The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-09-07
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1900.
SOLDERING IN THE PHILIPPINES.


it took just three months and six days
to make the trip. At that rate | don't
think I will be flooded with correspond
ence, while | am over here. We are still
making our headquarters in this town,
and it begins to look as though the re-
mainder of our enlistment would be
spent here in this province. In my last
letter | told you we were masters of the
situation. Well, [ made mistake. The
insurgents are getting their second
wind, so to speak, and are giving US all
kinds of trouble. They make no attempt
to capture town, but lay for small
patrol of twenty or thirty men. The
captain of Co. B. was ambushed with
detail of twenty men. The captain was
shot through both legs, three men were
killed and seven wounded before they
we're rescued. Then right on top of that
came the report that Capt. Lee of Co. X.
was drowned while attempting to cross
the bay to small island occupied by
insurgents. His men got out safe by
throwing their cartridge belts.
What will happen next is hard to say.
We have about three weeks more to pa
troll the country before the rainy season
begins, then the niggers will pretty near
have things their own way. The 18th
Cavalry is coming to help US out, and
we certainly need help, for there is only
one regiment for these two provinces
and we can only garrison the larger
towns. | see that General Bell has call
ed for more troops, whether he gets
them or not remains to be seen. The
last wagon train brought the news that
we would soon get our blankets and bar
rack bags; at present our bed consists
of the soft side of board, with a pOnchO
for a covering, and we consider ourselves
lucky at that. Exposure is slowly and
surely thinning out the ranks. Nearly
every wagon train takes back some of
our men who are used up; the other
companies are the same way, and both
officers and men are anXiOusly waiting
for the rainy season to commence SO
they can have rest. This makes our
sixth month of active service, and six
months of active service in this country
means great deal of walking for small
amount Of fighting. The veterans of the
civil war will tell you they didn't have
to look for fight; but here we have to
march for miles, and sometimes don't
even get skirmish. We have marched
1900 miles since we struck the island,
not such bad record, is it.
Well to change the subject, this town
is steadily growing, both in population
and Importance. The hemp trade is at
it's height and the amount of money that
changes hands is something enormous.
When we first came here the natives
we're in rags, now they are all dressed
neatly during the week, and on Sundays
their attire is simply gorgeous. The
young men about town are sociable and
do all they can to show us a good time.
They are fine looking and very intelli-
gent. When they hear an English word
spoken and learn what 1t means, they
never forget it. They are now calling
many of US by name and we treat them
with the same respect we do each other.
There is an American Negro here and he
is gazed at and admired more than any
one in the company. Another thing that
greatly amuses them is a fat man; they
don't know what to make of him. One
thing [ must not forget to mention, is
the native band. When we first came to
town it consisted of two drums and a
cornet: now there are fifteen pieces and
it is growing yet. They practice every
night and play for US at guard mount
ing and retreat, when they have time.
That. last may surprise you, but they are
as busy as Sousa's or Phinney's famous
bands. They play at every funeral and
wedding, and there are about three flu
nerals and one wedding each day. [
have attended funeral, but could never
stay through a wedding, for it takes
about three hours to get married in this
country, but not half that time to get
buried. After a wedding ceremony, all
the invited guests crowd into the home
of the brides mother and dance and eat
all day Any one that comes past THAT
is any soldier) has to come in and eat
and smoke cigar The bride is always
we'll dressed for the occasion, all wear
silks and jewels according to their sta
ton. The groom is also we'll dressed but
very uncomfortable (the same as in the
States). He wears an English suit of
black clothes, stiff hat and last but not
least, shoes. The outfit is altogether
foreign to him and he usually falls all
over himself during the ceremony.
| was speaking of the band when |
rambled off on this subject. All these
native musicians have to do is to hear a
piece played once and they can play it as
we'll as they heard it, if not better. They
play all American tunes, "Star Spangled
Banner" "Over the Waves" and Amer
lea seem to be favorites of theirs. The
uniform consists of straw hat with a
blue ribbon around it, light colored
shirt and dark blue pants. One strong
feature of an American band is their
marching. That doesn't bother these
musicians in the least, it makes no diff
ference in the least where they are just
so they are there. Sometimes the bass
drum will be ahead and sometimes
walking alongside the cornet, but they
get there just the same. There is fine
orchestra in town, consisting of three
violins, two guitars, several mandolins
and few horns. They play at all the
dances and once in while for the Off
GERS. The town has been full of work
men for the last few days making arches,
stands and everything they could think
of, until the square looks the picture of
castles, battlemants, etc., of ancient
times All this work is for our benefit.
Tomorrow they have grand celebration
in our honor. All the people for miles
around will come to this city and cheer
for the Americans. Three bands and a
procession of some kind will be the feat
ure of the day. understand they are