The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-09

Description Of the City and 5
Its Fine Palace. }
from the sea and selling them to the
stranger that might visit their isle.
It may be said in passing that at the
present time the hardest fighting that
IS going on on the south line is at a
point directly opposite C%orregidor, on
either side Of this narrow channel
called San Francisco de la Malbon,
while on the left Of the island, going
toward Manila, there 10 now quite a
strong insurgent force that at any odd
times is apt to fire upon any vessel that
floats the American flag passing up the
channel. Another thing that they
have been ~endeavoring to do has been
to put out false signals, that might
confuse our boats and bring them close
to the shore, so that there would be no
possible means Of escape for the officers
and crew, and that they might loot the
vessel, obtaining such things as they
would need for fighting purposes. 1t
was i'll this way that the crew Of the
Urnadeta was e%ntrapped and all but two
wantonly murdered. The trip from
Cavite to Corregidor required about
four hours, and was a very pleasant as
we'll as heaIthful mean Of spending a
day. It became such a pleasure resort
subsequently that Major Crosby. the
chief surgeon, was compelled to issue
permits to such az might wish to visit
the popular resort.
"In the latter part Of October word
came to the Montana regiment that it
was to be transferred to Manila. and
Immediately there wis great excitement
among the Q for two-thirds Of them
had no idea of Manila, or Of the con.
ditions that they would meet with
while there. We were told that the
reason why we had been assigned to
Oavite was that the men might become
acclimated and be in better condition
to take up the hard work for which
they had left the United States, and
hence had been put in q place where
the conditions were least favorable for
health, so that after they had become
accustomed to the climate and condi-
lions, they might be transferred and
made use of in guarding the city Of
Manila, and protecting American in.
terests that were there. It was rather
a oomical sight when all the baggage
and commissary stores, cannon and
personal effects OF u regiment SO large
as ours was placed upon about fifteen
Of these cascoes, and a Thousand men
sitting III top Of their possessions, were
towed across and taken up the Pasig
river and tied up behind four large
cigar warehouses. We found that
these were to be OUT quarters, and that
there was just as much difference be-
tween them and the ones we had occu.
pied at Cavite, as there was between
day light and darkness. It is to be
remarked here that there is a great
deal Of business in rice, hemp, sugar
and various other commodities made
uss Of by the English merchants, and
in order to store these things, immense
brick warehouses have been built.
-Four of these had simply been taken by
the government, and being empty.
were utilized for the wants Of the regi-
ment. The buildings were probably
an hundred and fifty feet square, pro-
viding an immense area, and in these
cots, made by the natives, were ar
ranged so there should be two COM
panies in each building.
1.-The third battalion being placed
some little distance from the first and
second, a peculiar sight. after the men
had once taken up their abode, was the
tricks and trades which their minds
turned to, 50 that you could find in
these quarters anything from a barber
shop to a faro layout or a crap game.
It was only a short time before the
travelling shoemaker, clothes-maker and
vender of various aud sundry eatables
was to be found between the four build.
inRs, crying his wares and seeking for
some one to buy. 1t is needless to say
that the men spent very little time in
their quarters after their kit was once
placed, they then started out to do
the town.
ut may be wise to take up the city
in detail, so that one can obtain a clear
idea Of what it IS made. The general
impression on the part Of many has been
that when Manila was spoken Of. it
embraced a town similar to Billings
that is, in the general makeup. But
Manila is a misnomer, inasmuch rs the
town Of Manila proper is only a very
small part Of the area heretofore en-
braoed in reports. 1t is to be remem.
bered that when General Otis sends his
general reports from Manila, that this
is literally true, he himself having his
offices in the city of Manila, while the
troops may be located either at Bin
ondo, Tondo. Malate. Ernite, Santa
Cruz, Quanpo and Bilbid, but they are
all embraced in the American conoep-
tion Of Manila. Manila is the walled
aim IL. Il 4.xa IN ba Golasal Alfaon aaaili-l