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

ed from him the following letter
which we are permitted to publish: ::
Enroute from Manila to Masbate
on board L. S. a. r. INDIANA, May
!, 1900.
My dear father:-We left Mania
on 2lst ult. eli route to the Islands
of Marindugue. Ticao, and Masbate.
We left the bay of Manila on the
Indiana, accompanied by the Hele-
ma, N'illebois and the Baltimore.
We carried the lst Battalion, Col.
Hardin, his staff, and Maj. Case went
with US. Our trip was to capture,
and occupy these islands. We took
Marindugue with little resistance
the enemy flying before us, scarcely
in sight. Boac WIS the first city We
reached. 1t has population of
1900 people. There are several
cities on it. Santa Cruz, the next
largest, has 1000. The island has
$4,000 people on it. Companies B.
and C.. landed and marched up
through the jungle to the city,
Boac, the capital. They had some
| fine trenches, and about 200 Mausers,
but they did not have the grit to face
|
completely devastated; excepting
chickens, hogs and empty houses,
there was no other sign Of the in
habitants; 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
iards, 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 24
miles to Santa Cruz, expecting to
meet with resistance, but saw about
II people in the whole trip. Every
thing had fled to the mountains.
Our trip the first half was a very
hard one. We crossed a small river
about "a times Within /, distance of
) miles. We bivouaced on top 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 soc
a. ln.. the next day, but as usual,
everything had departed and the
town was comparatively empty.
Plenty of white flags We're out. We
rescued two Spanish priests who had
=, ay
We're certainly glad to get away. We
left Santa Cruz the same day aud
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. l
got some nice curios TO bring back.
While on our trip to Boac | 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,
aud will land. They have entrench-
ments on the shore there too. | un-
| derstand. but ! guess they will be
empty as usual. The insurrectos
have 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. Maj. Case.
knowing that had been appointed,
called NE in his state room and ask
me would | be his quartermaster and
commissary. This is quite u lot to
do. but considered it compliment,
and said, Yes" / have Il clerk,
interpreter. and will get a 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 Ufti-
GERS of the army. l will stop now,
will finish before the Baltimore re-
turns to Manila.
May 2. l9W.-We arrived in this
bay early this morning and saw in
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 We're going to
make flank attack. the Helena let
60 and shelled the fort, tearing it to
pieces. They stayed in their trench
es and as we landed they gave us a
volley and sceoted 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. ! took 50 men and fol-
lowed them about Z, mile through
the jungle but could only Y get
glimpse Of them, when we let them
have it. The attack while we We're
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,
we will take that town. It's said that