Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-02-07
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
Another Hancock County Boy Writes
from the Camp Near Manila.

Another HANCOCK County 10y writes
from the Camp Near Manila.
Last week THE AMERICAN printed ex-
tracts from letter written by a franklin
man at Manila. He complained of hot
weather, poor food, water not fit to drink
he wanted to be home again. This
| week THE AMERICAN is able to print a
letter from another Hancock county boy
| at Manila, which has an entirely different
tone. The writer is James A. Greene, OF
Troop b, ath cavalry, son OF First Select
man F. p. Greene, OF Bluehill. On
one point both writer's agree-in the
opinion that the war will not last much
longer. This is Mr.. Greene's letter to his
father:
MANILA, P. T.. Dec. 81. 1899.
Dear Father:
Since my other letter have been assigned to
troop d. I got my horse yesterday, but
haven't been on him yet. He Is an old horse
and steady SO don't think l shall have any
trouble with him.
I am having n pretty good time. and two
thirds of what you hear about this place are
lies. Manila Is a picturesque place with old
stone structures, and half OF IL is walled around
around it. The population Ia estimated at
so. 900 to 100000.
The water caribou or buffalo Is used for
hauling and the native ponies for driving. The
water caribou 10 something like our buffalo.
with very little hair and very wide horns. They
have to 30 In water every four hours or they
run away and then die. The ponies are about
three and one-half feet high, and will carry
4
We are living in bamboo matched barracks
which are the best thing for these countries.
and are very cool and dry. We feed frst-ciass,
and Christmas we had big dinner of chicken,
| dressing, beef, onions, mashed potatoes, corn.
starch pudding, pie. oranges and cigars for din
ner, and cold roast beef, Swiss cheese. ice
and cake and chocolate for supper, besides a
lot Of things can't think of now.
The troops have been out on the line ever
since they came over and are resting up now.
We don't know where we are going when we 60
out. The natives on the north Of the Island
| have been subdued. and we shall either 60 on
| the south line or come home. We shall prob.
| ably stay here for two or three months yet
| before we go anywhere by the looks Of things.
Ike the place and don't want to come back
| to the states yet awhile. The thing miss most
Is AmeIicAn newspapers. oenu me some bAn-
gor papers II 1t is convenient. We get paid
every two months, and pay day comes In . week
| or so.
There are all nationalities here. mostly native.
Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and American. We
| are about three miles from Manila, and street
cars, drawn by ponies. run nearly up here.
like the fellows in my troop and most every.
| thing connected.
Most things are cheap here; you can buy all
the fruit you can eat for nickel, and out little
ways you can pick 1t on the trees-bananas,
| oranges and mangoes In great variety.
| They run regular trains north to the noun.
tains on the coast, and are pushing "Aggier
| hard. and will probably capture him some fine
day.
l am perfectly healthy and hope the folks al
| home are the same. l go In swimming most
every evening. II Is about az warm here as II
is in June In Maine, although the tropical sun
| feels differently. JAMES A. GREENE,
Troop b. &th Cav,
Manila. Z. I,