The evening times., 1900-03-03
HICKEY'S Soldier LIFE
A WashingtOnian Writes of His
Philippine Experiences.
The Death Of Williams. the First
Man From This city 10 BE Killed.
Scouting aud FiEhtinE-The DAN
ger OF Crossing Rivers by swim
minE-NatiVeS Like the Americans.

William A. Hickey. OF this city, enlisted
In Company c. Forty afth United States
Volunteers some months ago, and went
with his regiment to the Philippines. A
letter written by him and dated S4ic,
Luzoa, January ., 190e has been received.
Ii reads as follows
Very recently ! have been stationed
with many OF the boys from Washington
at a placed called 'Das Marienis.' which
t. located about thirty-five miles south Of
Manila. Many OF these men enlisted at
the Washington Light Infantry Hall,
where they were recruited under Fir, l.
Sergeant Charles Beatley.
ON Sunday. January Z, the Twenty
eighth had a bad fight with the insurgents,
and in that engagement my old friend
Williams was killed. He was shot through
the chin. the ball coming out near the
right ear. He was the first Washington
man TO meet death in this campaign.
Among many Of the Washington men with
wnom / have had pleasant times while
here, were Sergeant Dayton, Corporal
Banyhausen, Lansburgh, Sullivan, and
Hamersly. The arrangements here for the
crying Of mail are very poor. for carts
drawn by mules or bulls are used, and are
very slow.
The boys OF the Forty-ifth are all well.
and stand the trials incident to soldier
life unfiinchingly Since we left Das Ma
rienis We have been very active in scout
ing, traversing hundreds of miles OF coun-
Try. and have had several enga gements
with the enemy. However. these amount
ed to but little for these insurgents are
simply set OF bandits. and will run when
ever they see an American soldier. Our
regiment left Das Marienis on January IL,
and have secuted most Of the country
within thirty miles OF Manila Bay on
this place We destroyed 8 400 pounds Of the
enemy's ammunition and captured a field
piece The Town Of Buena Vista made no
resistance. and when we entered it was
deserted. The natives quickly returned 10
their homes after we had taken possession
for they knew that we were protecting
them from their worst enemy-Aguiualdo' S
band OF guerriIas
We have also camped in Santa Cruz
and Tuiutaua. both inland towns. and on
January 10 marched TO our present con-
fine. where the other two battaliOus OF our
regiment were located
"Naic Is the principal town of the prov
inCe Of Cavite. and Il overlooks the beauti-
ful bay of Manila TIE town mas a Catho-
structure of It's kind. outside Of the city
Of Manila. in the Philippines. Hundreds
OF our boys attended divine services there
and listened TO the strains OF sacred mu-
sic resounding through the great stone
arches built IN the year 1865. The clergy
are most aifable. and from what can be
learned are very glad that the Amerf ans
will protect their church from the desc
crations OF the roaming bands OF natives.
1t was a picturesque sight 10 look
upon the inhabitants as they assembled
around us TO see the dress parade Janu-
sry -. This was the first time that they
had ever Witnessed such an affair. and
when our band played the National
anthems. like good Americans. they all.
old and young. Uncovered their heads
Our travel 10 this place was very
eventful. and We had many narrow escapes
and thrilling experiences During the Jour
ney nearly all Of the soldiers had TO swim
the deepest streams, and those who could
not swim had 10 be taken over on the
swimmers backs. We managed finally to
land all Of the boys in Naic but with cut
and bruised feet and terribly sunburued
bodies. On reaching Naic most OF the men
had TO 20 10 the hospital for treatment.
and some Of them can only walk now with
the aid OF a stick.
Male is practically an Isolated town
and the only way Of communicating with
other parts Of the island is by way OF a
steam cascOe which on alternate davs
runs to Manila. All OF the Washington
men here are anxiously awaiting news
from the Capital City on the Potomac II is
quite disagreeable to be here, so far from
home, cut of from all news. except
through military channels. and we hope
that these conditions will not long exist 8"