Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1900-02-10


We marched the entire distance, six
miles, in the hot sun. most OF US having
gone without any thing to eat. as our ra-
tons had been placed in carts and sent
ahead. Not man fell out. forgot to
place my thermometer in my trunk, and
found it hanging in thr stateroom when
was leaving the ship. So tucked it
away under my blue shirt. For curiosity,
on the march took it out and found it
registered II5o, and this in January.
After we traversed narrow and crook
ed road. reminding me Of the kind OF a
road that the Bible says leads to destruc-
tion, we came in front OF a church. having
a great dome of unusual proportions. OF
this the staff officers and one company as
guard took possession, and we enjoyed
the novel experience of sleeping in a
church. Around the church is wall, in
which are tombs, or openings for coffins.
three rows high. The church yard is
pretty well filed with graves OF Span
iards, Filipinos and Cinnamon.
The sight Of our surroundings was
most gruesome. TO say the least, but we
are glad to get any old place to sleep.
This is war, you know. The ground in
many places is s,rewn with skulls and
bones. The other companies of our regi-
ment occupy positions along line ex-
tending from the Caloocan water works
to a point about four miles east. In
front of us is number OF mountains.
where the insurgents. or rather some OF
them, are supposed to be.
Tuesday evening we sent out to dis
tance of about 100 yards in front OF US
our outposts, two squads Of three men,
and a corporal from each company
These formed what is known as the cos.
sack posts, and are Tor the purpose oi
preventing any surprises by the enemy.
The first night here | retired late after
enjoying supper of hard tack and cof.
fee. My slumbers were soon disturbed,
for was aroused by a number of shots
fred close 10 US. Il proved to be an
outpost firing at an imaginary enemy.
At { a. m. Wednesday was awakened,
and received roll-call and inspected the
men. Later our platoon was taken oul
by the captain on patrol for two miles
distant.
remained behind and drilled the other
platoon in skirmishing. Inihe afternoon
another platoon went out. and another
was drilled. My meals during the day
consisted OF bareback, corn beef and
beans. and was hungry enough to cal
anything. Wednesday night, shortly
after the outposts were posted, there wa:
a fusilade OF shots along our line. Bul
let's hew all around US. and caused some
little excitement. jumped up and we
were all ready to respond to the sound
of the trumpet "to arms 1t was re.
ported that the outposts on our extreme
left had been attacked. No one wa.
shot, however. We have a guard al
around us during day and night. and
hold up everybody who comes along
The men are never allowed 10 60 any.
where without being armed. and going
in squads.
We have to be prepared for an attack
al all times. The enemy most to be
feared is the "Bolo man" This is a
person who carries sharp knife similar
to the Cuban machette. He seeks a
killing place in the bushes. and jumps
upon a soldier when he is alone and un-
armed, cuts his throat ,mutilates his body
and then escapes. This may seem
strange to you. but it would not be il
YOU could see what kind of country
this is. Every little distance there is q
rivulet or estuary. which is lined by .
thicket or jungle. 1t is this that make!
II 50 difficult to locate the enemy. who
eonceals himself without much trouble
There has been so much written and
read about Manila. the people, theil
characteristics, &C.. viii only touch
upon . lev phases of the life here. which
have CLEANED from hasiy observance
during the short period we have been il
the islands.