The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-15
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Richmond Boy Writes of His Expc
rieuccS There.


A short but interesting letter has just
been received here from Mr.. L. NJ Lacy,
of this city, on the gunbont Helena, dated
1loilo. p J.. May %, 1900. This is the
first time he has been heard from since
November &C. 1899. and the receipt of his
letter was a source of great pleasure to
his family. he says, in part:
I'VE have at last reached civilization
after about three months knocking around
these savage islands and the East Indies
We have had very little fighting since the
surrender of Aparrie last December Our
last fight was at Palonoag, when we
shelled the town, killed and wounded about
.wenty 'niggers' and landed troops. The
'niggers' ufterward surrendered with 102
rifles one field piece and numerous bolos
and other weapons The war is virtually
over, but it is necessary to maintain
large force in order 10 intmidate the in
surrectos.'
'On the cruise from which we have just
returned we visited nearly every island
in the group and went down to the East
Indies. In Mnrch, while lying off small
island way down in the South, we had an
epidemic of fever, and had upwards of
fifty men down at one time. l was laid
up for six days with my temperature as
high as 1894. (This is his first spell of
sickness.)
Just before this we had taken a light
house occupied by the natives. AS the
surf was high, we could not get our boats
in. and had to wade about half a mile TO
the shore. We were in the water the
best part of the day, landing supplies, &c,
and l suppose this caused the fever We
are having terribly hot weather, but the
rainy season is near Ut hand. There has
been no rain here since last November.
no cold climate in three years. but the
soldiers are catching it CHR. Lacy served
in the Cuban campaign, and has been in
the Philippines eighteen months.) There
seems a lot of trouble brewing in China
just a present, and we expect 10 be or
dered to Nagasald at any time We are
of such light draught and heavy battery and
so well fitted for inshore work, and have
done so much aEound these islands, that it
seems hard matter for US 10 get away"
In speaking of a ships crew he says:
from aft we nre only looked upon as
men. and treated as such, which is not
humiliating in the least. OF course, in a
man of war the crew is mixed one
everything from a criminal to a mill
lionaire's son. and forward a man is IL
man until he has proved himself other
wise. AS is expected, a mans physical
power is thought more of than his in
tellect.
We have ali classes-men who were
brought UP in the gutter, men who are
college graduates, men who had lurge
practices as doctors, lawyers, &c, but
fell by the wayside. We had a man on
this ship who was a prominent lawyer,
but who got in trouble and had to quit
the country. Men come here TO drown
their SORROWS. There are over twenty
languages spoken on this ship, ind no
matter where we go we have men to read
US the news.
Well, must close. The weather here
is frghtfully hot even for an old timer
but we hope to be ordered North at any
time and then it will be a little more
pleasant.
Il will hardly be home before the latter
part of 1902. Your son, ROY"