The Newtown bee., 1900-02-09
BEN FoULo1s IN THE PHILIPPINES,


Capiz, Panay, P. l., Dec II, 1899.
We have reached the coast at last. But
will commence my letter from the dsv
we left Passi. hope you received nv
letter of December l., all right. We
broke camp at Passi, December 5, and |
started out with our pack-train. We
travelled over mountains, through valleys |
and ricefields, and in some places the
paths were so narrow and rough that we
had to march in single file. 1t was fine
sight upon arriving at the top of noun
tain to look back and see line of men
strung out for over mile. General
Hughes ia still in command. With us 8 re
the Second Battalion, one battalion of the
Eighteenth, mountain battery of the
Sixth artillery and band of scouts IN
der Capt Gordon of the Fourth Cavsl:y.
We covered lot Of ground when we
were strung out. We marched in this
way for fourteen miles. Stopped to eat
dinner in rice-field; the grass higher
than our heads. Here two Of our men
were overcome by the heat, and had to
be left behind with a guard. We started
out again about l Pm. On the way
over the mountains men dropped out
fast from the heat. About 5 p. m. we
arrived at town called Dumaro. AS
the advance guard came In sight of the
town, they were fired on by an insurgent
outpost. No damage was done, and as
re-enforcements came up, the insurgents
retreated to the hills in the rear of the
town, leaving everything behind them.
We gave them big surprise, as they had
no idea that we could travel as fast ae
we did. When we marched into the
town we found fires burning, and meat
cooking over them: showing that every
thing had been left in a hurry.
The next morning, December 6, we
drew extra rations and started out after
them again. We marched to little
broken down town called Cautero. Here
we had to sleep two deep, in the native
hute, officers and men alike. General
Hughes did not fare any better than the
rest of US, although be had cot to sleep
on. The next morning we left Cautero,
and marched FIVE miles to a town called
Dao. Here a surprise awaited US. AS
we came In sight of the town we heard a
band playing. The natives had turned
out to give us reception. 1t was the
first welcome we had received from the
natives in any way and 1t did us good.
We usually got black looks from them in
most of the towns. Ia the afternoon our
entire company was put on guard, across
the river, north of the town. L was de
tailed at the river with squad, to guard
supplies, which were being ferried across.
Everything went we'll for while, until
finally larger load than usual was put
on the ferry. The boat was about half
way across when the current caught it,
and over it went. There were about a
dozen men on it, and all had their equip
ment on. There were several close calls
for some Of them, but they finally got
ashore. We all turned in then to get the
supplies out of the river, and we had q
fine time doing it. Some of the supplies
went down in about eight feet of water.
We worked nearly all night before we
got everything out. We were a fine
looking body of men when we finished
after wsding around through mud and
water. There was no sleep for US that
night, as we had to stay and guard the
supplies. The next morning we left the
outpost at Dao, and marched to Panitan,
distance of nine miles. This was the
fastest march we ever made, doing it il
three hours. Here we were met by an
other native band. They gave US great
reception as we came in. We were
qusrtered in the best place in the town.
the church.
In the afternoon private belonging to
} A company was drowned in the river,
near the town. A young fellow about
my age. He was buried by moonlight
Ia rear Of the church, When "Taps"
was blown over him, it sent a cold chill
over me and made me think of Porto
RIGA. The next nornipg a division of
the troops was made for the general adj
vance on Caplz. one of the largest towns
on the island. The Second Battalion
took road leading to the right, the bat
} talon of the Eighteenth and the ecouts
went to the left. Our battalion, with Gen
: Hughes and the light battery, to the
center. We had the shortest route, so
marched slowly to all,w the other col
umns to keep up with US. We marched
to Loctugsn, small town, and camped
for the night. just one month on the
ceived a report that the insurgents had
left Capiz.
At Z q. NJ, December 10, we started
for Capiz and march ed five miles straight
into the town. Here we got greater
reception than ever. There was big
crowd cut to see US. Il seemed more
like q parade than anvthirg else as we
came in. The native band was playing
and church bells were rirgIEg. We felt
: happy at being the fist troops in the
town.
| I commenced to write this letter np
December II, and was writing when We
received orders to move. To-day is the
10Th and we are in Cehu, Island of Cebu.
will commence where left eff. The
Second Battalion and the battslion of the
Eighteenth reached Capiz about an hour
. after we did and were quartered in diff.
ferent parts or the town. We went into
quarters in the Governors Palace, and
they were fine quarters, too Monday j
took walk around the town. The larg-
est part of it consists of native huts. 1n
I the center of the town is a very large
church the largest saw on the island.
. Near the church are two schools, one for
/, boys, the other for girls. They arei the
only public schools on the island. Tues
day our company went on patrol and pa
trolad the town for twenty-four hours.
. Wedre day we gotta lot Of papers. re-
ceived four bundles. Nearly eve ry man
In the company has read the youths
Companion"
i Sunday morning, December II, we get
orders to get ready 20 go to Cebu. We
left quarters about IL 8. N. and march
ed ABOUT two miles to toe coast, where
ii wa hoarflad the TEL Cann y an old Saan-