The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-02
THE SQUAD IN TkTIGUn UNIFORM.
The Filipino LnUndryman Got Into
TrouhIc in "a Queer Way.

The Filipino LnU0dryman Got Into
TrouhIe in IA Queer Way.
Manila Correspondence of the Chicago
Record.
Here in the Philippines are new di1 III
ties in connection with the laundry prob
lem. And to illustrate this asse ton an
incident that happened to "A uoop o. the
Fourth Cavalry is tcld 1t is toll as the
soldier told it-with certain parts climinlt-
ed.
''The laundryman?" the trooper quelied
"Oh. his name was Pedro. on the mrs
day when the top sergeant asked him Ills
name he only grinned, exposing TO vi W
two rows of bete stained teeth of a so +
ed sizes. The sergeant asked him again
and Pedro answered him; No saby TIE
sergeant was moi up on Spanish and took
the expression for the name. So the pa IS
was filled out Pedro Nosably, wash n
teman.' 1t became fixture, that name
did. in the barracks of the Fourth Cavalry
at Pasay as did also the native,
The guards had strict orders to allow
no natives or vendors on the grounds,
But Pedro was an exception. Pedro did
washing for the soldiers. and he did it on
the jawbone' plan. That's the credit
plan. And then the first sergeant had Civ
en- Pedro a pass ostensibly as a favor to
Pedro in reality to insure the return of
his clean khahis What Pedro's former
vocation had been no one knew. or car d,
for that matter; but one thing was Ger
taiu-Pedrn as a laundryman was fl9t
failure Clothes invariably returned mi
nus several buttons. No one would ever
suspect that they had been treated TO a
bath were ii not for the fact that they
were scrupulously folded and ironed VIII n
delivered There was a sense of import
8 f,,Y-fsx oh, IL.
swarthy individual that seemed to defy
criticism, and a severe reprimand was US
ually followed by an apology. Perhaps
the hearts of the men were touched at the
sight of the wan piuched faces and tooth
pick legs of the large assortment of pick
aninnies who trailed at Papa Pedro's shirt
tails and struggled to balance big bundles
of clothes on their wee heads Pedro
never carried bundles. Besides he wo e
a derby hat of the German comedian va
riety and il was suspected that ne wore
it for the sole purpose OF dodgng the
carry act.
sometimes the bundles would be return
ed 10 their respective owners in the course
of a few days, But more often week or
ten days would slip by and the trooper,
reduced to his last clean garment, would
loudly threaten Pedro WITH immediate ANA
barharous punishment Pedro would
smile blandly and gather up the remainder
of the troopers wearing apparel in utter
disregard OF the fact that the trooper
would then be reduced to the clothing he
had on his beck.
Saturday and muster day came. Pedro
had been missing for a week, end with
him almost every dress khaki suit in the
troop. At O'Clock there was the inspec-
ton The inspecting officer was known
to be a strict disciplnerian. The guns
and equipments we're slick as pins, and
the troop barber had been busy with the
faces of the men since early in the mrn-
ing At S:45 the bugle sounded assembly.
At S:45 Pedro was still missing. The air
was blue with titles affixed TO Pedro S
name The sergeant appeared In can
vas fatigue blouse and white trousers and
ordered the men to fall in. Just as the
inspection officer arrived the troops lined
up. clad in the most astonishing costumes
ever witnessed on inspection day. Com
binations of pajamas and ponchos were
conspicuous One fellow who had waited
too long appeared in a cotton shirt and
one Logging.
Sergeant roared the inspecting Off
Ger. what do you mean by turning out
the troop in this manner? Do you think
it's a joke? If you do IN change your
mind in short order
Sir said the Sergeant, it's all Pc
dros fault. He
Who's Pedro? What's he got to do
Hes the washlady-T mean the laun-
dryman, Sir You see, he vamoosed and
he's got all our clothes and
Dismiss the troop and report 20 me
at my quarters, growled the inspecting
officer Just how the Sergeant smoothea
it over 10 one ever knew.
Late that afternoon Pedro. minus his
derby hat, his clothes soiled and an ex-
preston of disgust and indignation writ
ten on his dusky face appeared on the
scene 1t took the combined knowledge of
the whole troop to understand what ne
had to say, because he talked in Spanish.
Pedro had decided to extend his business
beyond the south lines With this object
in view he had applied at headquarters
in Manila for a general pass through the
lines The clerk who issued these passes
being versed in Spanish had no trouble
I'm getting Pedro's surname and filled IN
the pass accordingly. Pedro had some
friends who lived beyond tho south lines,
and he decided to take holiday and visit
them. Having two passes. he was as
sured that he could 20 unmolested by the
sentries Guarding this line was a Tegi-
ment that had recently arrived from
America, whose efficiency in catching
smugglers was the pride Of the officers
connected with that organization.
Pedro boldly presented the general pass
and was promptly passed through the
lines. When Pedro returned late that aft
ernoon his step was unsteady. Under his
belt he carried large sized 'beno' jag.
When ne approached the outpost he was
at peace with himself and the world. and
was loudly singing viva Americana!
viva Aguna.dor The sentry halted him