The Somerset reporter., 1900-12-27

lllib tBC dOOi III u ilub dIlOoS thC "dys
she spies soldier and lodges back.
Then man comes to the door To ascer-
tain II 1t is u soldier after which he says
something to the women about "Amer-
cano" and evidently orders her out, for
two women push up the door and climb
down the ladder. They gather some
chips and fifewood beneath the hut and
build small fire In the MIDDLE of the
street. The man comes down the ladder
with an old pair OF trousers, wO-
mans skirt and other odd pieces OF
fabric wrapped about his shoulders, sits
by the fire and shivers The women
bring out measure Of unhulled rice and
winnoW it in fat, panli basket by
tossing it In the air for the faint breezr
to blow out the chAtf. When it Is fairly
clean, the women bring a section of
wood like a railroad tie but with big
bowl-like aperture followed out of il.
They then pour the unmilled rice into
the bowl, pick up II round, smooth pole
of wood, about six feet long, five inches
thick and blunt, bulging aud heavy at
one end. The women then take turns at
lifting this up and letting it drop back
into the bowl, bruising the grain. In
this way they grind the rice necessary
for the morning and midday meal. The
man sits by the fire, shivers and looks
on. By the time the rice is milled it is
the break of day in the east. The street
is crowded with similar groups. When
the rice is ready for cooking the man
either does it himself or superintends
the work and the rice Is cooked admira-
bly,, light, dry and fisky, then the men
squat around big bowl of it and eat it
by the fistful When the men have com
pleted their meal the women take their
places around the bowl. The natives
appear to have no knowledge of tea or
coffee save what they have gained from
the Americans. Coffee grows though to
some extent on some other islands but
we have none here, neither can it be
bought In the stores. After the morn
Ing meal both the men and women, il it
Is work-day. go at once to their work
in the cool OF the morning. During the
middle of the day no one works 1t is so
hot. The actual work-days here are
comparatively few, there being over 40
legal holidays a year, Observance OF
which is demanded by the church as a
religious duty-not counting Sundays
moreover native takes one day off be-
fore Fiesta" to get ready aud another
day after to sober off.
nipa shack is built entirely of bam-
boo with palm leaf shingles. Not nail
Is used but everything is tied together
with their narrow strips of bamboo. 1t
sets on posts about four or five feet from
the ground, with sort of ladder for
stairs. Nine out Of ten huts have palm
and cOcOanut trees around it. In large
towns such as a town with 100 or more
buildings-a town with that many
buildings is considered large town or
pueblo--is a number of hard wood build
ings. These also are put together with
out a nail but are mortised with skill
and dexterity which only native has.
Since my last letter we have had one
man killed in fight. | will give you a
description of the march and fight for
probably you would like to know about
il.
We left here at 80 on bright moon
light night-when the moon is full and
the sky cloudless a person can read by
its light, 1t is so bright-with three days
rations, viz: a can OF corned beef, can
of tomatoes, can of salmon, 25 hardtack
and a canteen of coffee. Our equip
ments consisted of those rations, blan.
ket, roll, mess kit, khaki trousers, blue
flannel skirt, underclothes, l,ggins and
shoes, 100 rounds of ammunition or more
no less-and our rifle which made
quite load to carry over the hills and
mountains Of this country. We march
ed through swamps and logs, across
rivers and streams, hills and mountains.
some Of which would be impossible to
describe, till l 80 in the morning when
we arrived at town by the name of
San Jaun. Going into the town without
making any noise we marched up to one
big shack which had light in it. The
advance guard was ahead and consisted
of one lieutenant and eight men, with
the main body under Capt. Fair just be-
hind. Will Stinchfield and myself Were
at the head OF the main column. He
being in charge of the first squad, while
my place as bugler was with the captain.
We marched up to this shack and the
advance guard started to surround it but
before they succeeded the inmates be-
came aware of our presence and an
awful commotion ensued, as 1t happened
to be the headquarters of band of In
surrectos. They threw up the window
and yelled "Alto! Alto !"--meaning
shalt halt !'-but we would not halt
and consequently they sprang through
the windows and doors firing their pieces
as they went. Private Fields who was
in the advance guard WAS shot through
both shoulders by an insurrecto as he
made bis escape. In the meantime the
main body ran across the road In a line
OF skirmishes and commenced firing at
the fleeing blacks. After Is minutes Of
this we ceased firing TO see the effects,
as the insurrectos were not returning
the fire. The hospital steward immed
ately came forward when we saw that
one of our comrades was shot. 1t was
no use, however, for he died five minutes
after. He lived just long enough to tell
where he was hit and without groan
the poor fellow died, who half an hour
before WAS laughing and joking with the
rest Of us. He was buried about so feet
from where he was shot and it was a
solemn, tear starting scene, to see him
sewed up in piece of mating, with II
bottle inside OF which were the papers
for the recognition of the body later.
He was laid in his last resting place
with only the honor of "Present arms
at As in the morning. We had march.
ed into the town, had the fight, one man
killed and buried, five niggers captured
and marched out of the town all in 80
minutes. We did not ascertain the il
surrectos casualties as we we're on a
forced march and had to keep on. We
then marched till nearly daylight when
we struck the second town called Siabo.
They were aware of our approach at this
town and had all left their shacks. just
as the sun broke over the mountains we
we were we'll into the town. Marching
uD one of the streets where grass grew