Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-04-04
FROM MANILA,
Walter A. Mestrezat Writes us
Again.
Interesting aIarch Through Hostile
Country Six Thousand Natives
Around ThemNot Man Lost
Beauties of The Country and its
Wealth Described by Him.

AROUND fhem--N0t Man Lost
Beauties of The Country and its
Wealth Described by Him.
SANTA CRuz, p. l.
Feb. 4, 1900.
FRIEND kuNKLE: "A bout an hour
after | mailed you my last letter we
received orders from the adiutant
general co Join our regiment and re-
port TO the commanding officer at
Santa Cruz. As this meant a trip up
the Paseg river and over Laguna de
Bay also Of sixty miles through
mountains alive with blood thirsty
insurgents we were more than delight
ed. We came here for experiences
and want all we can get aud then we
wanted to be able To say we had pass
ed through six thousand insurgents
and never losta man. We knew there
was no danger for the adJutant gener-
al told me so. He said ssjnst keep to-
gether and don't struggle along like
lot Of civilians and you will get
through all right"
We left Manila Sunday morning
and arrived here the same evening.
We reported To Col Hazen next morn
ing and he was surprised TO see us.
He gave US the best quarters Ia the
town where we have been having a
good time.
Col. Ha2en instructed us TO remain
here till our brigade commander,
Gen. Schwan should arrive The
General came In to-day and was still
more surprised To see us. He says he
ordered ns sent TO Tayaban some time
ago on transport as by that way we
would only have to walk six miles to
our regiment.
As soon as he gets things straight
ened out we will return to Manila and
go down the coast. We are very
thankful for this little mistake as IL
has enabled us to see some or the
grandest country In the Philippines.
It can hardly be possible there Is an
other country in the world as rich as
this.
Coming up the Pasig we did not see
an acre of waste land, 1t is all ia rice
fields and banana and cocoanut groves.
The Paslg is only twenty miles long,
being the outlet OF Laguna de Bay, or
Lake of Bay. The river flows nine
miles per hour and Is like the lake al
ways muddy. The lake is one hun
dred miles in circumference and one
of the best fishing grounds in the
country.
1t is much cooler here than Ia Ma
Mia and there are no mosquitoes. Be-
ing on higher ground and having the
mountain air it will be an all the year
resort when Manila becomes great
American city. Manila would not be
considered a health resort. The
death rate Is Al per Thousand per an
mum, while in Hong Kong with all
the plaques OF China to contend with
1t Is only 20. However the Americans
will soon change all this.
The Santa Cruz river here Is as clear
as crystal, being the first clear stream
have seen. This town has Just been
taken for the third time, it will now
be garrisoned by the 39th Infantry.
There Is a little gun boat that does
business on the lake, aud has been
great help In taking the lake towns.
1t sent several shots through the
Spanish prison and / see where one
shot went through the tile roof cuta
hard wood beam 8x10 inches square
off and passed through The ether side
OF the building. What tales Of Span
ish cruelty this old prison could tell
IL it could only talk. All the rooms
are damp the dungeon being the
worst.
In the yard the stocks are each
made to hold ten people. In one
room is a pile OF chains and rings SO
made they could be put on the ankles
and riyeted. Many of these anklets
had hurt the poor victims who wore
them, and they had wrapped them
with rags and many Of them stu
had these rags clinging to them, but
wait till | tell you what have seen
In the old time churches and your
hair will stand on end / will give
you letter on this subject in a few
days.
An ambulance coming here to-day
with sick soldiers was fired on and
four men wounded. One man had
his right eyebrow shot off, another
poor fellow was shot through the left
arm, he says he cannot understand
why his side hurts. They have not
told him yet that the same bullet
entered his left side and come out his
back.
We have heard artillery fire for two
hours to-day but have heard no par
ticulars yet.
An insurgent captain brought two
American prisoners in yesterday and
turned them over. They had become
too sick to keep up with the insur-
gents so they made filters and carried
them IN. One OF them belongs to
our regiment. ! have just been pre-
sented with fine bolo that was cap.
tured from Filipino captain Ac-
cording to the marks on it. it has
hacked nine men to death.
Cocoanuts are so plentiful here they
{. ra IN, ada intf. ffc ax.H chfnpad