The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-10-26
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
Fred w. Huntly Writes a Few Interest,"
ing Facts to MankatO Friend.

b. G. Burgess has received letter
from Fred W. Huntly, who is station
ed at Baao, Luzon Island, Philippines
The letter is dated Aug. Sth and says
that the writer had been promoted to
be drum major of the band, which in
the army means first sergeant and not
the shakoed gentleman so dear to the
colored population. He was first duty
sergeant in Co. c, and now is first
sergeant in the non commissioned staff,
this being the only snap in the regi-
ment. Mr. Huntly continues:
''Since I last wrote, we have Travelled
many long mile from morning I'M
til night, through rice fields and
rivers, chasing ladrones, or, as we call
them, thieves. They are the most
arrant towards and deserve no quarter,
but they are captured and fed
as they never were fed before,
and after while released and told to
do better.
sin regard to the insurrectos, they
are slowly and surely getting the
worst of it. Poor devils, all they need
is man to show them the use1Hssness
of trying to overcome people like
Americans, but their leaders practice
upon their simplicity and the conse-
quence is death. When once they COM
mence fighting they may as well give
up, for our boys have the faculty of
shooting straight and the old Krag-
Jorgensen finds the vital spots The
sooner they learn of the hoplessness of
their course the sooner peace will
reign for them. Such prosperity they
never had in. the history of the island,
and those who have sense to appreciate
the difference between Spanish tyranny
and American freedom are in better
circumstances than their highest hopes
ever dreamed of.
American soldiers have never rob-
bed Filipino of cents worth,
whilst the Spanish simply took what
they wanted and asked no questions
Woe -betide one of us taking anything
from native and not paying for it.
Prison would be his lot for many a
day. Our discipline is very rigid and
severe, by which we show our superb
GRITTY to our late enemies, the Dons.
Where the natives acknowledge
American sovereignty, schools are
opened, markets in full blast, alcades,
or, as we would call them, mayors
hold daily court. Police, armed with
bolos and bare footed, keep good
order, and the natives go about theil
business as they have not for. years.
During our stay in the southeast
part of Luzon the improvements were
remarkable, still there is much room
for more For instance, the church is
simply a Pagan affair, all pomp and
superstition. To give you an idea
how it is run, wilhelm Buhi poor
woman lost her only child. Some boys
carried the corpse Ito the church and
she went to- the padre father, only
having three pesos Isl. SOY. He refused
to give the ad..child the last rites Of
the church for less than FIVE, (S2. SOY,
She, poor--woman, ran all over towr
begging. for thessrest. She met an ex
insurrecto captain and got the money
Mr.. padre comes out, dashes an i'm
aginary spray of holy water over thu
poor little corpse which has beer
roasting for over two hours in tropi
cal sun, mumbles a few latin words
gives grunt of there. pulls off
dirty white surplice, takes his hat AM
cane and struts down the road 50. s.
richer. The poor woman kisses hi
dirty black hand in pure belief of hi
sincerity-a drunken sot, filed witt
the vile native drink called 'sbino. =
i "Another instance. A nativ'
runner came to Iriga, where we wer
stationed after leaving Rubhi, an
reported terrible murder of well
, to-do planter. A detail of our com
pany was sent to the scene. On on
, arrival we found things in terribl
, shape. The planter must have bee
instantly killed, his wife had sevel
, different gun shot wounds, and one Q
the workmen was also killed Not
the distinction between poverty an
wealth. The planter lay where h
died The padre, who had precede
lus, ordered him covered over an