The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-08
FROM NORRIS BALL.
ODE.

FhOh NOhhio bhhlSs
Guagua, p. l., Oct. 25, 1899.
EDITOR REGIsTER:-Now that the
Twentieth has returned home q
greater part of the interest in this
country has naturally subsidized, and
q letter from the front will not have
the interest for your readers it would
have had, but the boys themselves
will want to hear from the scenes of
their old campaign, 30 using this as
an excuse l will spend few minutes
In reviewing our work since they
left, and may hazard guess on the
future, though that will carry ne
weight as you at home with your
telegraphic service have better idea
of what we are to do than We have.
No doubt you hear of some moves on
the south line before we do.
Our regiment is doing garrison
duty at the north end of the bay.
The second battalion has headqusrt-
ers at Bscolor, the first at THE place,
and the third at Santa Rita. Bacolor
was once the principal province OF
this place, but was destroyed in 1886
at the outset of the Katlpunan rebel
lion, when the great secret orgsnizs-
ton of the Island attempted to over
throw the Spanish government.
There are still several really fine
buildings standing, including one OF
the best OF the old style churches to
be seen. 1t has been used as bar
racks so much lately, first by the
Insurgents and then by our forces,
that good deal of its beauty has
been destroy ed, tn the building IT,
self, believe, Will stand through
fire and storm aud earthquake for
centuries to come ard still show
traces OF architectural beauty that is
never attempted now. Imagine
heavy scroll work of concrete cover.
ing tho exterior, ana when you real.
ize that II was all done by band yOu
have some idea Of the time required
to build a large church here. And
of course they all have a belfry and
chimes of bells eufmountinR. On
August 9th our regiment heard these
CHI ines ring by other than iervenl
hands withiu,-the agency being
Krag bullets in their search for In
surgent shsrpsh0oters who were con
cealed within and were making oul
advance bit dangerous. Within
the church is a fine pipe organ which
is in good repair, Notwithstanding
the long occupancy by hostile forces
There Is an order out, and strictly
enforced too, preventing the destruc
ton of all property especially thai
belonging to the church, so wheI
peace once more reigns and these
people retHrn to their homes they
will find things about rs they left
) them. This may sound LITTLE
strange to the bOye, hut in ali thu
eighth army corps there ia not an
other such a character as Jack
Guagua and Santa Rlca are eact
about three miles from Bacolor, on,
to the south and the other TO tn,
west, being reached by macadamiZeC
roads in a more or less good state o
: repair. At one time the main road
here were in good shape but nothing
appears to have been done in way o
repairs in perhaps the last fifteel
: years. You can imagine the condl
D ton of the dirt roads after neg lee
like this. THIS place Is one OF tn
many ports reached by small rive
steamers, and as many are closed Il
transportation, good business 4
. done by the three boats running ba
tween here and Manila, none how
ever by the Government.
q Aside from the regular garrison
- duty here, we are doing considerable
3 scouting for the purpose of keeping
= the enemy interested. We hav
= twice taken Porac but were unabl
q to do the enemy very much dsmsg
1 beyond capturing small suppl.
= train each time. The last move Il
e that direction was started at mid
8 might, reaching Porac at day ligh
. only to find the main body gone, tn
1 few who remained being eaeily car
g tured. The best work yet done, how
ever, was that by the scouts unde