West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-11-09
The Philippine Islands.
An Old kingwood Boy Writes An In
teresting Letter From the Far.
Away East.
Co. A. lst Tenn. Vol. Inft.,
Camp Reed. Minglanilla,
Island of Cebu, Z. L.
September 10, 1899.

September 10, 1899.
DEAR ARGUS:
As am at loss TO know what to
do. will venture to write YOU n letter
thinking IL may be of interest TO some
| of my friends.
For n week we have been out from
Cebu eleven miles, at a town of some
1000 Inhabitants. We have 35 OF the
company under Capt Reed. the other
part OF the company. under Lieut.
kunz, is at Tailsay. about three miles
from here. Since arriving here our
duties are the lightest we have had.
The rest we are getting is greatly ap-
preciated.
The location of our camp. on a small
| fort hill, overlooking the bay, Is all
that could be asked for. We have cool
pure. air, and an abundance of pure,
spring water. The spring gushes from
the ground in two large streams, fur
nishiuR water for the whole town. In
the early part of the day. men. women
and children, big and little, old and
| young, bringing their bamboo water
vessels, and clothes to be washed.
They first wash their clothes, then get
| down into the water and bathe them
| selves. The Filipino is a cleanlY fell
low. Every chance he has to get into
the water, he bathes all over, then
washes his clothing, which generally
consists of pair of cotton pantaloons
and cocoa fiber ''camisa."
While we were at Manila, when on
guard along the Pasig River, used TO
see the natives who live on the "cas.
cas-" come out two and three times n
day, take a swim, then wash their
| clothing.
For some time it has been plain to
oe seen that trouble with the natives
would come. Hardly day passed but
something happened To irritate the
authorities. Quite number of very
serious trays took place. i'm which one
man was killed instantly, a number
wounded and two or three officers
wounded 1t was extremely dangerous
TO go about town and country without
being armed
august 25th all the forces here were
mortified by deed as atrocious as any
nave knowledge Of Sergeant Dor.
seY, Corporal and two rrlvates 90
n, 23d Unfit, stationed at Ell Pardo
four and one-half miles from Cebu,
were coming to Cebu. When about
two miles from FL Pardo the bows no.
ticed some natives dressed in police
clothing. Some friendly words wer.
passed, and as they turned to go on
these natives and about thirty others
from houses on both sides of the road.
pounced on the boys before they could
oner any resistance. Private Fisher
was several yards in advance and did
not receive such a blow; he was knock
ed over in the ditch but MANAGED to
make his escape under stone bridge
nearby. The band finished cuttiny
and hacking the other three. then di-
rected their efforts To dislodge Fisher
They pretended to be Amigos" but
with all their treachery they failed.
They then got down and tried to spear
him, bat when three or four fell dead
shot by Fisher, they gave up, took
their own dead, the dead soldiers and
hid them and covered up the blood OF
the Americans. In the mean time
Fisher kept up firing his gun. Soon
afterwards soldiers following on their
way TO town, heard firing and hol.
lowed. Fisher recognized them as
Americans and came out and on TO
town. His wounds were not so seri-
Gus, one cut on the side OF the face and
head, the other from a spear run
through the wrist immediately three
or four compan les were sent ont IN
scOur the country for miles around
but few people were seen. Every
native able TO walk had left for the
mountains,
The bodies of Sergeant Dorsey and
two companions we're found hid be-
hind a house close where the FRAY took
place Dorsey received the most
wounds and deepest ones. Not less
than twenty-five we're counted. HIS
head, neck and shoulders were sIashed
all 90 pieces; one long cash. eight or
ten inches long, in his shoulder and
| neck 90 the spinal column. another in
front severing the jugular vain and
alsophogis. Quite mum Der OF serious
wounds we're on the legs The Cor.
poral, aside from receiving a score or
more wounds on the head, neck, face.
hand and legs, received cut ten or
twelve inches long lust below the ribs,
which disem boweled him The private
was not so badly mutilated. His
wounds seemed TO be from spears.
When found, the bodies we're stripped
OF guns, side arms. hats, shoes aud all
valuables. The bodies we're brought
in and buried the next day.
/ The sight Of these mutilated bodies
made the most cold hearted aud cal.
louscd beings almost beside them.
selves. No treatment civilized peo-
I pie could administer to the guilty ones.
would suffice TO pacfy the feelings OF
the boys; and yet these natives are
/ civilized.
! lad the American troops come here.
/ killed, burned the houses and laid des
olation over the island. they might
have had some cause for their dastardly
L H.