The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-07-24
AGUINALDO!
One Of Our Soldier Boys
Writes EntertaininaIy
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
Bull Fights, Monkeys, Natives,
ETC., Etc.
The following very entertaining let
ter written by Sergeant Earle Detrick,
is kindly given us for publication by
his parents, to whom it was written.
1t is fascinating story of q strange
land, strange people, and strange
scenes:
PARANG-PARANG, Mindinao, P. 1.
May 11th, 1900.
To all the folks:
AS you see by the heading of this
letter, we have changed station, and
are now at Parang Parang, about $50
miles from Zamboanga, but are still on
the same island. We left Zamboanga
on the afternoon of April 29th, on the
little transport Carmen" and were 10
hours on our way here. We mustered
while on the boat. Since we left, the
rest OF our battalion have left, and bat
| TALON headquarters is at Gotta Batto,
the place where Sergt. Benefits COM
pany was stationed. The Second bat
TALON is in our old quarters with Mai.
Brett.
1t was like leaving home to leave
that place, after having been there for
| i've months, and just when we had
everything arranged so we could enjoy
ourselves. [ knew most of the natives,
and had lots of friends among them,
one or two families, especially. We
had such nice quarters too. Co sc"
was quartered down town. in an old
| convent by the church.
| Stilwell, Kinnard, Staight and had
bought boat of one of the natives, and
we made large sail for it, and it was
the swiftest boat in the bay, and when
we had nothing to do, we would make
a trip to one or two of the small islands
near, and come back with boatload of
cocoanuts, pineapples, and bananas.
had little experience with it when we
first put the sail on it, which I will not
soon forget. We had finished the sail
on Sunday forenoon, and l, of course,
wanted to try it Immediately. The
others were afraid of missing the swell
dinner which our company was to have
that day. So 1 showed off, thinking OF
course, that l could manage the boat
and sail it, myself, and all went well
for about five miles, but when I tried
to turn around to come back, was when
the trouble came. One of the ropes
became united, and while l was for
ward fixing it, the wind almost turned
the boat completely over, and the boat
was then half full of water. l lost my
paddle which had been using to steer
with, and while trying to get it the
boat shipped another wave, and |
thought then of the good dinner !
would miss, of home, and in fact l
never expected to drill again. All this
time l was drifting toward the ocean at
la great rate. finally overlook two
natives in their boats, and managed to
make them understand that couldn't
manage the sail in the hard wind, and
hired them to paddle me back home, a
distance OF about eight miles. Got
back in the evening, wet to the skin,
hungry, and almost missed parade. !
have not ventured out by myself in the
boat since. We sold 1t when we left.
April 4th was big day in Zambo-
anga. 1t was the Presidents birthday,
and it was said that the President and
Dato of the Moros signed treaty OF
. friendship. The town was full OF
Moros and Filipinos, and music. There
were two bands from Zamboanga, one
from Tenton, one from Mercedes, and
one from Santa Maria. There was q
parade-''Old Glory in the lead
! and, the Dato and President arm in
arm; next, there followed several hun
dreds of Moros, Filipinos, and soldiers.
The President gave each company 9
barrel of beer, and everybody was ir
good humor. After the parade every
body went to the Presidents house ani
there had a areat time drinking ani
watching fighting chickens.
The next day was Dato's day, and he
; was determined to outdO the President
lsO he built bull ring and had a regu
lar Spanish bull-fight. The ring wa'
built by his house, and had seats ar
ranged all around. When the timt
came for the scrap, all the music start
ed, the gate was thrown open, and il
rode the President, his horse covered
: with bunting, ribbons, and ornaments
t followed by the men on horses, who
were to take part in the scrap, ther
the men on foot, with the red cloaks
which were used to torment the bulls
Everybody cheered, the procession
marched around the ring several times
and the President threw his hat away
| while one of the ladies in the grant
stand gave him wreath of flowers Il
t wear, The DatO threw a couple pOck
cts full of Mexican dollars into tn,
e ring, another gate was opened, and Ou
rushed the bull-snOrting and making
a grOat noise. Before turning him in
to the ring, several barbs of iron will
bright colored paper and ribbons at
t tached, were jabbed into his shoulders
He made dash, of course, at the frs
r man who held red cloak. The mai
t was not quick enough to get away, ant
was tossed about ten feet into the air
/ but was not hurt much.
The men on horses had long prods
!. which were used to stir up Mr.. Bull
when he did not move lively enough
i, After enough fun had been made, tn
man who was lucky enough to pull GU
the first barb from the bulls shoulders
was given a doubie-edged sword witt
\ (which to kill the bull. He waved hi
J. cloak, and when the bull dashed 8
him, he stepped to one side, and thrus
v the blade between the shoulders int
+ the heart. That ended that scraI
- Everybody cheered, the ladies yelled
"Brayo," the hero (?) bowed and re
lceived wreath of flowers which wa
a placed on his head. The dead bull wa
e dragged out of the ring, another wa
e turned in and another scrap was OF
l. Three bulls were killed that Afternoon
d A bull has but little chance in one {
8 those fights.
h There were great many handsom
women at the fight. In the evenin
the Dato gave ball in his large ne
house. All the officers were there an
had great time.
Ispent the evening with the family
o went to see so much They thQupht