Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-05-03
Letter From w. J. Hamilton.
Jolo, P. l., March End, 1900,
Mr.. Warren Cole,

Audubon, Ia, U. s. A.
Dear Friend.-Your most kind and
valuable letter of January 3rd was re-
ceived yesterday and was verv glad to
hear from you. / also received four
copies Of the State Register which WAS
very thoughtful of you and appreciate
your kindness very much, OF course
the news was old but it was new to me,
besides / am a great reader Of news
papers whenever / can get one to read.
We are 100 miles south of Manila so
that we do not get the mail regular for
there il three stops after leaving Manila
until it gets here. There is generally
plenty when it does come for there
were twenty-one sacks this time just
for six companies. Go. G had sack
and half Of mail itself. l belong to
Co. G which is very nice company.
The 23rd is distributed as follows:
Jolo, companies B G E F g l.; Seasta,
H Baumgan, d; Cebu, A l X NJ. 1t
is the largest regiment in the Islands
for each company consists of l36 en-
listed men. There are fourteen non
commissioned officers in each company
consisting of nine corporals and five
sereeants. Commissioned officers
number the same. Capt. Nichols is
captain OF our company but not COM
pany commander for he is Judge Of the
court. Ed Farrell was assigned to Co.
L, Capt. John Depray company COM
mander
I was on the transport Sherman
twenty-nine days but il took twenty
seven days to make the voyage which
was very interesting. We arrived in
Manila Bay the morning Of January
End 1t about eight o'clock but did net
fxuu unfit me night OF january 4th at
nine o'clock. The Sherman Is q very
fine transport and would like to go
back on it. We came down to JOlo on
the Warren which is good transport
but not so finely equipped. We landed
in Jolo January 14th att p. m. This
is very fine island, healthy, fruits in
great abundance and climate the same
the year around. The average tenn
perature is from 102 to lO4 which varies
but very little. The island lies five
degrees north of the equator. The
natives are nicknamed Moers but are
the original Zulus for these are the old
original Zulu islands. Their main
weapons are bolos, knives and spears
but they all carry o Remington rifle
and 100 rounds of brass ball cartridges
which the Spaniards gave them after
the surrender Of the island. They did
ct one time since I have been here put
up bluff that we had to dance to their
music or they would fight. Major
Sweet, who is in command here, made
no his mind one morning that II fight
they wanted fight they could have 80 he
lined up 500 men, gave them 2OO
rounds Of ammunition and took
| &c, 900 rounds extra, marched through
the gate with band playing and colors
flying with two mounted gatlin guns in
the lead and marched over to the chief
but when he saw the gatlin guns and
the men all drawn up in line of battle
it took all the fight out Of HIM and We
haven't heard fight since. They are
going to make him surrender all arms
now. Ifleverything is settled We will
probably be back next fall.
have not seen Will Beadle yet and
don't expect that I will for We are TOO
miles apart. The name of this island
is spelled J-o-l-o but is pronounced as
though spelled H-o-l-o for J in Spanish
il pronounced H. Frank Wilson sent
me copy Of the REPUBLICAN of Janu-
airy 9TH and was very glad to receive a
county paper. A person does not
know the value of q county paper until
they get 1000 miles away from all
friends. Well I will close for this
time sending best regards to all.
WIN. J. HAMILTON,
| Co. G, 23rd U. 8. Inf.
N. b. am we'll and hearty and
have never been on the sick report.
We drill three hours day and get the
very best Of food which you would be
surprised to see. W. J. h.
The largo and increasing circulation