The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-10-05
From the Philippines.


Manila, p. l., Aug. IL, 1900.
Dear Harry:
Got thinking of old tines today and
took notion TO write you. received
the letter and papers all right, for which
many thanks. You can't tell how well
come t ey were to me. The PIONEER
EXPRESS received far more .a:ous atten-
ton than the articles of war assure you.
suppose you got the little book Of snap
shots all right. They were taken and
developed under considerable difficulty
Life still runs on in the same old
groove and it is wearisome enough,
sweating and sweltering, sw-lter,ng,
sweating and swearing sometimes too,
am sorry to say, praying Providence for
a COO nook to lounge in and big, cold
drink OIL any old thing. The men one
and all are sick! sick!! sick!!! of this
hor'id tropical heat; $50 to 9O0, moist, is
more enervating than 11Oo in California.
"Why in thunder don't the government
get that ice plant running?" is the eft
reiterated cry. Still, although consider
able futile kicking is done, comical Incl
dents are con-tantIy occurring. This is
the worst place(with stronger objective)
for native dogs, cats, rats, mice, lizards,
ants and other vermin. The other night
while balancing up the clothing books,
after partlking Of couple of shots of
medicine of a brand called Every Well
Hiyia.ld Wiskey" labeled rs being manu-.
featured at Kilmarnock, near GLASGOW,
Scotland (but in reality being most
villanous Chino connection put up in
Mania, (which was taking for cramps in
the stomach. was surprised ON raising
my head from my work to observe a
large lizard Of a pecu lar and most omin-
Gus app -arance, regarding me solemny
from the edge of the window beside
which l was working. After having
completed his survey he gave blood
cu;ding squawk and disappeared down
the other side. l gave sigh of relief,
wiped the sweat from my brow and hunt
ed for a club. renewed work with con-
siderable trepidation, and had not been
busy more than fiv minutes when was
thunderstruck and Mortified to see an
immense rat advancing slowly towards
me, "a la Blondin," OH the rope that
supports my mosquito curtain. grirped
my club, gritted my teeth and gave him
heavenly welt. He bounced up against
the door, back into the room somewhere
and also disappeared "Oh! Lordy, "
says to myself, "Ive only taken two
drinks-that must be fierce stuff guess
I'll go for long walk up the beach,"
returned, well tired, went to bed and
to sleep. without being interviewed fur.
Their by these interesting creatures. A
few days after was distressed by most
searching and disagreeable odor in the
room. hunted up and down for long
time and at last behind pile of blank
forms, discovered my nocturnal visitor,
the rat, in an almost complete state Of
decomposition, literally alive with mag
gots. removed him carefully on a
piece of tin and congratulated myself
that there was no optical illusion about
that horrible night. Ifthat other hideous
thing shows up again I'll perpetrate some
American atrocities on him for soaring
me 50 badly. Now Harry, upon honor,
this Is the truth, with fixins. The insect
p.sts here are very wearing; the mosque
stos are small but particu arIy venomous
and the ants make life a burden. There
must be a dom different species, from