Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-08
ALL PREDICTED THE RECENT
CLASH WITH AGUINALDO,
SENT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO
RUMORS OF CONFLICT WERE RIFE
EVEN THEN.
kansan Belonging to the Twentieth
Regiment Writes InterestinEIy-
Carl Landsberg, of the First
Washington, Writes to
Friend Here.

4 letter from a member of the Twentieth
Kansas. now in Manila, which was receiv-
ed in this city several Gays ago, gives some
interesting incidents and bits of information
about the new possession. The battalion to
which the writer belongs had to remain on
board the boat nearly two weeks after ar
irving in port OF the first dress parade af-
ter landing, he says: Our appearance was
very prepossessing ~ as every one had
most of his clothes in the wash and We
turned out In all kinds of combinations,
some approaching very near the native
dress. Colonel Funston looked disgusted
and the captain swore. but no one was Grip
pied. Our barracks are on the second floor
of a large building 160 feet square "a block
here) but has an open court in the center
forty feet square. There are many large
doors and windows. SO We have plenty of
air, and it never is very, hot IN the room.
This is . queer sleepy old place., the only
modern thing about it being the electric
light plant. which is quite good. Boats that
draw more than twelve feet of water have
TO stop mile out in the bay and unload
into fatboats, the same, L think, that the
natives used before the food. On. the river
they have sort of canal boat with tow
path attached) which they propel by stick
ing pole into the mud and then, pushing
the pole. walk from the front Of the boat
feet long and have covers made of mating.
In the two ends the families live and the
middle Is used for freight
The streets here run in every direction
and are very narrow. The sidewalks are
only three feet wide and consequently al
most everybody walks in the street. The
residences and business houses are in the
same buildings and pretty much alike. One
cannot tell from appearance if a business
n..1n III ftx.at
stable. L have not explored the city very
thoroughly. but have yet TO discover the
nrst residence with anything like yard
The old walled city is the home of the
aristocracy. The wall is from fifteen to
thirty feet high and about sixty feet thick.
1t Is masonry outside and inside ana filled
IN with dirt Outside the wall is Knoat
about 15o feet wide, which Is crossed by
several several bridges that rest t.their eenters on
ihe Islands are fortified and at each en-
trance of the wall is a drawbridge, while
upon the wall stand old muzzle-loading
cannon. 1t may have been a. strong forti-
acation once. but / think they showed good
1paGment IN not causing Dewey to shell it.
with nenss Is one ne poor 200 street car line here
Chinese ponies are little. tough pieces of
horse meat about eleven hands high and
They hitch one of these, up to a cab load
two or three people liz, besides iehu
and then drive like the dickens. You can
hiHoNhfc iOW tfltg wOuiQ look with
ordinary-sized soldier on one Of. them Well,
We went over to gee the First California
on dress parade the other day The Inen
made quite nice show. hut the officers
We're mounted-all thar could be-dn these
scrubby little ponies. rand 1T was 4the most
RIDICULOUS thing l have seen. Imagine a
I.o-pound man trying to make military
appearance on such a steed. About three
Iourtns OF the ponies are halky. and two
OF them baked during the performance.
Two OF us went over to the most FASH
ionable promenade last night 10 hear a
concert given by the Colorado band. Saw
some 30 quite pretty senoritas. but they will
Ihey did stare at us some, however. as we
haa some unusually dirty fatigue suits on.
Inc worst thing about this place is the
internally. Clothing is cheap, such as is
worn. and you can get a suit or white dt,ol,
cents in ours" Vi