The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-03-07
Letter From the Philippines.

man of Light Street.
ISLAND OF MINDANAo, Dec. II, 1900.
DEAR PARENTs:- 1t gives me pleas
ure in writing this letter to you, Tor my
present surroundings is very inter
estlng place to us all, and am sure it
will please you to hear something about
the country and the people six degrees
from the equator. 1t was Thanksgiv-
ing day that our regiment bid ados to
Taal and went aboard the Trans
port Sumner. In the evening of the
same day anchor was lifted and we
steamed for Manila arriving in Minila
Bay the following morning. Every
body expected to get ashore, but our
Col. did not think it convenient.
After three days stay at Manila we
again went to sea under sealed orders.
None knew where we were gong until
we passed Corregidor island, when the
Col made 1t known that our destina-
ton was Mindanao This knowledge
gave us no special delight for we all
knew it was several hundred miles
farther south and consequently much
hotter. 1t suited me real we'll for my
anxiety was great to know more about
these islands. AS yet they are not
what l thought they were. We see
much hard wood and some valuable
species, and so far cannot or have
not seen 1t growing, nevertheless it
abounds. Three days run and we find
anchor here at Cagayan Bay in thirty
two fathoms of water. This bay is on
the north side of the island. How
beautiful it looked ashore, everything
SO green, and you can imagine how
anxious we all were to get ashore.
The gun boat Concord is anchored
in the bay, and the sailors came over
along side our ship with their tug and
lighters which we used in going ashore.
This act Of kindness was returned by
our band who went aboard the Con.
cord and gave concert. Evidently
1t was the first music they have heard
since they helped Dewey do the deed
in Manila Bay. Their cheers could
be heard almost mile away. This
going ashore happened during a fear
tul rain storm and to say we were
lrenched is putting il mild.
Next on the program came our
march to this camp two miles inland.
Hot We never before felt the heat
as we felt 1t on this short march.
Eight inches OF Shiny mud and carry
ing blanket bag, haversack, canteen,
gun, belt, 100 rounds of ammunition,
ratlons for two days, dog tent and
poncho made combination that
would make China coolie envious.
The bamboo shacks are all deserted
along the route and that always means
fight. We came down here for that
purpose and woe to the goo-goo who
tries to oppose the a8th. Last night
at retreat our Captain told us that this
is the last campaign the 28th will take
part in, and it is the desire of the Col.
tor every man to do his duty as we'll
as he has previous to this time and all
will be well. He also said the u. S.
Government says that this is the very
best regiment IN the service today,
both in discipline and health, with over
100 fights and skirmishes to our credit.
You see that we surely will be good
now with such encouragement as that
He also said this march would only
last six weeks or two month at the
longest. Then we go to Manila and
start for the States at once. This will
get us home in April.
Our present camp is in a large
cocoanut grove. We are using Sibly
tents, nine men to a tent. Most of
us have hunks made of bamboo.
These we place about foot from the
earth. When it rains it gets under
the tent in fine style. Ihave seen no
flowers here but the shrubhery is of
the finest. Some of the trees are
very beautiful. A cocoanut tree is a
beauty when full of fruit. This tree
gets very tall. The average height is
about 60 feet. Nothing uncommon
to see wild monkeys, and it is anus
ing to sit and watch bunch at play
in the tree tops. They seem to be
talking to each other all the time and
I believe they do understand their
own language. Yesterday while watch
ing lot of them at play one tossed
cocoanut down on a soldier and we
thought he said, "wouldn'r that jar
you" He was gibberlng all the while.
The people here are shade darker
than the Tagalo of Luzon. The Ian
guage is different so we must learn
something new. Can write you more
after we get back from the interior