Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-02-22
WILLLYON IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Enjoys Dual Duty ofSodier and Policeman
on Streets of Manila.

on Streets of Manila,
An interesting letter has come from
a Grand Rapids boy in the far away
Philippines this week which was not
expressly intended for publication but
is worth it, hence the REPORTER has
been permitted to print the letter by
kindness of his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
r. w. Lyon. 1t is as follows:
Manila, Jan. 16, 19OO.-My Dear
Parents: | ought to have written to
you several days ago but have been
very busy since | came back to the
company from the hospital. Am
entirely well and feel finely now. Had
a thorough cleansing while in the
hospital and my dysentery is COM
pletely cured. | have ravenous
appetite and feel well generally. My
company is Quartered in a fine, large
building that was formerly occupied
by a Spanish general. 1t is on the
south end Of the famous Luneta, just
a block from the sea shore. We are
doing police duty in the district of
Ermita. Duty is fine and | like it
better than any | ever did since
arriving in Manila. Just the same as
the police in any large city in the
states. Each man has certain beat
to walk and our duty is to arrest all
people drunk or disOrderly in any
way. stop all disturbances, search
suspicious persons and bundles. keep
lights lit on houses and carriages and
arrest all persons out after $50 p. m.
who have no passes. Once in awhile
we raid a Chinese den and capture
opium. etc. Our beats are up and
down streets in this district. Instead
Of wards they have districts We get
three nights in bed between guards
and drill only is minutes each so you
see the duty is pretty easy. Every
evening twelve men go on the Luneta
and do guard there until 1870 to pre-
vent blockades of carriages in the
drive-Ways and to keep the main
prOmenadeS open and to prevent any
disturbance that might arise. You
see there is a band concert there every
evening and all the SWellS in the city
90 there the same as people go to parks
in America. 1t is customary here to
do all the driving and prOmenading in
the evening when it is cool. Oh. the
crowds of swell, rich people that go on
the Luneta. The other night | was
doing guard there and there was an
extra fine program on, SO larger
crowd than usual was out. Papers
said there were $4,000 people present
We have to dress up nice and clean
then and carry our guns correctly and
walk in d military manner because we
are looked at and criticized by officers
from other regiments and we want to
make a name for ourselves. | never
saw SO much fine jewelry in my life as
is worn here Gold and diamonds to
dazzle my eyes. 1t is surprising how
fast this city is improving in cleanli-
ness and is adopting American Gus
toms. They are painting buildings,
trimming up the fine lawns and trees,
the streets are swept clean all the
time and people dress very nicely now.
They have to do tHs and. can see bow
much better it is SO take an interest
in it. This will be an elegant country
when American rule is established
throughout the whole island.
Well, / received a Christmas box
from Dora and friends, which was very
nice indeed because it contained
things [ needed and that were useful.
| got four handkerchiefs, two towels,
a good toothbrush, a box of talcum
powder, Il pair of socks, two cards OF
safety pins. two bars of toilet soap,
two lead pencils and package of
chewing gum and letter from a
young lady named Miss Nolia Streeter.
| knew her brother who was in the
18th Minnesota volunteers. That was
| a pretty good Christmas | think, don t
you. The Red Cross society from
Portland, Oregon, sent my company
several boxes of nice candy and plenty
of popcorn with peppers to pop it in.
We have been busy popping corn for
! the last five days and are still popping.
Well mother [ want to say again that
| the REPORTERS you send are very
much appreciated and so please keep
on sending them. Yes | think there
| is a great deal of mail lost so we must
wri e plenty of letters to make up. l
still receive letters from friends in
Elroy and Portage. Now mother
| don't worry about me because | won't
run any foolish risks and will take
good care of myself. This regiment
won't go on the lines any more so don't
worry about that. We will be going
home in short time now because an
order has been issued to that effect.
Give my best regards to al! my friends
YOU NAV see and with best wishes to
| Yourself and father, am as ever,
Your loving son,
CO. X. 18th Will Lyon.