Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-09-28
He Had News That Death
Was Due.
Soldiers Counting Days Before
Time Arrives
For Them to Return to Their Homes
Philippine Letter.

Philippine Letter.
Mr.. Joseph Hollander has received
the following letter from Edward
Stair, a soldier in the Philippines:
Victoria, Luzon, =. 1. Aug. II, 1900
Friend Joe: The island is quiet at the
present time, SO far as I know. We
had three small scraps couple of
weeks ago. Capt. Lara, captain Of the
Manila police, was murdered the other
night. We arrested the president of
this town. We think he sent man
there to do the deed. The government
offers $1,000 reward for the capture
Of the murderer. We had news that
he would be killed two days before the
deed was committed. G. company
of this regiment lost eight men the
other night. Co. HI had a scrap and
killed big native general. guess
he is the last left up this way, for we
cleaned them up pretty well. The
Philippines are big bunch of trouble.
The chief occupation Of the natives
of the island is building trenches and
making bolos. The chief amusement
is cock fighting and stealing. The
chief exports are hemp, rice, war bull
letins, American soldiers, arms and am
munltion. The native houses are
chiefly built of bamboo and landscape.
The natives are friendly at the point of
your gun. The climate is pleasant and
beautiful for ants, mosquitoes, snakes,
scorpions, tarantulas, centipedes,
reaches, and alligators. They have
established communication between the
islands by substituting the mosquitoes
for the carrier pigeon, being larger
and better able to stand the long jour-
neys. The Philippines are on the
western horizon of civilization, bound
ed on the west by hoodoism and SNUG
l
struction, on the east by typhoons and
monoons, on the south by eannibals,
and earthquakes. The soil Is very
fertile and large crops of insurrection
and treachery are produced. Filipino
marriages are very impressive, espe
cially the clause wherein the wife is
given the privilege of doing as much
work as her husband desires. The
principal diet is fried rice, boiled rice
and stewed rice.
The Philippines, an appropriate pres
ent for deadly enemy.
J The soil, adapted for raising foul
aromas and breeding disease.
Manila is the capital and principal
city, noted for it's large number of
saloons and Cinnamon. The animal Of
burden is the caribou and should q
hundred mile journey be undertaken,
the driver would die of old age before
reaching his destination. Malaria fe-
yer is so prevalent that on occasions
the islands have been shaken as if
with chill.
Well, l guess that about finishes a
graphic description of this bunch, and
it's no lie. We are getting plenty of
bacon, beans, punk and boiled water
to drink, but we can't kick. A regu-
lar soldier has no right to kick He
eats what he gets; maybe he does not
stop to see If it tastes good or not.
How are the boys getting along?
hope they are all well and enjoying
life. l am trying to, but ! think /
could do better In some other land
than this. One great amusement the
soldiers have, is TO sit in some remote
corner and count the time on his fin
gers, as to when he will leave Uncle
SANS army. have not one half
enough fingers, % months. | have
been thinking what a sucker am, but
have % more months to think in
land when l have them in I certainly
will have good opinion OF myself
las a sucker) oh, mulcho as the ma
tives say. am going to do my duty
and saw wood. guess that's about
all can do. You get everything
that's coming to you. Il don't Think
It's nice to be a quartermaster SER
geant over here. I wouldn't work for
a long time if / was one. Wen,
guess / have exhausted my thoughts,
SO must close for the present Hop
| ing to hear from you soon, and to re-
ceive that package of smoking, ! am
yours to the last.
EDWARD STAIR,
| Co. X, 18th Infantry,