The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-07-18
From Lieutenan S. Carson.

Capt. f.. Scott Carson, father of
Lieutenant l.. 5. Carson, has receiy
ed from him the following letter
when we are permitted to publish:
EnrOute from Manila to Masbate
|, 1900. '
My dear father:-We left Manila
on 2lst ult., ell route to the islands
or Marindugue, Ticao, and Masbate.
we lett the bay of Manila on the
Indiana, accompanied by the Hele.
ma, NlIlepOis and the Baltimore.
we carried the lst Battalion, Col.
Hardln' mis- staff, and Maj. Case went
WIN US. our trip was to capture,
and occupy these islands. We took
Marlndugue with little resistance
the enemy flying before us, scarcely
IN sight. Boac was the first city we
reacned. re ncn 1t has population of
l3.oOO people. There are several
cities on it. Santa Cruz, the next
largest, has l4,OOO. The island has
$4,000 people on it. Companies 3.
and Z: landed and marched up
through the jungle to the city.
Boac, the capital. They had some
nne trenches, and about POO Mausers,
Dut they did not have the grit to face
us. The town and country was
completely devastated; excepting
chickens, hogs and mpty houses,
there was no other sign of the in.
habltants; every thing fled before
US. We tried to get them to return
after we got in town, but having
been once badly treated by the Span.
lards' they mistrusted us. We
made an effort to get the colonel of
the insurrectOs to surrender, but he
refused and was allowed to return
after his interview with our colonel.
He was sent for, for an interview.
we marched across the island "a
miles to Santa Cruz, expecting to
meet with resistance, but saw about
IL people in the whole trip. Every.
thing had fled to the mountains.
Our trip the first half was a verv
hard one. We crossed q small river
about "a times within distance of
b miles. We bivOuaced on ton of
one of them. We We're all wet and
had to sleep or sit up on the ground.
1t was impossible to carry blanket
rolls. The men could not stand it.
AS it was, several gave out and had
to be helped along. 1t was about as
hot day as that was you saw at the
review at Chattanooga.
We reached Santa Cruz on the
other side of Marindugue about 800
a. m., the next day, but as usual.
everything had departed and the
town was comparatively empty.
| Plenty of white flags were out. We
rescued two Spanish priests who had
| been captiveS for two years. They
were certainly glad to get away. We
left Santa Cruz the same day and
joined the boats which had been sent
up the bay for us from the Indiana;
the latter went around the island to
meet it and shell the town if they
resisted. They had some fine breast
works but no one was in them. |
got some nice curios to bring back,
While on our trip to Boac 1 got a
fellows gun, and cartridge box full of
cartridges. 1t is in fine order. l
think the fellow was too hOtly pur-
sued and dropped it. No one was
wounded in this capture.
We are now on our way to Masbate.
| We will get there in the morning,
and will land. They have entrench-
ments on the shore there too. un-
derstand, but / guess they will be
empty as usual. The insurrectos
nave powder manufacturing estab-
lishnent on this island, understand.
| We expect some resistance, but don't
think this will be much.
have been appointed Captain of
the Port, Inspector of Customs, and
Internal Revenue Collector by Col.
Hardin. for Masbate. Mai. Case.
knowing that l had been appointed,
called me in his state room and ask
me would be his quartermastera and
cOmmissary. This is quite lot to
DO, but considered it a compliment,
and said, YES" / have Il clerk,
interpreter. and will get caramel
Ia if need it. / will be excused
from all duties with my company
except when there is a scrap" and
then l will be allowed to go into it.
Most of the officers of ports newly
opened over here are filled with .ffi.
GERS Of the army. l will stop now.
will finish before the Baltimore re-
turns to Manila.
May 2, lNO.-We arrived in this
bay early this morning and saw i'm
the trenches and fort along the water
front about POO armed insurrectos.
The Helena was in the bay and
| cleared for action. We boarded
small boats and as We were going to
make flank attack, the Helena let
go and shelled the fort, tearing it to
pieces. They stayed in their trench
es and as We landed they gave us a
volley and sc0Oted no one on our side
was hurt. We got a few of them and
| captured several prisoners. They
can get through the Jungle like rat
in his hole. l took so men and fol-
lowed them about 4 mile through
the jungle but could only get a
glimpse of them, when we let them
have it. The attack while we were
going up to the bay by the Helena
with her rapid fire guns and our at
tack was simply grand. They left
and are said to be at the capital
about miles away.
AS soon as we are done unloading,