Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-06-25
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
Charles II. Solomon Writes Intsrssting n ri
of the Campniru

~ shs oShhPaikns
The following letter is from Charles
X. Solomon, = young man who has
numerous friends In and around Free
land, and WAS written to his sister, Mrs.
r. h. Stetlsr, Of Lehighton. Through
the courtesy Of Mrs. Stetler the TRI-
BUNE is permitted to publish the letter
in full.
Colasi, P. l., April 90, 1900.
Dear Sister.-No doubt you think 1
have forgotten you, as l have not
written for long time. But since 1
last wrote you 1 have been In sxpedi-
tions under a tropical sun through
northern and southern Panay. 1 have
not written letter since the forepart
Of last February, for l have had no
opportunity to write. At times we did
not get news from Ilollo for two weeks;
even now l shall have to send this
letter without a stamp. l doubt II there
is stamp within fifty miles of here,
unless it be Filipino.
We left Iloilo February 10, under
General Hughes, and engaged the enemy
first at Antique, where we lost sixteen
men killed and wounded. But 1t was
not my first experience at making
human target, as we landed in Iloilo
only two weeks before, after being out
on sixty days campaign, where we
fought two battles and several skir.
mishes.
When the bullets began to to sing
"We Don't Care II You Never Come
Back" wished 1 were "Ten Thousand
Miles Away" That feeling soon wore
of and whom bullet would make q
hole In the air close to us would say,
you'll have to come closer II you want
me-"
Our battalion commander, Major SAT.
ford, was leading his men and when he
reached the bridge he said: "Come for.
ward, men, they -" He never finished
it, for he fell with three holes through
his body. He was good officer and
never asked his men to 20 where he
would not.
We pushed forward, the engineers
repairing the road as we went, and took
the towns Of Sibalon, San Pedro and
San Jose without tho loss OF q man.
On the road to Santa Cruls we had an
opportunity to sec the artillery make
the niggers "vamose."
1t was open country, and about 1000
yards ahead We could SEQ them coming
out to their trenches. Riley brought up
ono OF his and 2-1o guns. Three well.
directed shells put them out OF business.
II there is anything that will do mans
heart good when the bullets are coming
thick 1t Is one Of those 3 and 2.10 peace
commissioners.
Entering Tigbaun do Malabon, we
lost one man. Tigbaun de Malabon was
the insurgents stronghold in the south.
Beyond de Malabon Company c charged
band of the dusky skinned towards,
capturing a well-equlpped hospital and
"convicary" besides many prisoners. l,
personally, captured fine horse and
the uniform Of Filipino colonel, an
other fellow Of my company getting the
colonel himself. We got also fine
portrait Of Agulnaldo in full uniform,
with his autograph on the margin. Re-
turning by way Of Lebatnan nothing
svsntful happened.
We arrived in Carltou February 16,
whore we did guard duty for wook.
Then we won't aboard a small steamer
called the El Cano, and the next morn
ing started up the west cost of Panay,
anchorlng at p. M, February rs, In
tho Daugpan gulf. After the gunboats
began firing, We were landed under
hsafy fire. Hero our company lost one
man killed and one man wounded. All
poor Shals said was, II have got it,"
then fell.
This was the heaviest fire that l hope
1 shall ever have to face. Several times
splinters and dirt were thrown into my
face. We returned to Colasi, where we
are now. Some say that the war Is over.
l should not make a guess on 1t, but
tho insurgents are pretty we'll scattered.
In your last letter you spoke of cold
weather. 1t almost gave me = chill.
Here the rainy season is over, and It is
as fine July weather as l ever saw.
There Is q lovely beach not over q hun
drsd yards from our quarters and We
60 in bathing every day.
Hoping to be able to write to you
oftener in the future, remain, your
soldier brother, Charles r. Solomon.
Co. c, 10th U. s. Infantry.
l.. v. n. II. Special Fare Excursions.
B. Y. p. U. Of America annual con-
yention. Cincinnati. O.. July 12.15.