The daily sentinel., 1900-07-19
LETTER FROM PHILIPPINES.
J. Clayton Nichols Writes a Very
Interesting Letter From c. +
hi p To His NepheW

hbseSs ASsSSs
bu, P. l., to His Nephew
The following very interesting letter
has been received in this eity by Ray
Nichols, son Of County Clerk Nichols,
from his uncle. j. Clayton Nichols, for
merly OF this city but who is now in the
Philippine Islands, acting in the inter
ests Of big land syndicate of which he
is the representative:
Cebu Isla de Cebu, P. 1.
June 5, 1900.
Dear Ray:
This is the oldest Spanish city in the
Philippines. 1t is a historical place.
The great explorer and navigator, Ma
gellan, was killed near here. Since that
time innumerable natives have met the
same fate at the hands OF the Span
iards.
After having occupied this place over
800 years there are comparatively few
Spaniards. They were in the habit OF
coming here from Spain, making all the
money they could and then return, after
a few years to their native land. or
course they left their imprint on the ris
ing generation of natives but not to such
An extent as one would suppose or rs
the Chinese have done.
BY the time the Americans have occu-
pied this archipelago 300 years, they will
be able to out vote the natives. The
progrsssiveness of the American people
will drive the natives to the wall as it
has the American Indian.
The question Of whether it be right or
wrong can be measured by the American
plan of occupying Indian lands. Is it
better that Grand valley should be as it
is today or as it was nineteen years ago,
when first settled there? Few Of you
who live there will hesitate to answer
quickly that it is best as it is.
The primitiveness Of this country is
almost as great outside OF few towns.
To show you how little effect Spanish
civilization ~ has had on the natives of
this country will say that ten miles
back in the hills from this city there are
few il any of the natives who can speak
or understand Spanish, which has been
the official language spoken here for 300
years.
have only to turn my head to see
boys and girls up to the age Of ten years
: playing on the streets as naked as the
day they were born.
1t is amusing to see boat loads Of
these children come alongside vessels ly-
ing in the harbor.
Usually there are five or six boys and
girls in one little canoe and there may
be four or five canoes The children
will stand up in a row and go through
They will also sing, dance the hoola
hoola and beg for "duckoes" "copper"
cents) to be thrown in the water.
1t is sport to see them standing in the
canoe singing, then throw a cent in the
water. 10 see them dive after that
cent reminds one Of lot Of frogs on
log when lot OF bad boys come in sight
loaded with rock.
had pocket full of pennies which
threw into the harbor and then bought
more for the Same purpose.
The water is about fifty feet deep but
not a cent reached the bottom. tried
to throw them with such force that they
would reach the bottom before the pick
inninies could get it, but it was OF no
use.
Last Saturday got on the FL Cano to
90 to Iloilo with Gen. Hughes. He was
waiting for a telegram from Gen. McAr-
thur at Manila before he started.
The cable was broken and we expect
ed every moment for it to be fxed and
to get the telegram. We laid in tho
harbor SO hours and Sunday night l was
awakened and told that the boat was
not going to Iloilo
Gen. Hughes told me that affairs
were 30 bad in Ceyte and Samar that he
had to go there and had no idea when
he would return. In the meantime
saw two boats leave for Iloilo. went
ashore about midnight.
Word had been received at headquar-
tors that there would be an outbreak
that night,
Cannon were placed OF the main roads
entarino the city. double patrols parad-