Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-16
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
A Norfolk Boy Describes a Fourth
of July Celebration.
Tho Soldiers Banquet and Play Base Ball
Happy Rescue of "Int," the Mascot
From His Filipino Captors--Nrnil Day
and Letters From Homo Mako the BOY.
Happy.
Philippine Islands.
SorSogOn, July 9th, 1900.

oorSOSOn, July Stn, lJUO.
Editor Norfolk Virglnian-Pilot:
The Fourth OF July being celebrated
here in very elaborate manner, will
give q short description of our festivi-
ties to our friends at home and the
| readers Of the Virginian- Pilot. The
merchants of Sorsogon contributed one
thousand pesos. or five hundred dollars
in American money. to be divided be-
tween the two companies, "K" and
NJ. and section of Battery &C."
Third Artillery Qourteen men), for our
dinner, etc. The business places were
all gaily decorated with flags and bunt-
ing of Americas coors. The Filipinos
Spaniards and Chinese all entered into
the celebration and exhibited great
patriotism for new subjects of the
United States. The young people had
their fireworks. and like true young
Americans. kept things lively through
out the day.
clouds and distant thunder. most of us
despairinG OF pleasant celebration.
shortly after D Il. m. reveille was
sounded and salute of three guns
fired from Companies tx" and M"
after which we sat down to n good
breakfast. The weather cleared up and
we had fine day for our sports-both
companies had been training and prac-
ticing in the field and athletic sports
for a month past. The baseball match
was scheduled for the morning. 1t was
closely contested game and very i'm
tereSting. being for the championship
and $40 III gold. II started out in favor
of Company M" at the end of the
fourth inning being to 1 in it's favor
N pulled up and tied the score. 4 to q.
and at the end OF the first half of the
ninth inning led by IL score of 6 to 4.
A.
got three men on bases and no man
out. 1t began TO look their way. when
n brilliant triple play by TX" won the
game-6 to 4. 1t was quite Il novel
sight, gathering of fully two thous-
and people of four distinctly different
nationalities. their manner of dress.
features and other characteristics no.
ticeably different! or course ii was
necessary to maintain the guard over
players. as well as spectators, and the
sentinels patrolled the lines outside of
the diamond while the players were
ready at moments notice to grab
their guns in case the instructors took
advantage of the day to give us a sur
prise.
Mess call sounded at IL m. and the
boys all enjoyed fine dinner-oysters
chicken pot pie. bread butter, pickles.
pie, cake, tea, chocolate and beer
There were no liquors allowed sold in
the city during the day, and every
thing passed off pleasantly and without
any DRINKS. accidents or disorderly
scenes to mar the pleasure of the day.
Every one seemed to enjoy themselves
in good natured way and helped
others to do the same. We certainly
set a model for our new subjects in
celebrating national holidays.
/ In the afternoon prizes were award
ed by the officers for three-legged race.
throwing baseball running broad
J Jump, standing broad jump. 100-yard
4 dash, high Kick. running high jump.
+ three boxing contests, sack race. tug
of war and shoe contest. Company Il
was declared champions of the day,
| winning the greatest number of prizes.
In the evening q banquet was held by
the officers at headquarters and music
and dancing were INDUCED in until
midnight.
We have not had many engagements
during the past month with the in
surgents. About the only one Of any
Importance occurred about three weeks
ago. They had captured our mascot
n Filipino lad called Mat" who acts
as scout and interpreter for us at 3a
con. There We're two searching parties
of ten mon each sent out to locate
him. We We're to meet at fixed time
at a place between Gutbo and Gubat
Our party marched until a. m. wher
we discovered party of sixteen insur-
genus Hoiullt coulcll III Il nut DetWeer
SuSod and Gutbo. They had our mas
cot WITH ttIrrTI. mn tIJr fI5Tu .Tfreufy rr:
| ceived his sentence and was to have
| been bcheaded at 4 o'clock that morn
ing. We attempted to surround the
house. but their sentinels gave the
alarm and they soon fled in all direc
tons. being aided by the darkness OF
the night. We killed one captain an6
a lieutenant and wounded their leader
GENERALLY Isalbino. After lberating oul
mascot. who was bound hand and foot
we proceeded TO rejoin the other de
tachment. and returned to Bacon. We
also captured one prisoner and brought
him to Sorsogon. He. in company will
another native prisoner making theil
escape from the guard house n few
nights ago. by pryinG the bars apar
in the window. We have about fffteer
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