Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-25
KILLED THE WOUNDED.
Letter From Maine Boy Al Present in The
Philippines.

A letter from one Of Uncle Sans SOL
diers in the Philippines is always of
interest to American people as it por-
trays life as it actually exists among
the regiments on duty there-some-
thing that ordinary dispatches cannot
do. The following is a letter received
by one of the brakemen on the Maine
Central from former Lewiston boy:
Manila. p. l.. May 81, 1900.
My dear friend: l am still enjoying
the best of health but do not know how
long it will last as the niggers are on
the war path. We had very sad
Decoration day in this town; our band
was fired upon by a gang of niggers.
while coming from a town named
indian. about eight miles away, and
three of the men We're wounded every
one being hit in the legs. The rest of
them ran back to indian. The band
men are not to be blamed for running
as not one of them had as much as
club for defence There were four men
from Co. E., as an escort and they had
guns, but at the first fire they turned
and ran.
After all had ran away the niggers
came out and went at the three wound
ed men and shot them full of holes.
They placed a rifle at each mans head
and put a ball through him. One was
sergeant by the name of Stephen
Leonard: he was shot throuh the leg
and they put the rifle at his left side
and sent bullet clear through him.
Another sergeant was shot through the
heart and twice more in the body. The
other poor fellow was private; he
was was shot three times and then
they placed a gun under his chin and
sent ball through his head.
Their bodies We're brought into the
town and of all the sights ! have ever
seen. and l have seen some pretty hard
ones, that was the most sickening.
They took about 800 in gold from
Sergeant Leonard. About 100 men
from our battalion were sent out to
look for the murderers but up to now,
and it is two o'clock, we have not
heard from them.
Shortly after the bodies were
brought in our major went out with
some Is men from Co. l.. Before start
ing he said he would get some revenge
and he had not got outside the town
when he asked niger a question and
receiving no answer but laugh, he
pulled his revolver. and shot him.
When he was falling he said: Now
laugh, you dirty cur. That was the
beginning: we heard, about half an
hour afterward, that he had killed two
more about mile down the road. We
do not know how true that is but we all
hope it is so. The boys all swOre to
kill every niger they get a chance at,
and would not think twice before
shooting one of them. 1t would not
be as exasperating if the boys who
We're killed had any chance to protect
themselves, but not one of them had a
gun. That will be a sorry days work
for the niggers in this part of the
country. l was on guard over a native
prisoner. last night l kept my gun
loaded right up tolthe muzzle and II he
had made a move toward escaping,
would have shot him quickly. That is
the way their miserable acts effect us
and we can not help 1t.
II have been out scouting over the
country for the last week, looking fol
niggers with a few more of the boys
We caught two the other night and ONE
of them had in his possession a letter
from some high official in their army
They Were put up with some American
prisoners who proceeded to have some
sport with them by holding mOcl
trial. After going through a lot Of tall
which the niggers took in with genuine
learnestness, one of them was sentenced
to be shot, one to be thrown from &
two-story window, and third. whom
we have here. was to have his throa
cut. The niggers were scared blu'
land refused to go up stairs again.
This is a very pretty country but
do not like it or the people in it. ant
the sooner l get out Of it the better
will like it. l like this life but thes
jpeople are such dirty ours that I can
bear the sight OF one of them. Re
member me to all the boys.
Your friend.
ALBERT MARSHMAN,
] Co. I, 45th Reg. u. s. w."