The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-01-12

- NJ I'LL SSNANU AloVN4y VI UHC 1 ia
ippine war, interspersed with interest
ing "reminiscences of the soldiers ant
the natives, and The Gazette consids ar
that 1t is fortunate that Reverend
Stull has consented to publish, for TIT
first time, his experiences in these col
umns. The interviews are published il
a con versational strain, the question:
of the reporter being omitted in order
that the narrative may not be discon
nected or ma1red.] # "
Speaking of the condition of the
hospitals III Cavite. on which we were
talking when our interview closed last
week, IL is only necessary in this CON
n~ection to say that this same care was
given the prisoners for the following
six weeks, when, upon an order from
General Anderson that the insurgents
should keep at a greater distance from
the city, these, with the other Spanish
prisoners, were removed and placed in
the hospital at Malabou.
"Cavite was a city of narrow streets
you saw no appearance of sewerage, al
though on the bay bank there was quite
a wide opening, indicating that there
was such sewerage. The sidewalks
were probably three feet wide, and the
intervening spaces between walks not
more than ten, making the streets from
house to house about sixteen feet vide.
During a heavy rain, however, we dis.
covered that the three feet of sidewalk
were not so much for the travelling Of
the natives as to cover the opening used
as an outlet for the filth of the city.
In order to preserve the health Of the
soldiery stringent measures were made
use Of, so that with the cleaning up
eacli day by the natives the city soon
began to put on a clearly appearance.
But it was rather comioal to note the
dread that the average native had for
American authority in this particular.
While they were very anxious for ind g
pendenoe and could talk very learned "
Of the advantage to them of independ.
ence, they had nothing to say when
some one Of the sergeants would come
along and order that this. that, or the
other condition be met with regarding
the cleaning up of their premises.
Speaking about their desire for in
dependence, it was certainly u conical
thing to hear them talk. The Ameri.
cans did not know anything: were a set
Of cut threats; would rob them of
about all they had - which wasn't
much; didn't know anything about lib.
erty, anyhow, and if they would only
get on their boats and stay out at sea
for a little time, guarding them against
the possible inroads of Other nations,
they would show them very quick what
real independence meant. It didn't do
any harm to have them talk in that
way, only it become unpleasant ome
times for the native, when he had sold
the soldier a couple of cents worth of
bino and then wanted to discuss indie.
pendence, for the soldier very fire..
would turn on him, give him
! drubbing and leave the shop. Speak.
ing Of this native wine, or bino, as it
"a called, it is manufactured on quite
, large scale by the Chinese. It is made
rice and certain vegetable growth Of
he island, and ia almost pure alcohol
\ very small quantity of this liquor has
!, p%aralyzing effect upon either native or
but be it said to the credit of
he native that he was much better
han the average soldier, because be
'arely partook Of his own medicine.
the whole year that 7 spent Old
The islands l saw but one case of drunk
'nness Oh the part of a native, and
hat Il had been having a good time
With a party Of soldiers.
During the period Of our enforced
dleness at Cavite we were enabled to
'isit several points of more or less in
srest. Baooor, Oh the opposite side
I the bay from Cavite. was q point of
historical interest. Here Agui.
Ialdo was teaching school at the time
10 was selected by the natives to be-
ONE the president Of their new repub.
lc. At this point stands a cathedral.
uilt some time in the. seventeenth CEN
nry, that for seven months was the tar.
ct OF the Spanish boats and the Span 9
IN guns at Cavite; for the Spaniard, \
18th his wholesome dread of danger,
as willing to take tho report of the
that this cathedral was the
eadquarters Of many Of the Filipino [
lsurrect0s, and in this building was
about all tho schemes that
cant trouble to the Spanish govern.
ent throughout the island of Luzon, {
he building was certainly very much :
.~lapidated; 1t had been p%uDotured 80
'oroughly that the roof aud walls were :