Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1900-09-08

fired on US from right and left. front
and rear but did hit man, but of
course we gave them their tapioca
and they went for their lives. On
March II, detail went out and loca-
ted the enemy and waited in readi-
ness until daylight and then run in
on the insurgents, killing them by
the dozens and captured five of their
guns and 400 rounds of ammunition.
This was all done before breakfast
and We returned to quarters. or
course, dear sister, you have never
seen volcano in action. On March l.
at noon, the volcano started and it
was something great to see. We sol
diers that were stationed nearby it
nearly chOked to death by ashes, gas
and heat from it. The old church we
were Quartered in was two hundred
years old but it ratified for hours. We
would not have been surprised had it
tumbled down any time. Then we
went on board the transport Francis
co and started for the Mindanoa island
where the whole of the 10th regiment
is divided On this island, leaving Cos.
A. Il. Z. ID. at Siangan, E. +. G. HI. at
llligan and 1. x. l. NJ. at Cayugan.
On the II of April the insurgents at
tackled the town of Cayugan and kill
Ou WV ihCu vi du OubpOSG uCf mdoO
their way to the quarters OF the sleep
ing soldiers intending to surprise
them but the Americans are not to
De caught mapping so they just killed
the enemy by the hundreds and piled
them up dead six deep in the square
of the town. 1t took one week to bury
the dead. On the 14th of May, Cos.
L. and X. went out on ''hike" to
town short distance from Cayugan,
called Agusan. When the soldiers
came into town the enemy was on top
of a big hill and when our boys march
ed under the hill poured heavy fire
into them killing two of our boys OF
Co. L., but the Americans went up
the hill against the heavy fire OF the
enemy. $50 insurgents and II horses
were killed and captured 100 guns. On
the 22nd of May Cos. HI. and X. went
out on a mountain "hlke" of % miles
and went down under the mountain
for water and had just returned on
top again in time to see the enemy
coming to attack US. If they had
caught US under the mountain not
one of us would ever got back, but
when they saw us they turned and
run back and we fired 400 rounds at
them at distance of 1900 yards, kill
ed 3, wounded and captured /. On
June 18th Co. III. and detachment
of Co.'S. l.. and M. went out at 10
O'Clock at night to capture the enc
my'S stronghold and walked all that
night and when day break came found
ourselves in the insurgents traps.
They had them surrounded by big
guns and secret holes covered with
leaves and sharp spears in the bottom
of the holes, so when the boys would
step one way or the other would fall
in on the spears. They had US and
they knew it and so did we and we
fought as only Americans can fight.
They tried to go up the hill but only
got shot down like dogs but that did
the hill they could do nothing only
get shot. Our brave captain was
killed. We lent reinforcements to
our poor boys but they could do moth
ing only fall in traps and holes and
the best thing they could do was to go
back the best way they could. We
could not help our wounded as we
lows had to crawl out the best way
they could. We had six killed, ten
wounded and one missing out of Co.
III. Tell father that Fred Holloway,
who used to work on the coal shutes
at Oakley was killed June 14th. Fred
Switzer and Richard Callahan are
well. Please send me some Dukes
mixture smoking tobacco and Star
chewing tobacco. 1 can't get any
thing here only native tobacco and /
can't smoke that. / will send you
some nice token from here when /
get payed. I have not been payed for
six months. Please send me Kansas
City Star and Denver Times. Tell
Fay 1 will bring her little monkey
when / come home. Hoping this will
find you all well and enjoying good
health. / will close with love to all.
I remain your affectionate brother,
VAN Fl. DEATRICH,
% II 10Th ReOimopt Vol Inf