest papers from Ma
Mia state that there was fall OF 7. 80
inches in that city during the previous
twenty-four hours, and surely San Fer
nando has not been behind the times
In this respect. You often wonder,
when you first land. why the natives
build such odd houses, perched SO high
in the air that a ladder is often
necessary to reach the first floor If
you remain here a while you are ready
TO admit that the native knows more
about the business than you do. Into
this aerial abode the family brings a
liberal supply of rice and unmatured
pints, and while the foodgates are
open, the whole household let's bust
ness affairs take care of themselves,
and stay at home The soldier, I'M
fortunately, can't take life in such
restful attitude. There seems no de-
crease in Mr.. Aguinaldo's ambition TO
get into the city, and the season has
but added to the rigors of outpost
duty.
DRESSES AS lie PLEAsEs.
One blessing has come te the regu-
lar with the advent OF the rainy sea
son. He can now dress as he pleases.
Except when campaigning, every one
has been compelled to
wear a "full Khakie uniform, with
blouse tightly buttoned at every for
nation ofhis company No matter
how hot the day or If you were there
simply TO answer 'oll call, the blouse
must be buttoned, and your leggings
laced.
The volunteer could drill in his
If they were best suited to
his comfort, but the poor regular must
needs appear in all he owned. But
when the long road to the outposts be-
came waist deep for over half It's
length, und still there were no signs
Of clearing weather, the formal order
came to allow each man to dress as be
chose. | believe the company drew
more real amusement from. its last trip
to the outposts than music-loving
audience would from standard light
opera. When the assembly" sound
ed there were many vain attempts to
stand at studied attention" while
the roll was called. All but two of
the company were bare-footed and
bare-legged, blue flannel shirt, rub
Der poncho reaching almost to the
knees, campaign hat and rifle forming
the most usual attire.
Manila, for its position is much near
er the ocean than San Fernando, Is
doubtless more fortunately equipped
for the annual visitation than is San
Fernando, but the only elevation In
this whole region was appropriated BY
the cathedral which Aguinaldo's
hasty evacuction of the city left in
stately ruins. Hence the native here
wisely built him rude gondola, which
he stores under his house for nine
in the year and uses, in true
Venetian fashion, for the remainder.
While the flood is rising he visits his
neighbors in the canoe or looks after
a small herd Of perfectly contented
water buffaloes, and when it GIBBS he
paddles to his rice paddles and sows
the next years crop.
Only time will determine which
army will suffer the most from this
rainy factor in the situation. When
not on outpost duty our men are pro-
vided with dry and even comfortable
quarters in the numerous deserted
streets Of the city. With the insur-
recto army, accommodations must
b. poorer. One Of the
secrets of Aguinaldo's success in keep
ing the insurrection alive thus far has
been his almost uncomfortable power
Of drawing nearly all the Inhabitants
Of towns. cities and even whole pro-
vinces away with him when he moves,
thus keeping them outside the sphere
Of American influence and from the
knowledge of American methods and
plans. 1t is said that over half a
million inhabitants of the fertile re-
gion between this point and Manila
are still missing from their homes.
Perhaps the number has been exagger-
ated, but certainly there is very con-
siderable body Of his followers, Of
both sexes and all ages, which is utter
ly useless from a military standpoint.
but which must be quartered even
more securely than his soldiers.
There are no towns or cities within
five miles to the north OF San Fernan-
DO, and since these are doubtless
thickly populated with homeless sym
the chances are that hts
army is much more destitute Of shell
ter than is ours. The proper use Of
proper clothing will have an effect
from y medicinal standpoint. The
natives wear nothing but the fiimsi-
est cotton material, and once this is
thoroughly soaked the wearer shak es