St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-07-15
m THE PHILIPPINE WAR.
Daring the Charge at CalOocan Nee
Forget the Roar of Battle t.
Chase q Pig.

homes. In battle there is the screech
of shells and the dull report of theiE
explosion, the thunder of field pieces.
sending pounds of solid steel toward
an enemy; there is the rattle of small
arms, like the roll of distant drums,
the binding smoke, the singing Of
mausers and the hum of remingtons;
there is the clatter of affrightened
monkeys, the scolding of parrots, the
howls Of Sinking ours and then, in
the wake of the victors arise the smoke
and flame of burning huts. Add to this
pandemonium the hoarse yells of the
en- and children, the groans of the
wounded, the set faces of the dead and
one may have faint conception of q
small engagement in tropic land.
During the first engagement, while
the company was firing at will into the
woods ahead, forlorn water buffalo,
the national beast of burden. mean
dered into the rice-field directly in front
of the line. The writer Immediately di-
rected his fire toward the buffalo with
no apparent result. Afterward, during
a !ull in the firing, we shamefully con-
fessed to having wasted our strength in
this ignoble manner and were surprised
to learn that every man had done like
wise. At all events, the beast made
good its escape, for it patiently plodded
ahead until the timber swallowed it up.
During the chargsat Caloocan fren-
zied pig of diminutive size dashed from
beneath a bamboo hut and, apparently,
judging that all the commotion was for
his benefit, thought best to retire. As
the pig dashed past the writer it was
gently assisted with shove from the
butt of our gun and thought no more
of it for some time. Afterwartl, upon
glancing to the rear. we saw four or
five soldiers in hot pursuit of the same
poor little swine. 1t is laughable. even
in times of peace, to watch another man
chase a hog, but when men forsake
their places, forget the roar of conflict.
the hum of bullets, the shouts of the
victors and the walls of the wounded.
to grapple with an eight-pound shoat,
the scene becomes ludicrous in the ex-
treme. We took the trouble to learn
that the pig got away.
At night the natives take great de-
light in holding love feasts, and the
sound of revelry is very distinct The
Filipinos are natural born musicians,
and their band entertains us with such
tunes as ''After the Ball" Hot Time"
'.Stand Up for Jesus 1.-The Star Span
gled Banner" and Throw Out the Life
line" 1t is mystery where and when
they learned these American melodies,
but the fact remains that they do know
them and render the same with remark
able accuracy.
The Filipino has great contempt for
the Chinaman as a fighter. hence a IA
vorite yell of the insurgents is: "Amer-
icano Chino agual." (American and
Chinaman equally This sally always
brings forth the heartiest applause
from listening rebels. We were much
amused last night by one. Ready!
Aim! Fire!" cried he, and laughed
loudly at his own wit. A few nights
since one Of our buglers played TAPS"
and Immediately some natives began
the ''reveille, "intimating that no sooner
would we be in bed than we must, of
necessity, arise.
A most distressing accident befen a
boatload of Igorrotes not long since. 1t
was in this wise: The monitor Monad-
mock lies just OF Malabon, and at night
lights up the whole country with its
searchlights. The wild men did not ex-
actly admire this method of competing
with the sun, SO bethought themselves
Of plan to capture the floating trft.
Accordingly. large rowboat was I ro-
cured and speedily filed with an ag-
gregation Of these patriots. Having ap-
preached within 100 yards, the bar
barians discharged a volley of steel
tipped arrows, and waited patiently in
the hope of seeing the ship sink. The
Monadnock discharged three-inch
gun in return. So far. three arms, two
wisdom teeth. parts of four legs and
piece of wood have been recovered. 1t
is feared that some of the natives we're
killed.
At Caloocan the rebels had noun ted
two monstrous muzzle-loading. gins
captured in former times from the
Spanish. They attempted to fire one Of
these, with direful results. The Amer
leans collected the remains of 20 relcls
killed by the explosion of the gun. The
insurgents had not the courage to Sire
the remaining cannon, which was load
ed and primed when Caloocar was cap
tured.
The natives had loaded the gun with
a complete curiosity shop. The can
non was filled with scissors. knives,
coal, pieces of brick, nails, bolts, ther-
mometer, a horse shoe, car link, q
piece of rubber hose, and, to crown all,
Z large quantity of hoop iron had been
driven into the muzzle 50 tightly that
il was necessary to file it before the
charge could be drawn. A double dose
of powder was found, and also guam
tity of dynamite. No wonder the other
cannon exploded.
Be it remembered that NJ is the color
company, and as such received more at
tention than the other commands.
Before the battle of Caloocan, Col. Fun
ston rode up to the colors with the re-
mark: Remember, boys. that when
the colors fall you are supposed to be
dead" THAT is the way understand
IT," said John, stoutly. you'll do, re-
piled the colonel. as he rode down the
line. And John dii do. During the bat
tie the colors were struck four times
and the staff twice. mauser bullet.
grazed Johns cheek. and still the colors
fioated. and by their presence melted
the boys to do miracles.-3iinneapolis
Messenger.
Epidemic Of Accidents.
In the first four weeks after the
opening Of the electric railroad 1t
Cairo, Egypt, it is said that no less than