The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-03-12
FROM SIXTH ARTILLERY
HOW THE BOYS OF BATTERY
JARED.
Manila Churches Are Like Fortresses.
Collins and Guns-A Colored Soldier
Sentenced to be Shot.

Herbert e. Bennett of Battery N, 9th
Artillery, which was stationed here for
some MONTHS, and went to Manila on
the transport Hancock has written the
following letter to a contradict
Quartet DE ESPANA, Manila,
Feb 2, 19OO.-We arrived in Manila Bay,
Wednesday night, December 90 and the
next morning the city of Manila lay be-
fore us. We were twenty days and six
hours en- route, and with the exception
of a few showers and a couple of days
of bad weather, the voyage was as
pleasant as anyone could wish. AL
though when we left Honolulu we did
not expect to spend Christmas day on
landed December %. The weather has
been exceedingly fine since we arrived
The heat is noticeable only when one is
exposed to the sun. The nights are
cool and very damp, and this does not
seem to agree with us as most of the
boys have taken severe colds.
Mosquitoes are worse here than in
Honolulu, and the ahobie itch, which 1
am told makes everyone a call has
made its appearance among us. 1t has
also been discovered that "beno," the
native brew, the sale of which has late
~ been prohibited not only makes the
drinker drunk, but also makes him
crazy.
At present we are quartered in the
Quartet de Espana, together with bat
teries B, c and e, forming the second
battalion of the 9th Artillery. We are
guarding the gates of the walled city
and have in charge something over a
hundred prisoners who are waiting
trial. sentence, etc. Battery A, 9Th
Artillery is quartered near the Quartet,
and has in charge number of Filipino
officers who have been taken prisoners
from time to time.
The Quartet are quarters which were
occupied by the Spanish troops, and
have a separate wall enclosing them
inside the walled city The walled city,
known as Manila proper, is about a
mile in circumference. 1t is surrounded
by a wall built $50 years ago and which
took fifty years to build On the outside
of the wall is a large dyke which can be
flooded.
If all pertaining to churches were
taken out of the walled city there
would be less than half of it remain
ing. There are six churches and con-
vents and other buildings pertaining to
them. By calling them churches it is
doubtful whether it gives you an idea
of what they are really like Each
church covers a whole block and is
walled in to itself, giving the appear
ancne of a fertilization. The ?nrvents
are builtsin the same way. On Sundays
end on two or three other days in the
week there is seemingly an unreason-
able amount of bell ringing from these
churches. The churches have not al
ways been used for the sole purpose for
which they were erected Arms have
been hidden in them and conveyed to
the insurgents in the form of a funeral.
The coffin was filled with arms and
ammunition. 1t was followed by a pro-
cession of Filipinos "boo-hooing'' in
most approved style, keeping up all the
appearance of funeral.
We do not know when we may be
sent to the firing line detachment
of Battery E has been out on the firing
line for three weeks in charge of
dynamite gun, and are expected back
in day or so, when another detach-
ment will be sent out in their stead.
Part of the 14th and Goth Infantry are
doing duty inside the walled city, all
being under strict orders as an out
break is expected any time.
The colored soldier of the 4Sth Infan-
try who killed another colored soldier
in quarrel growing out of crap game
just before the regiment left Jefferson
Barracks, Mo- and who was brought
along on the transport which carried
us, has been sentenced to be shot
Pat Disser was discharged Janury 49,
and Ripling by favor, without honor
They both left for the States on the
Hancock, January 20. Corporal Dodson
was honorably discharged by favor
without travel pay February l. Rentch
las been reduced to sergeant, and Fer
reau Is now First Sergeant, and Monck.
ton Quartermaster's Sergeant.
A Filipino band has been organized
in the Quartet by the leader of the 9Th
/ Artillery hand Carl Mindt Parr,issiop
to take them to the States has been
applied for, but has not been granted
yet.