The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-04-27
FROM THE ARCHIPELAGO.
Bates County Boy With the
Army in the Philippines.
A Graphic Description Of His own
Observations and Experiences.
MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,

MARCH u, 1899.
DEAR BROTHER: We left Fort
Lsavenworth Saturday Jan. 2lst.
Were FIVE days going to San Fran
cisco, We got to Oakland pier on
Thursday morning, went across the
bay in ferry boat, and marched
aboard the great transport Scan
dia." We had no chance to see San
Francisco, as no one was allowed on
the boat. We sailed that evening at
4:30, but before we sailed we were
paid, and in gold, brand new money.
At 30 d. IN. we cast eff and started
out OF the bay, accompanied by tugs
loaded with bands, and people try
ing to out do each other in making a
noise, but the Scandal began to let
herself out; her great engines began
to throb faster and she soon left the
watchers behind. We passed the
Golden Gate soon after shutdown and
our real journey was begun.
We arrived in Honolulu Feb. Bird,
that almost paradise-as near a par
adise as is reached on earth-and L
would say, that if our Uncle Sam
never makes any worse trades than
annexing the Hawaiian Islands, he
will sustain his name for Yankee
shrswdness. There are great many
white people there, and the natives
are a peaceful class OF people, very
fond OF flowers, which they weave in
wreathes and wear around their
hats, and on every corner they have
them for sale. We left four of our
men with typhoid fever and one was
killed, being run into by buggy
while riding a bicycle, and two de-
serted and, | suppose, went back to
the states. On the 5th we weighed
anchor, and took leave of them, pass
ing the battleship Oregon as we got
out OF the harbor. Nothing of any
interest happened or anything to
see from the time we left until we
got into Manila Bay, with the excep-
ton of flying fish and a school Of por-
poisss.
We arrived in Manila Bay the night
of Feb cath, making quick and
pleasant voyage, for the Scandia,
admirably fitted for a transport, had
good food. We had no nore than
gotten in till the flagship Olympia
threw her great search light on us
and stationed US, and a little steam
launch came over to tell us they were
fighting here. That night the insur
gents tried to burn the city and
they had quite fire, when some of
our troops got after them, killed, 1
about 30 and getting two of our men
killed and five wounded.
We were unloaded the next day in
lighters towed by tugs to the docks,
where OK teams were waiting for our
baggage. The OK is the caribou, such
as you see in circuses, driven by the
omniprescent "cheno, who is a half |
breed, one-half Chinese and one-half |
native. They are the strongest peO
pie | ever saw for their size. l saw |
one carry about 500 lbs on his shout |
ders, but do not carry burdens as we |
would. They have a pole with the |
load fastened on each end and they |
get little trot on themselves; in |
this manner they can carry it all |
day.
We are camped on the beach be-
tween the walled city and the bay.
front OF us where the Spaniards and |
residents drive evenings, and where
we have retreat, the band plays |
a few times and we have quite a
crowd. There are some very pretty |
women among the Spanish, but the
men are misshapsn and small, but
on the whole the Spanish are not n
bad class of peolpe, not as bad as the
Filipinos. We were all vaccinated
the next day after we landed and
some of the boys have bad arms yet,
but mine is getting along nicely.
On the night of the LIST of March
about l 20 o'clock we were hustled
out to the firing line. as they expect
ed an attack, but with the exception
of q few sharpshooter shots and a
volley there was no firing done, On
the 10th of March we were marched
out to the water-works, about 6 miles
out, one battalion of us, and with
four companies of the 1st Nebraska
we went to drive about
], 200 OF them to the river, when the
Wyoming regiment was to flank
them and march them out of that
part OF the country, az that is a very
important stragic point on account
OF the water supply. We canped
by one company OF the Nebraskans
that night, and early next morning
we were awakened by the bugler.
After cooking our breakfast, we got
the command to advance as skirm-
ighes. My company acting as sup
port to Co. B of the Nsb.
Now all | can tell you is of my own
company and Co. b of Neb., as the
others were on our right and left,
and hidden part of the time from us.
We had not gone half mile when the
insurgents opened on us. We were
in the rear of the Nebs. about $50
yards. We were in a very danger
Gus position, as the insurgents did
not have the range, the bullets were
coming thick and fast, and they were I,
out of range of the Springfield, which
the Nsbraskas have and the Filipinos
were using Maaser rifle, rs good as
our Kragg-J orgnssn. SO we got the
command to get up in the firing line.
AS we advanced one of Co. H (my Co
got hit in the left breast just over
the heart-our only casualties that
day, and VIXEN we got up on the
line we commenced shooting volley.
with our Kragg-J orgensens at 110Ol
yards. The FiIipines did not know
what Tn mako of it hur tkav So0p |