Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-08-17
ON THE ISLAND Of JULIO.
THE QUEER PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE EARTH. :.
OUR PHILIPPINE POSSESSIONS.
Tells Of tho Sultan Who Has and Keeps
Only Eighteen Wives.

Huho, oho WIltcI, nus uaHy lPlHHuS
in Oconee who are interested in him
and will be glad to learn through
TIE COURIER where he is and what
he is doing:
JULIO, PnuIrpINE ISLANDS, June
1.-The 23d United States Infantry,
of which l am member, after
spending many months in the city of
Manila, where they had much i'm
portant duty to perform, was, on tho
17th of May, 1899, ordered to leave
for the island of JULIO.
10 speak of Manilla's battles,
fought there AMI close by, would
only be to repeat what the people
have read over and over again in the
different newspapers and magazines,
and described moro thoroughly than
l could ever hope to do. Therefore,
l refrain from saying anything
thereof, except that tho Twenty
Third has done its full duty in every
respect, though probably not heard
of quite so much as some other rcgi.
ments. This can be easily explained.
We have no newspaper correspond
ent ready to steal for us credit due
to some other outfit, or who is
ready at any time to picture con-
test and glaring victory for some
company of soldiers which he may
represent, which may have been
nothing more than a dozen free
oaths, few blows with the fist, all
over half dozen amegues Filipinos.
No, wo haven't any such correspond
ents with us, consequently we are
not in the papers fighting, and in a
battle every few days or raising the
American flag over some newly con-
quercd territory, which some other
regiment may actually have done.
We will get the full credit due when
the true history of the war is written
with true facts; such as will be
studied and read in the schools of
our land. When the history of the
Spanish war and the
Philippine rebellion becomes text
book for our schools, then will the
gallant 23d be heard of; yes, read,
studied and appreciated! thus will
our deeds live as long as history
lives. How much more beautiful is
this than to merely see few deeds
falsely credited to us in the columns
of some yellow journal, to be read
one day and then cast away.
The 23d left Manila on the 17lh
of May. We embarked upon the
Spanish transport, Leon XIII, and
three days later landed at JULIO is-
land pronounced Hulo), where we
relieved the Spanish soldiers who
were doing garrison duty at that
place. We had not been on shore
one hour before a detail was made
for guard duty, to relieve the Span
ish soldiers who were doing duty at
different posts and outposts inside
and outside the city. Within twenty
four hours from the time we landed
the Spaniards with all their belong
ings had taken our places on the
transport, which was to take them
to Barcelona, their home.
Everything was done quickly and
quietly; the only thing to show
there was anything unusual taking
place was the little celebration at
tending the raising up Of the Ameri-
can flag. The American and Span
ish soldiers marched up the main
street, thence to the headquarters,
where the flag was raised.
The band played the Spanish ma
tional air and the Spanish flag was
hauled down, while the gunboat
Helena, lying in the bay, fired the
customary salute. Then came the
American flag. The band played
"Star Spangled Banner" another
salute from the gunboat, and all was
overall done in less than one
hours time. Therefore, when you
think of tho many far-away islands
over which gallantly floats tho
American flag, you must not forget
tho island Of JULIO.
Where is JULIO you ask. Well, il
is about 700 miles South of Manila
1t is but q few miles from Borneo
and it is only few hundred miles
Southwest of here to the shores O
East India, in short, we are pretty
near across the continent.
JULIO is by far the most beautiful,
island of tho whole Philippine group
j. he's but three villages--two o
these are governed and held by thu
natives. The third, and largest, il
the town of JULIO, which is held ant
: M