The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-18
NOTHING BUT HIKE
WEAKNESS of "a Wichita Boy
in the Philippines.
HAVE SOLDIERS ENOUGH
For All the Fighting Seems TO
Be Over.

| Mrs. j. Smalley of No. SD East Central
has received from her brother. Writ L.
Peters, an interesting letter from the
| Philippines. 1t reads as follows:
Headquarters Sd Battalion S2d Infantry,
Dinalupijan, P. l., May rs, 1900.
Dear Sister and Brother-Your kind and
ever welcome letter received at last. It
has been a long time getting to me but
it has been on account of my being in
the hospital at Manila, and the regiment
changing stations. We are at present To-
Gated in the center of a rice paddy" in
other words, a swamp. We are now sup
posed to be located for the rainy season,
and are today hauling in four months
supplies from town on the coast called
Orani, about six miles distant. We were
expecting that the train, which consists
Of forty OK carts and native drivers,
would be attacked, but only few scat
tering shots were fired. We are located
very comfortably for the rainy season,
having pust completed new quarters cost
ing about $1,000 Mexican currency. and
We are gettingsa supply Of eatab1es and
all we expect to do for the next six
months, is to eat, sleep and draw our
salary. We are unable to get any more
fighting in the territory occupied by our
troops, and have also gotten the arms
picked up.
On Monday, May q, there was an in
surgent major, two captains, four lieu
tenants and 100 men came In and sur
rendered and also gave up 1853 rifles.
When they were asked why they did so.
the major replied that IT was useless to
hold out longer as he believed the Amer
leans had come to stay. Also that they
could no longer stand the har5ships. To-
day was feast day with the natives. and
the native band came over to the officers
quarters and played several pieces, after
which a few Of us marched down to the
presidente's Cmayor's) house. and tried to !
eat Filipino dinner, but it would not
go down.
Speaking of the hospital, I was sent to |
the second reserve hospital at Manila, |
and was there about twenty-five days, |
with chronic dysentery I was discharged |
from the hospital and given certificate |
stating that my case was not durable. |
[ am feeling well and hearty at present
but have to be very careful of my diet.
May is the hottest month of the wear:
the thermometer registers IS degrees in
the shade; but from the first of June to
January it does not go over so degrees on
an average.
Yes, there is considerable more small
oox and consumption here than is gener-
ally reported. Our company now has no
one sick, something that has not hap
pened since our arrival here I think It is
because we are becoming more acclimat-
ed. In the third battalion, of which I
am clerk, there has been a loss of forty
two men of whom twenty-five have died
of dissipation and disease, the balance
being killed and dishonorably discharged
We are expecting every day to hear Of
he arrival in Manila of the civil COM
mission, but as yet they are at Hong
Kong. I am in hopes they will get here
md get to work, and send US home to
lat Christmas dinner. Most all the boys
ire counting on that. I see by the papers
hat more troops are needed over here.
surely do not know where 1t is unless
I is to relieve those that are here, and
tell you we all need it. It has been
nothing but hike hike. hike since the
10y we Idnutu anu Il great nuInDeT OF | ,
he men are completely hiked out. When
me marches all day IN the burning sun,
md lies down at night on the ground for
bed. and the clouds for covering
,ets up in the morning. takes off his
lothing and wrings the dew out of them.
he same as though he had been out in
hard rain, continues this for six months
nd If his life is not shortened by six
ears I am very much mistaken.
I am happy TO say that I am still cling
ng to my Savior, and that my faith in
reases every day.
Jesus is friend in a weary land
md a shelter in the time of storm 7
I have indeed found it so since I have s
cen on the island. Dear sister, pray for :
ne. for I know that God answers yours r
nd mothers prayers. I hope to see you g
II in less than twelve months, and then +
will be able to give you a short but q
orrect account of my experiences and f
ardships while in the Philippine Islands
his letter ought to reach YOU about July
IF so, please drink an ice cold lemon
de for me and I will remember you J
18th p cup OF hot water. Love to all.
our brother, WRIT