Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-09-09

A. A. Alderman. lieutenant United
States navy, in Golfers Weekly: In
looking over the insurgents who are
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 old. There are numerous
gray-haired men among them. One at
San Felipe bore the reputation Of be-
ing 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 IA 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 strong arm and young heart
to an old head. The sergeant of the
guard Fifty-first Iowas, at the Maest-
rauza, thought differently. Said he:
A well grown man has both the head
and 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 ei-
garrillos. when they become nervous.
exeftable and very respondent. They
are very anxious for employment on
outside details, and when a non-eom-
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 few coppers, something ex-
ira to eat, or little tobacco for their
services. In each quarter there is APP
pointed a chief" who arranges the de-
tails for routine cleaning, cooking and
police work. AT all 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 WON
en- take 1t hard and cry bitterly. Others
laugh and chat with evident enjoy
| ment. All bring presents to the prig-
oners; and such presents. Many an
Iowa boy has got his fingers into queer
1 mGEEPG rho, In
dies. One united a handkerchief and
let loose lot Of sparring crabs. AT
| least that's what they looked like
said he; but can't imagine what thew
wanted them for" Among the prison
ers were a number of Tinguians and
| Ygerrotes-uncivilized mountaineers
| These when first captured were armed
with bows and arrows. They wore
their hair long and decorated 1t with
feathers, their only clothing was a di-
mlnutiye breech-clout. They have now
| without exception, cut their hair short
and wear anything they can get gem
orally shirt and stiff hat, the shane
Oh which Is certain to recall the Ger
man comedies of the variety stage at
nome. One OF these, who appeared
quite intelligent, was asked wbv be
had come down to Manila. He renjied
10 light" Who did you come IN
hght? He shook his head; he had
just come to fight. He did not know
who or what 1t was about. Undoubted-
ly these people had been enticed from
their mountain homes by the promise
OF unlimited loot.