Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-06-08

Well on the 18th of December we
landed in that pretty city of Manila,
and [ meyer was 80 glad to see land in
my life. Bill there is sight worth
seeing out in the bay; you see large
battle ships of nearly every nation,
our large gun boats patroling up and
down the coast, their guns roaring
every morning and evening antil you
think that your time has come. In
Manila you sse large, old stone build
ings and towers that look like they
are going to fall over every minute;
natives without anything on scarcely
at all, running about on the streets;
they are not as bad now as they we're.
The city is pretty yell patrolled. We
only stayed in the city few days.
and then our battalion a companies)
changed from the transport Hand
cock to the small ship City of Pueblo,
and. sailed down 20 these islands,
where We are nov. It took us two
days and nights; ve had to go slow
on account of shallow water; we like
to have ilever landed when We did get
here, this being . email place and
having no docks. We had to row in
in small boats ~ far ~ We could, and
then the natives came out IN the water
with their carts-a small box-like
trap, with two wheels, urawn by the
Carrsbau Cor watsr buffalo, a small
animal about the size Of our cattle;
they have grea. long horns and can
swim like duck. We finally got
landed. There 10 one company sof
the 9th infantry at this place and they
had tents up ready for " to 80 into;
and mayby you think didn't put in
a good nights sleep that night. The
next night I went on guard, for the
first time in the Philippines (snd
strange to say am s.ll doing guard
duty,) but l never will forget that
night; for about 3 O'clock ia the mora
ing, when had begun to get little
foot sore, l heard somethin coming
but it was so dark I couldn't see what
it was, I challenged but mo answer;
SO just pulled down my old Craig
and let him have il But when I
walked down to- End my enemy /
found nothing but harmless old dog.
dead as door nail.
Bill the way these people have of
living is funnier still. they live in
bamboo houses; they are built upon
bamboo poles about ten feet off the
ground; that is to keep out the rain
in the rainy season, and the disease.
They have no furniture whatever in
their houses; they eat and sleep on
the floor; they eat nearly everything
in sight-from snake up to a toad
and grasshopper stew is censids
cred fne dish. tell you whas
when We come back we will be able TO
clean out all the grasshoppers in
Kansas.
l think that We will be in barracks
sooD they are putting up fine build.
ing tor us to go into Well Bill there
goes taps, 80 [ will finish in tie morn
ing.
March 23d.-I didn't have time to
flush last night so will finish now.
We Just came in off of drill and they
are having gu,rd mount now; this isa
nice day. there is not a cloud in sight,
but O, my! how hot! The boys have
all gone down to the cocoanut grove.
o, we have a'6ne time over here you
can bet on that, you can buy any
thing you want over here; they have
ice c,ld beer and drinks of all kinda
Beer is worth 20 cents a bottle. Bill
l expect that our regiment will be
mustered on. inside of FIVE months
| Our captain said the other day that
if he thought that We we're going: tn
be In any longer than that he would
resign. S, you see it comes pretty
straight. If We are discharged in
that length of time l am g-ing ito en-
list in the Manila mounted police, for
five yearss they pay sixty dollars q
month and board, and furnish you
with clothes and good horse
4 man ought to save s5methiDg ou
of that. | have got seventy five
plunks soaked with the psymastel
now. and intend to put twenty more
with him as coon Is we are paid. W.
are paid every tvo months over here
Well Bill, how are all the folks q
home? Have you seen my folk
lately? lexpect that they have lie:
the court house by this time. haven
; they? It ia so far over here that ",
don't get mail very often. How
f, Redge and bis wife getting along
and how are you getting siong in tn
Q store? Is the Kid that toox my plac
still with you? Bill. have you see
Wells since be has come back there
}, Give him nv best regards if you &c
It him. Well Bill l will have to clos.
t hoping to hear from you soon.