Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-05
NATERVILLE.
StRGT. MCFARLAND ON IHE PHILIPPINES.
A Fairfield Soldier Writes a Letter Which
touches on Scrgt. Docs Fate.

The following letter from Sergeant
Howard Mcfarland Of ~. T.. AZ In
fautry. T.. :. ". to tho journal, may
throw some light on the reported death
of George Fred Doe The writer men
tons no names but says that IA very
dear friend of mine has been burned at
the stake and 10 others at the same
tim" were cut into mincc meat Ser
grInt Mcfarland was tn 90. II with
Scrgt. Doe ana was with him in the
South during the Spanish war. ar
course il is not certain that Sergt. Doc
is the friend meant but On account Of
the reports sent out Of his death it
seems probable. The following is tho
letter in full:
Barugo, Leytc, April l, 1900.
Editors Kennebec Journal:
| am a member Of the 43rd Infantry.
L. $. ". and as a representative Of
Fairfield, Me. would like to express
my opinions u the public ~ fighting i'll
the Philippines. As | am no writer
YOU will have to overlook some of my
blunt remarks | have been in all the
bombarGments in which tho regiment
has taken part and landed with the
troops; done little odd fighting (Which
isn't much like street or barroom
fighD and seen n good many Of the
Niger bolo men. The only one you can
trust is a dead one.
We landed in Leyte. on February /.
after Il good bit Of fighting, ana chased
niggers for "A hours without ana chow
foud). We just got back to the town
when the bOlo men began to come back
our colonel had them come to him. one
by one. for trial. and when they came
out they each had on one of our uni
forms and s. in their pockets and were
ready To bolo the next man they caught
in the dark. our orders We're and still
are not to shoot unless the niggrr is
caught with his bolo in the air over
our heads. one man. 4 very dear
friend Of mine. has been burned at the
stake and 10 others at the same time
We're cut into mincc meat by the black
devils. Another from my company.
while passing from Caragara to Har-
row, was shot from an ambush and $50
Dol" men had slash at him. Lieut..
Estes, being with him at the time, cs-
capped to tell the tale
| am now stationed In 4 small town
in charge Of u men ana have 4 terri
u.
should have whole company. Meet \
Niger on the road. most If the time.
and he will have Il scahbard but no
holo. as he has thrown it in the bushes.
As soon as we pass he will come back
and get it. at the same time calling
himself an amigo. which means friend
If all the amigos were in HI the sol
dierS would be only too glad to work
for their board shovelling birthstone
on them
The country is SO thickly covered
with tropical plants that one cannot sec
two rods at the best This is a mighty
rich country and we want it, Now we
have % and 80 men in place and no
interpreters, 1t is just like putting a
man in bull pen and telling him to
teach them Latin. All that a Niger
thinks Of here is his stomach Their
hog Latin for food is "sow-sow ana
that IS all we could "sabe" at first and
we can't much more now.
ON Thursday. March %, Is Of my
company killed II Niger bolo men ana
10 of the niger gunners. | was out on
a patrol in Il part of the country | had
never been in. with II men, when we
We're fired on from an ambush. We
fushed INTO the woods and killed some
where in the neighborhood Of 40 We
found their trenches and a number Of
arms. Scrgt Bradford Of my company,
while out with four men beside himself
was attacked by - Or 100 and got
good bunch Of them. This is about the
best and hardest fight on record. Five
men against 100 and not one Of the five
hurt. while they killed 81 and put the
rest to flight.
We are getting very good feed"
good barracks and beds. the best in
town. The climate is just as good as
man could wish for. The nights are !
rool and last until . O'Clock in the day. !