Middletown transcript., 1899-05-13
LETTERS FROM MANILA
GARRETT C. PoGUE WRITES TO HIS
RELATIVES IN MlDDLETOWN OF
THE FILIPINO OUTBREAKS

2
The following letters have been received
by Miss Annie Cox, Of this town. and
weroiendered The TRANscRiPr for publica-
ton. They give actual facts as TO the at
tacks on the United States troops:
SAN SEBASTIAN, MANILA. 2. l..
March 21st, 1899.
NY Dear Auni:--My letters are rather
disiointed aud long time between dates,
mot drinks) Each day has its own record
and history here now, but viii go back to
Feb. 4th, and tell you few incidents.
Having been on special duty, and entirely
detached from my regiment and company
ana enjoy all the liberties Of citizen, and
seldom wear the regulation uniform of
Kaiki, like the British soldiers wear in
India and Egypt, and of course have
more opportunities for sightseeing over
the city and vicinity. The famous Satur-
day night the trouble began was an ideal
tropical one, mot too hot and everything was
in perfect bloom. took ride along the
Lunetta, the fashionable driveway Of Ma
Mia down close to the bay, came back to
the Escolta tile Broadway of Manila, dis
missed my carriage and felt in the humor
to see the sights, the kaleidoscope Of hu-
manity, languages, color, costumes, and
almost every nationality the sun shines on
in the western hemisphere, the gorgeous
displays in the windows of European and
Oriental stores, cafes and concert halls,
was enjoying it all, only as a Yankee can,
and the beautiful well-dressed Spanish
ladies were strictly in evidence, promenad.
ing and riding in their splendidly equipped
carriages. There was a perfect babble of
tongues. These people all talk at once.
Everyone seemed care free and happy, and
as came up the crowded street, the sound
of good old familiar tunes foated out to me
from brilliantly lighted cafe. Did go on
in? did, and it was as good as a show to
watch the cosmopolitan crew in there.
Filipino orchestra playing varied selections
to suit ali, and while slipping my glass Of
''cold tea," | just counted the different
nationalties in the citizens and soldiers,
sailors and marines, Spanish, French, Ger
man, Russian, English, japanese, Portu-
guese, Malay, Turkish, and q few East
Indian merchants from Singapore, Bombay
and Calcutta; but, head and shoulders above
them all loomed our tall splendidly built
Americano's. 1t makes man feel proud
| to think he's an American, when he stands
| up with the Latin and Oriental races, and
as paid my score, lit fresh cigar, was
| just at the door when saw few soldiers
running down the street, a sudden hush
fell on the noisy crowd, like calm before
a storm, and a voice rang ont clear and
distinct Soldiers, to your quarters! the
lines are attacked" Well2 1 have seen
stampedes, prairie fires and panics. This
was a combination of all for about Is
minutes; big doors were slammed too. iron
4 shutters came down with a crash, locks,
bolts and bars were in place, the soldiers
simply turned street cars around and when
full drove at a gallop to the end of the
car line, occupants of cabs and carriages
were simply crowded out and a soldier did
the driving and it began to dawn on me
! that / had important business in the San
Sebastian and San Paloc districts, and as l
started for home, seen Filipino gentleman
on splendid little horse. He got off real
| quick, with a little assistance from me,n
of course he resented it and | am afraid I
hurt his feelings, as he was lying IN the
street when rode away, did not mean TO
hit very hard either. Came here and
| quickly changed white ducks for brown
canvas trousers, blue shirt, boots, campaign
| hat buckled on belt of cartridges, filled
my canteen and with rife slung across my
shoulder, rode out to my regiment and
company, (who were already there) and
passed regiment after regiment and two
| light batteries all going to the front and to
their pre-arranged positions on the lines,
all this time the firing was growing hotter
and hotter, bullets came pattering down
through roofs and in the streets, for the
lines were just on The outskirts Of the city,
and extended from bay shore on the south
and east clear around to the north side,
making a circle about 10 miles long,
which 1900 men held over an hour, until
the reserve and reinforcements came up,
against at least 80. 900 insurgents. For
nearly mile | galioped through young
hail storm of Mauser and Remington bull.
lets-the latter use k5 calibre brass Jacket
on the lead, and in most cases causes blood
poisoning and death follows from an ordi-
nary flesh wound, and by accident, found |
my old company who were doing duty on |
an extreme outpost. dismounting turned |
my horse loose and sent him toward the
city free, and found my old comrades all |
busy pumping lead" and was recognized |
and welcomed by-"Say, fellows. here's the
old man; here's Pogde" Was put in |
charge Of l6 strapping young soldiers and
sent to hol.i certain weak point in rice
field, and lying down behind little ridge,
and in about inches of mud and watar.
and for two hours did not knov if was
on earth or in Hadrs. started in reason.
ably cool and gave the orders clear and
distinct; Ready! Aiml Give 'e,a -! and
We did," It was the same all along the
line one continual deafening roar, and
when the black. screaming devils made a
rush on Us tue boys would insist on getting
up 50 as to get better aim and fire faster, +
and had to walk back and forth and keep
cautioniDg then in military language. /" to
keep down, when my old bunkie of last
August grunted out: Why You -
fool, what you standing up for2 Must
want to be sieve. eh? Had forgotten that
was UP. Three different times The insIr-
gents made splendid charge almost within !
reach of our bayonets, B3lo men in ad- !
vance, the r;femen were firing over them,
put much TO their surprise we didn't scare :
worth cent, at their wicked looking !
Knives, maohetes snd boos. and all this !;
ime there were fully forty thousand men I
m both sides engaged, 3 splendid batteries. :
'apid fire Hotchkiss and Calling guns.
dausers, Remingtons, Ktag Jorgeusen and /;
'ood old Springfelds, each have a bark and J
lite distinctly their own. But, there is 3
lothing ION earth, or under the earthn !,
hat has such mean, low down, vindica 4
i've hiss. as a Mauser bullet, rattle snake !
Eould blush for shame in comparison to it. 7,
he air seemed crowded with lead steel !