Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-13
Had Several Narrow
Escapes From Death.
Luzon Is Not a "White Mans
Country"
Some of the Natives Are Treacherous
Their Habits.
Pasay Barracks, Manila, F. 1.

Pasay Barracks, Manila, +. l.
My Dear People: / am very sorry
to keep you waiting so long for let
ter. But the truth is that | have had
very little time and opportunity to
write, or, rather time without the
means. They have been keeping our
regiment, and particularly my squad
ron, very busy ever since we came
here. When we landed we We're quar-
tered in Manila and IN six days we,
Fand A troops, We're sent out on the
about eight miles from Manila. We
had our first fight here and hot one 1t
was. "A troop, only 30 men, bore the
brunt, and was in the advance guard,
and though | was very badly scared,
did my part AS well as the rest of them
and came out unhurt. Five Ameri-
cans were killed and seven insurgents
were found dead. but some were killed
and wounded that we did not get.
That was my first and hardest fight
and l have been under fire several
times since. We spent 20 days at that
place and then returned to Manila and
went to the new cavalry barracks on
Manila Bay just outside of town, and
called "Pasay Barracks" where l am
at present. Our horses had arrived
by this time and we were busily engag-
ed in getting equipped for mounted
service until the time we left. This
was still in the rainy season and the
mud, rain and mosquitoes made our
life miserable We left for San Fer
nando as soon as we We're fitted out,
and were quartered there in an old
house on the main street or road. San
Fernando is a small town on the rail
road, and for this reason it was the
gathering and starting place of Law
to bring supplies by rail. The time
here was spent in drill, and in COM
pleting our preparations to accompany
Gen. Lawton. On the 18th of Oct. we
started out on the northern trip, 1t
being our program to clean out the
country as we advanced along the
Rio Grande, and to occupy a position
northeast of Tarlack, or Tarlac, the
rebel capital, and to close the pas
sages by which Aguinaldo was en-
pected to retreat. Other columns We're
approaching the city from other points
and we were expected to intercept and
capture the rebel general as he was
trying to escape in the mountains. We
had fighting all the way up, and
was in the most of ii. At Arayat, Ca
bayo, San Isidro and 1,alavera, | was
under fire, but did not get to use my
carbine. AT the capture of San Isidro
/ WAS No. of my set of fours, and
consequently had to take the lead
horses, while the other three men dis
mounted and went forword TO fight on
foot, and though bullets were abund-
ant in my vicinity, l did not get into
the action. 1t is the way of fighting in
the cavalry that No. of every set of
fours takes charge of the horses of the
other three men, who dismount and
fight as infantry. l also was compeli-
ed to take the horses of two sergeants.
to lead. | had my hands full, as the
horses Were unmanageablc, the roads
terrible, and about four miles TO the
town. 1t was raining heavily and my
horse was bucking and nearly throwed
me many time on the road, and so
you see 1t is no snap 10 be trooper
In the Philippines. AT Talvera | was
on outpost the night the town was at
tackled by insurgents. There were only
four troops in town, or about $50 men,
was sitting on my post about o.
clock in the morning, fighting mosqui-
toes, all unsuspecting, when suddenly
from down the road about two hundred
yards, came scattering OF Mauser
shots, followed by heavy volleys in
quick succession The bullets flew
thick around ne and laid as low ne