The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-17
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
CoLFAN VOLUNTEER WRITES OF
MEN AND THINGS ~ ltxoN.
Physical Aspects of the Island sna
Its Great Vatur-9rief OF >oiaters
at the Death of Gen. tswton-
Fighting Tactics of FIiipines.

Special Dispatch 10 the post-lutelligencer.
COIFAN. Feb Nv r BlAchley has
received FROM his son. Frank. member
Of Company [, Thirty-0fth United states
infantry now IN the Philippines a lesteF
in which Re speaks OF number o. the
soldier boys who enlisted at C0lfaN Tue
letter Is written from NorsSSr9y ana
dated New Years day. In it the deep
grief felt by the command az the death 81
Gen. LAYTON is expressed
when your letter and papers arrived,
ne writes the papers created a great
sensation among the company every one
OF the lads wanted one ot those papers.
and stripped me Of them. 50 l did not set
10 read a singie one until the next day.
You ask fov a description Of Tire Islands
It Is rather hard f0r me 10 give. for the
t~ason that We have seen little OF the
rainy season: but win say that ! have
been very much surprised. One would
Judge from reports IN the states, that V
Is swampy and mountainous country.
and SO it IL. 10 "a certain extent. especially
IN the rainy season. The valley we are
now tn Is i5a TO so miles long. II Is low
lying and wouid be sNampy but for the
drainage bitches dug. In the rainy season
the fats on both sides of the rivers are
inundated from the overflow OF the
streams. All She low land H. a continued
rice field. from one end Of the island %
the other. The mountains are full OF all
kinds OF fruits and woods % great value
People talk about this being worth
less land. Ii ia a regular paraaise-thats
shat Il Is, and any ore who has been
around over a as much as ! have via
tell the same story. We have been nearly
all over the island 81 luzon. and this one
island alone Is worth twice what the war
has cost the United states government
even more
rises on either side OF the valley, To
these the insurgents have taken for ref
uge nom the advancing Americans.
Weep over Iawton.
The death OF Gen, Lawton was blow
which the soldiers will never get over, for
he was the privates friend. His death
by Filipino bullet stirS his soldiers TO
deeds OF vengeance. it but makes US fight
ten times the harder, and every shot We
fire speeds bullet ON it's way which We
fondiy hope will be one OF revenge for
our dead general and friend.
AN the boys from ColfaN are doing
nicely. Frank Moore Is getting fat and
black. Otto Dunn. Arthur Endsley, Corp.
Charles Corey, First Duty Sergt. Charles
Golden and Corp John McFarlane and
myself have not been sick day since we
landed. Johnny punnigan was slightly iii
for a few days, hut Is all right now.
At present We are doing barracks
Thirty-dfth and two troops OF the Fourth
cavalry here. We enjoy ourselves az
night by gathering around and talking OF
the folks and scenes at home and plan
ming what we will do when we are there
again. Time passes very quickly with us.
We can't get a night ont of the enemy
worth speaking about The only way Is
10 GO out with small party OF eighteen
or twenty men, and then. II they can
muster a hsnd OF 100 or 800 they will at
tack us at n distance OF 1900 or s.0s
yards ~ we try 10 get any closer they
retreat. and retreat In hurry, too. They
stand not upon the order OF their going.
The poor devils are afraid TO pat the
butts OF their guns to their shoulders. he
cause their dirty, uncared-for pieces kick
so hard Instead. they put the guns an
der their arms and blaze away. III firms
on the advance party. their aim is usual.
Is so high that they shoot clear over our
some unlucky fellow In the reserve or rear
guard