The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-06-08
Soldier Letter.

Itapp We are allowed 10 ptlnG The IOI-
loving letter from his soldier son now
in the Philippine Islands, and give
our readers ii closer view than usual
of what our boys are doing over i'll
the colonies:
BaratOl, Panay l., p. [.
April 13, 1900.
Dear Folks at Home:
| thought | would write you a few
lines anu let you know thai [ an alive
and all right, and why | have not
written sooner. We have been NOV
ing around so much that L have not
had a favorable opportunity before
now. | have received several letters
from you and was most heartily glad
TO get them. l received the money
sent me tor d Christmas present and
appreciated it very much, but am sor-
nv | cannot return the compliment but
hope TO in some future time.
Shortly after L wrote you in JarO
three companies of us took one of the
hardest marches ever made in the
Philippines. We were out p days
and marched across the island from
Jaro TO San Jose. From there We
took the boat and went to CullusOs.
We took the town and laid over there
for four days, then started on our
Journey across the island again.
Ii one had never made the march
they could not realize what trip like
that w;tS. While IN the valley we
had to cross streams, Oftentlmes not
more than 200 yards apart, for a day
at IL time. The water would some
times be over waist deep and the
bridges had all been destroyed, so We
had TO wade them the best We could.
Often there would be deep hole and
someone would 90 down over his
head and be washed down the stream
Il ways.
On the way back we were in the
mountains Tor four days, and In rain
for seven days and nights. We could
not Dulld /. lire to cook anything, so
we had to eat raw bacon and hard
tack. After we had got out OF the
mountains we run onto a large, square
bamboo house, where we captured
some spears and. a. lot of bolos, d
bOlO is something like Cuban ma
chetJa d. shot gun and some shields.
We camped near the house that night,
early the next morning started on our
journey to take Il town named Mata-
log. We got there about eleven
O clock and white Hags were put out
from every window. We cooked our
breakfast and dinner together and
rested about. two hours. We then
started on for another town about 80
miles from there. We had stream
to cross lust outside OF town, native
was there with u boat and volunteered
TO help us across. One OF Tie boy 5
stood up, as luck would have IL, and
tipped The whole bOaI-iOad out. We
then concluded to go up the stream
ii bout 80 yards where the water Was
only about waist deep.
| The head of the column was just
about across when we were tired upon
| from some mountains about 1oOO Or
| 1900 yards away. Most OF the bullets
| struck where the boat was supposed TO
| cross. 1t was u we'll laid plan OF
| theirs to get Il boat-lOad OF men about
| half way over and fire on them, and
they had the range perfectly. Even if
they had not al been killed 10y the
first voiley. they would undCuolediy Y
have become excited, jumped out and
drowned But the man WAC upset the
I boat saved several lives.
After we were fired on we retreated
to some cover and then opened fire on
the niggers. Bullets came thick and
fast for Il short time but they were
soon overpowe cred. One of our men
was wounded in ie leg, the only cas-
uality. We Went back inlo town and
| found every house vacant. W e cap
lured one native and made him guide
us to the next town. where We toOh the
beat to Jaro.
We were IL tough looking set: we
| had not been shaved since we started
several of us we're nearly naked, and
| lots of them were barefoOted. My
shoes were just hanging on and got
fuii of gravel that cut any feet every
oiG.c ] stepped.
We got to the town the next day and
rested "A Gay or SO before taking the
boat for TarO. You ought to have
! heard the boys yell when We got in
sight 'of Jaro. 1t was almost like
stepping in home. We We're AL well
! worn out. had high fever for
| about a week but got all right. Most
| of the boys were in good shape with
the exception of a few sore feet, and
! we were Soon rs hearty as ever.
After resting some time we were put
on duty. and then Co. G WAS moved
to Sarotoc. where we have heen doing
garrison duty ever since. We 60 ON
| hikes after small bands OF LaGrones
quite frequently. ] was on hike
Yesterday. There We're seven compan-
| les: some from the Goth. the Scouts,
some of the 18th and two companies
of the 44th We surrounded a scope
of country and Brought all the Um-
hries to one poipt and separated the
good from the bad.
1t is just such work that we are do
s1~ Y 4