Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-09-07

Arriving at the river. We were rapidly
forced across, our capiOrs being fired
upon by a dctactncn. of Amcrican SOL
dicrs that appeared in view. But they
were soon lost to view on account OF OUR
party seeking obscurity i'll the Jungle.
Through bypaih, and over faint trails
We were pressed onward toward Mount
Aiayat. where our guards joined main
body. There We found Sergeant P
and Private N OF the TIL United
States Infantry who were being held
as prisoners of war. Then came weary
marches. in which we were almost
scorchcd with the ilt~"sc heat OF the day
and became chilled - the marrow from
the cold at night when We halted.
We wondered among ourselves as TO
what they would do with us. for they
hcapcd Upon It's all kinds OF abuse. and
we were often told that we were to be
killed for our stubbo II defense. One Of
their favoritc amuscmcnts was to step
up and present cooked revolvcrs, and
snap them in our faces, we never know
irg at the time but that they were loaded
To add to the terror which these actions
would inspire Maccabec scout. who
had been captured along with Sergeant
P, had his throat cut before our
eyes. the Filipino rcmarking loosely
that this was only to show Us what we
might expect.
These crucl,ics were participated in by
all our captors, guards, etc, except one
commandartc, who had been in CONF
niand OF the party which had captured
us. and who had prevented our being
killed OF the spot at the time. He COM
plmented us on the gallant stand We
had made against vastly superior num-
bers. Gcncral Asuino. whom VIC saw
often, was generally very harsh, but he
sometimes gave us cigarettes, and held
conversation with Us.
Our marches were terrible. We were
fed solely on rice. Only once was the
diet varied, and then three spoonfuls of
salmon were issued to the five of us.
As consequence. VIC became very weak,
cmaciated and sick with the mountain
fever. and sometimes some Of us could
hardly walk or stand.
On the 5th of January, 1900, while we
were at Camansi. in the widst OF about q
thousand insurgents, we heard shots cx-
changed with the ou,pos,s. Never was
the whiz of bullets more welcome to a
soldiers car. Shortly aftcrward they
became so frqucnt that our hopes Of
relief were raised to the highest pitch,
because we were satisfied that Our
friends were near But, alas for the
dclusion. As the attack increased, we
were taken oft and lined up BY General
Aguino himself. Then nine Fiipinos
were brought oft and placed in line
facing us at some thirty PAGES, with
loaded rifles. Did YOU ever look squarcly
into the muzzlc OF rifle, knowing that
death was lurking there: Al.. my friend,
all tile evil you have ever done in your
life comes UP to you like horrid NOV
ing picture. Home, mother, all that is
sanity crowds your mental vision, oyer
Swallowed by the grim visagc OF Death.
Well. as the firing continued to grow
heavier. we were ordered to knccl. and
all obcycd but the sergeant. lie refused
to do so. and stood TIP as straight as a
soldier on parade. General Aquiro gave
the order to the firing party, and as the
command Fire" was given l simply
had time to think God bless my poor
mother" Swiftly the lcadcn messengers
of death sped to their mark, and the
five OF us fell wounded or dead. Then
the murdcrcrs rushed upon us with their
bolos, and put finishing touch to their
dastard!y work. saw them cutting UP
the other fellows, and fcigncd death, al
though | had great hole in my chest.
Therefore, they did not bolo me much,
for the Americans were getting quite
near. Then our murdcrers made pre-
cip,ous flight.
Dark, shadowy wings seemed to over
power me, and | struggled with myself
as with a foe. Indeed. felt as ii
fighting with Death, for it seemed ages
after the murdcrcrs left Us. and yet it
was only few minutes from that time
until the arrival on the ground of Lieu.
tenant ). and DIR. &. of the American
troops. Their voices were like those Of
angels to our ears. They found Private
l.. shot quite dead. Private {. was NOR
tally wounded. being shot and then boz
loed in the back of the neck, by which
his head was nearly severed from his
spinal column. lie was rational and
lived for abou, an hour, giving directions
As TO what should be written to his pco-
pie. lie had asked the doctor ii he was
going to die. and upon being told that it
was impossible for a man, wounded as
he was, 10 live but 4 short time. he said.
Tell father about it, and tell him !
died like a soldier
Poor fellow, he and l.. were buried
with military honors and as the buglc
sounded taps over their graves, those
beautiful words OF Bret Hartc came to
my mind:
Fades the light, and aiar goeth day,
cometh night,
And a star lcadc,h all, spcedcth all to
their rest
Love, good night; must thou go, when
the day and the night
Leave NE 50; Fare thee well Day is
done. Night is on
The remaining three Of us were car
ried to the hospital and tcndcrly cared
for, and from the whispcrings that took
place about our cots, know they
thought we could not live, But. thanks
to good constitutions and excellent nurs.
| ing, we lived and we're invaded home
and thus | am able to describe to you
the delights OF soldiers life, and Of
1 q.