Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-04
Norfolk Boy Writes Interestingly
From "0ur Insular Possessions. ;"
Ho Says tho "Insurrcction" is Apparently
Practically Over "A comrado Butcher
edby noio-men Manila Fast becoming
Amorlcanized- Many of the Boys Want
to Go to chipa.
Sorsogon. Isla dc Luzon. p. l.,
September 10Th lq00


the bay at the blue mountains in the
lar distance, my thoughts Travelled on
to that good old country beyond the
Pacific. and l was amongst my friends
in Norfolk That was sufficient cause
to postponed my afternoon sicsta. and
consequently l will unload my tale of
Woe upon my unsuspecting friends at
home.
THE BOYS READ THE VIRGINIAN-
PILOT.
Our last mail being delayed, we
passed four weeks in expectancy before
receiving ii. The Atlanta then came In
from Manila with large mail,
amongst which / was fortunate in find
Ing several copies of the Vrginian-
Pilot and letters from friends. Head
quarters have returned to Sorsogon.
and this had had tendency to divert
our minds and change the general rou-
line in many respects. The colonel and
staff band, hospital, etc. are all here
and we have to dance to all kinds of
music. Everything is strictly military
again and ii begins to SAVIOR more of
garrison duty. The boys would all pre-
fer TO see hostilities resumed than be
compelled to go through our inspec-
lions. drills. cite; but there is no fight
Ing at present, and from all indications
the insurrection is practically over.
RAINY SEASON Is ON.
Ihe rainy season has commenced and
II rains necessarily. The season differs
here from Manila. although only about
3oo miles distant Sorsogon has been
repulit since the fire of May 90, and it
is rapidly Improving in every resDect
New streets have been laid out and re-
strlctIonS put upon building permits
Within certain limits. a large number
Of natives have of late been at work
Erauihs the roads, working out their
taxes, great many bicycles have
round their way here during the last
lew weeks. At first they were looked
upoh as n great curiosity by the ma
yves. but now there are a large num-
per OIL fliipinos and Spaniards riding
ana owning wheels. They charge from
, 10 lour prices for them and they
nave very Few firSt-clasS wheels in The
market. Telephones are beginning 10
ring and American enterprise is fast
asserting itself
A COMRADE BOLOED.
we iost one of our comrades n few
WecHs ago while constructing a tele-
phone line to Bacon. George iIennndy
Company M of Philadelphia. pa He
was at work Il short distance from tho
suburbs. and unsuSpicious of danger so
ciose 10 the post. put too much reli-
ance on the Amigos, and went bevond
the limits allotted to the working de-
tan. lie was evidently surprised bv
some in ambush. having no opportunitv
10 irc his rifle or call for assistance
AS soon as he was missed a searching
party was instituted. and his body was
FOUND, partly covered with leaves. The
fiends evidently becoming frightened
before concealing their dastardly crime.
He was terribly mutilated, and from
all appearances must have made a des-
perate struggle. there being II fright
full cuts from n boio upon his body His
rifle was all that was stolen and we
nave since learned that it is in the
hands Of General Balbino an Insur-
recto leader. We brought his remains;
to the post and gave them military
burial in the grounds at the fort where
they will remain for the present until
shipped to the States. The natives
here received some severe lessons at
the hands of the Spanish in cruelty
and barDarouS treatment to the enc
my during their strife with that coun-
try. There stands at the fort here an
old building now in use as barracks
for section of Battery "G." Third Ar
tillery, and formerly used as n prison
by the Spanish. When we took the city
we established our guard house in this
building, and it was the terror of all
natives who were compelled to pass the
night within its walls, and If money
was necessary to secure their release
they left no resource unsought to OBJ
tain their freedom.
TALES OF HORROR.
] have sat many nights and listened
to the tales of horror and nendish work
carried on within its walls, during the
rule of Spanish tyranny on the islands.
The massive posts still stand where
the natives were dashed and shot down
like dogs in the presence of one an
other, each one expecting 10 have their
doom sealed in like manner at a mo-
ment's notice, for little or no cause.
The cruciiX still remained near the
death-post, where they were allowed
one hour before execution. There is
also a prison within the walled city of
Manila which has n similar history.
The cells are all arranged underground
and all kinds of barharous treatment
and torture were INDUCED in there.
There was a standing order that 10 men
should be shot each day, and this order
was carried into effect for over three
years.
Manila is fast becoming American
ized. People are now allowed on the
streets until 10 p. m, and Il large num-
Der of Americans of both sexes are to
to be met either on the "Escolta." the
principal business thoroughfare. or at
the "Luneta," or park. where the 400
after the excessive heat of the day is
past. The fashionable residences are
all in the suburbs. I believe l gave
you description of the style of build
ings here. The upper stories consist
mostly of checker board lattice slides
filled with a shet-lilke substance re-
sembling isinglass. and when exposed
10 the rays of the sun have the APP
pearance of pearl 4 slide can be
drawn at any part of the house giving
an opening at any place. or closed and
secured. They are very appropriate in
this climate.
PRIMITIVE STREET CARS.
Ihe street cars and other convey
ances in Manila are miniature affairs
and drawn by small ponies. Our gov
eminent mules and horses are quite a
curiosity In most places out side of Ma