The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-15

In a letter to his cousin. John J. CAT
frey of Sugar Notch, published in the
Wilkes Barre Times, James Cleary, OF
Company +, First Idaho volunteers,
gives series of graphic pictures of
military experiences in and around
Manila. Under date of Feb. ~ he
writes.
"I think in order to get good start
] had better commence at the begin
ming of the present outbreak. On
Saturday night, Feb. 1, assembly blew
and we all fell in and had no more
than done so than the ball had started
and firing had commenced all around
the city-eveTywhere along our lines.
1t was then about $50 p. IN. and we
We're started towards the lines at Paco
district and block house No. >. when
we got to within one-fuurth mile Of the
bloCk-hOuse we We're ordered to re-
main at the old Paco church yard.
which we did until about midnight. All
this time one company Of Washington
volunteers We're holding the block
house and one company could easily
hold it, as l believe it was our officers
intentions to keep them as quiet as
possible until daylight ana then we
and what they had long been loo,;inS
for However, at midnight we go.
uldcrs to move up towards the firing
lin" as they had been expecting a
stronger attack and we moved up
nearer to the line and got an order
to halt and remain in the street for
the present. And we did not remain
there long before the bullets com
mcnced to come very fast and they
had almost a straight shot al US frcm
their lines when we fell i'm t. move
under cover for the time being aud we
did not get started To move when .wp
Of our men i'm my company ANA along
side Of mo fcll-One shot through thr
body and dying shortly afterwards,
the other shot through the arm.
We got under cover and remained
there until nearly daylight. when we
returned to our quarters, got break.
fast and then returned to the pac0
church. where we had STAYED sore
time the night before; and as all the
troops were ready. ana the artillery
moved up to the front. We We're wait
ing for the command TO advance.
There were six companies of our regi-
ment in the old church yard. We were
only i'm there about one hour Whrn
stray bullets commenced to drop
around the yard and from the appear
ance they must have been signal shots
for We found out afterwards when we
sent scouting party out that there
were niggers in the old church They
had sneaked i'm there some way or 9TH
er and they must have had thair guns
concealed in the building, for they
were very cunning to get hold of them
ana they We're known to take a coffin
Into a church filed with Mauaar rites
Tor they have been caught doing an
act Of that kim several times.
SICK OF THEIR JOB.
But, nevertheless, they We're sick of
heir job that morning. for when the
couts discovered them we We're noti-
led and we opened fire ON the building
Il the windows and doors, as that was
he only place that our shots would
axe any effect, as the building was
stone and had stood there for more
han two centuries. We killed many
them when finally the door was
pened and Il woman appeared with
baby in one arm and a white flag in
he other hand. There were also some
riests in the building as well as lots
soldiers and women. When they ap-
cared with the flag our major ordered
he men to cease firing, but they killed
ome of them after he had called out
md If they did right, l would say "kill
hem all for they never show us any
mercy" In a few minutes afterwards
they trained one of the Sixth artillery
guns on the old church and 1t only
took six shots to knock the old thing
aown and it soon burned up-what
would burn of il.
We marched TO the firing line then
on the Paco road when three COM
panies OF our regiment turned TO the
tight into a rice swamp, the other three
companies, of which / was in one,
stayed on the road until we reached
block house No. II, and the way that
bullets fell there it was terrible, and
yet there were not many of US getting