The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-15
ERNEST SMITH
WRITES FROM
PHILIPPINES.
An Absorbing Narrative Of Days Of
Peace at Rosales, on the Dagu-
pan Railway.
AN EVENINGS ENTERTAINMENT
Described BY the sergeant-A Sec
ton Of the Globe Neglected
by the American Tourist"
From our soIdLer corresp0ndent.

From Our Soldier Correspondent.
RosALES. Luzon, P. L, Feb. ], 1900
/ had almost completed n letter to the
Intelllgencer dealing formally and at
some length with the present condition
OF affairs In Luzon, and incidentally Of
fering some homely suggestions from
a soldiers standpoint relative to the
action which Congress might take In
the premises. But the latest mall adj
Vices from the states indicate that adj
vice. good, bad and Indifferent, Is being
lavishly poured into the congressional
ear from all quarters Of the globe. Civil
and political matters are rather out
side the soldiers sphere Of duty at all
events.
Since the day Of active campaigning
was ended every member Of the old
line regiments has gone about taking
q well deserved rest in a systematic
manner, well content to allow someone
else to puzzle about forms Of govern
ment for the territory he fought
through, or devise means for taxation
and the regulation Of the thousand and
one strange questions which the ad-
vent Of peace has brought. Nearly
every regiment on the island has met
the same fate which awaited the Sew
enteenth. When no organized body Of
the enemy seemed left to fight the head
quarters Of each regiment In the north
was established at some point along the
ali important Manila Dagupan railroad,
and at least two battalIons Of the regi-
ment were quartered in towns within
a radius OF twenty-five mlleE OF the
railway centre.
To my company fell the care Of Ro-
Gales, a well situated town OF some
1000 inhabitants, SO near the hill range
~ mountains stretching away 10 the
north and south that mountain water
and air are some Of the rare attractions
we boast. Once every ten days train
az caraboa carts starts down the dusty
road to Bayamban for rations, mail ana
the few other articles Of soldier neces-
sity which betoken a distant touch with
civilization. But these quiet Tagolog
towns are serving great purpose IN
recuperating very ragged, tired army.
Scarcely half the numerical strength
az the company marched here after
Dagupan fell, and these nifty men were
tattered and shoeless almost beyond de-
.scrIptIon. But a months rest has
wrought almost wonderful change.
The Chow wagons" as the ration
train IS termed. have always been
prompt In arriving; clothing, shoes ana
even Khaki helmets have been supplied
without stint. But most gratifying OF
all nre the commodIou5 company quar-
ters In magnificent two-story con-
vent building, which bears every EVIL
dence Of the wealth and power Of the
church In this far away land. No part
OF the people Of the entire archipelago
felt the effects of the insurrection more
quickly or iorcibly than did the church
men. The Insurrecto had many griev-
ances against the priesthood and was
not slow to begin the settlement Of old
scores when the possession Of 4 rifle
gave him the physical supremacy. A
majority Of the churchmen escaped to
Hong Kong and Singapore with church
yaluables before trouble really began,
but many entered the lnsurgent ranks
or were taken prisoners. Hence these
magnificent but deserted church prop
critics have borne n strange share Of
the burdens Of war. Invariably they
were the headquarters Of rebel officers
and men until the advance guard Of
Americans came, and as often became
the strongholds where the final defense
OF the city was made. During the pres
emit interregnum of friars and preiatss
these buildings are used rs barracks
IN garrisoned towns or by the civil au-
thor'.les elsewhere. The convent at
RosaIes is surprisingly large for "a
small a town. and airy and cool almost
beyond belief.
Adjoining it Is the long "squatty'
church, hideous in its exterior pGrspee-
tive. but very tastIly appointed in It's
furnishings. In common with all large
buildings OF residential nature, the
ground floor Of our convent quarters
was formerly used as stable, the up
per floor being reserved for dwelling
purposes. with n greater regard FOL
sanitary rules than the natives possess
we have turned the lower floor into Q
gigantic store room for company prop
eFty. The long halls ana great sQuaI
rooms Of the convent proper look ode
with their frescoed walls decorated by
canteens, haversaelSs and all the hot'
sam and jetsam Of soldier paraphanalia
In the evenings. before carpet Of
army blankets is spread or the hard
wood floors, the main salon becomes th'
scene Of gay functions wherein dane
ing. sparring matches and even chicken
fights make the hours pass swiftly
Probably no company In the service
passed a more enjoyable Christmas thar
did ours. Colonel Smith and the entire
Seventeenth had volunteered to go OF
the south line to help put the tnishinf
touches to things there. but Genera
otis declared that we already had don't
more than our share Of work and vert
TO rest. So the holidays brought tht