Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-01
A FILIPINO LETTER.
Eldon Woman Hears From Her
Brother Who is in the Army.
DOES NOT LIKE THE NATIVES.
Says They Are towards and Shoot
With Their Eyes Shuts Fascin-
ated With the Life of Soldier-An
Interesting Letter.

Charles Krauthaus says everything
has befallen him that could happen to
a soldier except having been paced in
the guard house, and he rather likes
it. He says there is fascination
about it that he cannot describe. And
then he does not like the Fi]lipinos.
He says they are towards and when
they shoot, shut their eyes and bang
away. a
Mr.. Krauthaus is private in Com
pany A, Forty-fifth United States Vo-
unteers, and a brother of Mrs. Ed.
Titcomb, of Eldon, and before he en-
listed was resident of Iowa City.
Recently Mrs. Titcomb received let
ter from her brother in which the con-
ditions are described in the following
letter as seen by him:
Pueblo de Baao, Camerines Pro-,
P. L., Aug. 81, 1900.
Dear Sister: / received your letter
the other day and was surprised to
hear from you so soon
| Everything is the same here except
for little fighting now. My side
partner was wounded August II. Don't
forget the stuff is off" between myself
and these "niggers" now. Every
chance can get will put one ION the
bum" l have gotten a few now that
know of, and perhaps some that
don't know which of us did get, when
we shot together; but l got few in
single-handed games where l took it
up and played it alone" Although
did not make four on hand usually
made one and lost nothing. Since the
"kid" was put in the Clear | have
conceived a hatred for these black
savages that I can't overcome.
would rather have been hit myself
than have seen him get it. He and
are just like brothers. He is the best
friend I have on earth. When every
thing is dark" as it gets here some
times, or when things are fair, he is
the same. When pound OF bacon
could not be bought for SIS in gold,
he refused that amount in hard cash
and divided it with me. can tell
you we were both hungry and did not
know where we would get the next
meal. He has shown himself a
friend in many critical places. Times
are hard here now and We have a
good deal to bear, but then it won't
last long and besides there is some
thing fascinating about it that can't
describe. / am not sorry l enlisted
and would do it over again If the same
place was offered me. And again
had not seen the country. | am we'll
paid by experience. have seen a
1 foreign country, or two of them, and
will see two more before | get back;
II have had an ocean voyage and will
get another; I have seen army life and
lighting in all its glory and had a hard
from temperate. to a tropical climate;
time of it; | have experienced change
have been sick, and done every thing
that a soldier could possibly could do
and expect to get back top side up
with care" Then a man isn't sol
dier unless he goes thru certain things
and I am not full-hedged yet. lack
one degree. First he must have been
lousy at some stage OF the game II
haye): must be kicking all the time
and at everything q ann; must be
able to eat and drink anything that
anybody can Il cam; must not get
mad no matter what is said to him u
don't); and must have been in the
guard house q have not been yeti.
may be a soldier some day. And some
other things that / may think of after
awhile.
Gee! 1 have a sweetheart, you
ought to see her; but she looks and
dresses just the same as all the rest
of them. She has nice nose-ring and
a healthy sun-burned complexion
nothing more unless it is silly grin
She keeps little fruit dump" on the
market place, and grins and gives me
bananas, mangoes, and drink of lime
; juice, ETC.. when l come around.
A good many people in the states
have an idea the people over here are
NICE, REFINED. EDUCATED people
who are equal to AMERICANS, anC
; that this island is just full of maidens
of dazzling beauty. Those people
should see for themselves. These
, NIGGERS are an IGNORANT, SAY
AGE, UGLY MOB of BLOOD-THIRSTl
EDWARDS, who fear a white mar
wnen they see his face. And will say
this, that with my rifle, belt and {
good United States 6-shooter am no
afraid of twenty of them. Give me the
i same chance they have, open field a
1000 yards and chance to advance
towards them, or them towards me
, and they can have any and all the
, weapons they can carry, because b!
the time they come to the 500 yart
mark, | could pick off about five, ant
: they get so excited they can't shoe
, straight. They do not put the gun tt
: their shoulder or aim at all. The1
; when at 500 yards, would just star
! for them shooting with couple of six
! shooters as | went, and they would
I,,nf Oh 10 cor