The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-13
FROM MANILA
Interesting Letter Of a
Soldier.
How Things Looked to New Conner
Within the Walled
City.

Quartet de Espana, Walled City. Ma
Mia, p. l., January 22d, 1900.
Rev. w. ID. WesteTyelt.
Dear Sir: l intended to write be-
fore now, but being busy since arriy-
ing here, and considering circum-
stances, il has not been convenient TO
write as soon as l wished. We arriy-
ed in Manila bay Wednesday night,
December goth, of last year. and the
next morning the city of Manila lay
before US. In the bay could be seen
the undesirable positions Ito the Span
ish) of the Spanish feet that Dewey
left it in. when he put them out OF
business a year ago last May. And by
the number of war vessels lying near
US it reminded me of SIMPSONS fleet
at Santiago de Cuba. One could not
expect a more pleasant voyage.
I'VE didn't go ashore until the after
noon of December 22d, although, when
we left Honolulu, we didn't expect that
we would be on land Christmas day;
so we felt satisfied, under the circum-
stances. that we were ashore, as we
had nothing extra for Christmas din
ner aboard ship. At present we are
quartered in the Quartet de Espana,
/ together with b, G and batteries,
which form the second battalion of
/ the Sixth Artillery. The Quartet Is
| the quarters used by Spanish troops,
and have a separate wall enclosing
| them inside the walled city.
| The second battalion are guarding
/ the gates of the Walled City, and have
| something over a hundred prisoners in
| charge, who are awaiting trial. Bat
! terry A, Sixth Artillery, that came from
| Honolulu with us, is quartered near
/ the Quartet; they have a number Of
\ Filipino officers in charge who have
been taken prisoners. The weather
/ has been exceedingly fine since we
1 have been here, the heat being notice
/ able only when exposed to the sun;
nights are cool and very damp, which
| does not seem TO agree with us, as
most of the boys have taken a severe
cold.
The 'dobe itch. which I am told
| gives every one a call, has made its
| appearance among some of the boys.
| 'Beno,' a native brew, the sale of
which has lately been prohibited.
makes one both drunk and crazy. The
| habANNo use AObdANO OAAAg III cigar anu
cigarette form; they chew the beetle
nut seemingly as a substitute for to-
bacco.
THE Walled City, which is known
| as Manila proper. is about a mile IN
circumference; the wall, built two
hundred and fifty years ago, was
over fifty years in construction. On the
outside of the wall is a large dyke
which can be flooded when 90 desired
There are six churches and converts,
and other buildings pertaining to them.
By calling them churches it is doubt
full whether you can form an idea Of
what they really are or look like. Each
church covers a whole block and is
walled in by itself, having the appear
ance Of fertilization rather than the
house Of God. The converts are forth
fed and the outside world knows moth
ting of what takes place within.
Taking all into consideration, the
Walled City of Manila appears to be
La hundred years behind the times. We
know not when we may be sent to the
firing line. A detachment of Battery
| . has been on the line for over three
weeks, in charge OF a dynamite gun,
and are expected back in a day or So.
Another detachment will be sen. in
and Twentieth Infantry are doing du-
~ inside the Walled City, all being
ulder strict orders, as an outbreak is
] expected at any time.
"A Filipino band has been organized
in this Quartet by the leader OF the
Sixth Artillery band, Carl Windt Per
mission to take them TO the United
States has been applied for. but has
not yet been granted, as FilIpinos are
not allowed to land in the States.
The reading matter on the boat
sent aboard at Honolulu was highly
appreciated, as 1 heard many Of the
boys make the remark that It is good
that we have something to read
will close, with best regards, l re-
main, your soldier friend.
HERBERT f. BENNETT.
Battery n, Sixth Artillery. Ma