Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-02-22
FROM PHILIPPINES
Lieutenant Sherrard Coleman Gives
His Impressions Of Luz9n and
Its People.
THE INSURRECTION BROKEN
The Inhabitants Of Luzon Welcome Amer
ioan Rule-The Tagals Are Not Fit
ted to Govern the Islands-A
Rich Country.

w. H. Pope, assistant attorney of the
court Of private land claims, to-day re-
ceived a highly interesting letter from
Lieut.. Sherrard Coleman, dated San
Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippine islands,
January 10. 1900. Among other things
Lieutenant Coleman says:
II wish you could have seen our poor
table at Thanksgiving and at Christ
mas. 1t consisted of hard tack and
bacon. though we did have bottle of
some kind of wine labeled Vino Ran
clio, 1884. which came from Aggie's
own sideboard, and had been captured
by Captain Dame. together with other
personal effects of his imperial majesty.
and sent down to the colonel for his
Christmas gift. Dame has done some
good and effective work. He has had
several fights with bands of the enemy,
captured great quantity Of valuable
papers, and taken about twenty-five
prisoners, with arms, and considerable
property.
II suppose you have heard of my
battalion, under Colonel Howe, who
made wonderful march to the north
ern end of the island, and then across
the mountains to Apart and back
again. defeating the enemy in several
pitched battles and recapturing Lieu
tenant Gilmore, of the Yorktown, and
all American prisoners who were miss
ing. My only capture has been seven
rifles, Mausers, and one shotgun, that
the natives came in and surrendered to
me while I was commanding officer at
this place. But this should be credited
to Dame, who made life a burden for
them up in the mountains here. Things
have quieted down somewhat in this
vicinity. Only few armed natives are
left, and we are hunting them with
persistency that must result in COM
plete surrender in few days of all in
surgent forces in this part of the island.
AS 1t Is, Aguinaldo's army is broken up
self Is fugitive in disguise, a disguise
so complete that, In the words Of a
Frenchman who saw him in the noun
tains some time ago. the Bon Dieux"
would not know him.
"Pio del Pillar Is still at large and
operating down south Of Manila, in
what we call the south line.
1T was sad blow to us to lose Law
ton; he unnecessarily exposed himself,
so it Is reported.
1--WE are now in the second division,
MacArthur's, and the Sd brigade, COM
manded by General Funston, who, by
the way, is here with us on an inspec-
tion tour of his brigade. Funston is
fine man, and from what I have seen
of him. will make an ideal volunteer
officer l like him personally very
much"
Il am still away from my company,
which is with Colonel Howe, in the
northern part of Luzon, at Vigan and
Laog. My duties are very varied here
at headquarters. I think from present
indications that we will leave this place
and go down to the San Isidro country,
some sixty miles south Of San Jose. We
have been fortunate In having only
about dozen men wounded in action,
while something over dozen have died
of disease. The health Of the regiment
is fine, and the spirits Of the men are
fairly good. 1 have never felt better
myself
"The weather here at this time Is fine,
and the climate reminds me very much
of that Of Santa Fe during the months
Of June and July.
DESCRIPTION OF LUZON.
:, Il will now try and give you short
description of the island and it's people.
This Is not hearsay, but what have
observed myself of the native charac-
ter, and comes therefore first-handed
from the limits Of what we have taken
north Of Manila.
THE country have visited is in the
provinces along the railroad between
Manila and Dagupan, and part Of the
mountain provinces north and east Of
this line which is considered the richest
part of the island. There is long
chain Of mountains running the whole
length Of the island. The fiat country
west Of this range produces with little
labor crops of sugar cane and rice and
all the tropical fruits. Also large guam
titles Of hemp and tobacco. There is
very little timber, except bamboo,
which, by the way, is used for every
thing by the natives. When you get to
the foothills the forest proper COM
mences, and stretches many miles over
the mountains, with almost a virgin