The National tribune., 1901-07-18
A GAME FILIPINO MAJOR.
Capt Collier, of the ssth Inf, Tells of the
Death of Deserter from the American
Forcts -

Capt. Collier, of the ssth Inf, Tells of the
Death of Deserter from the American
Forces
Capt W. Fl. Collier, son of Col. Dan
r. Collier, formerly Adjutant-General of
Kentucky, has been mustered out of the
3Sth U. S. Vol. Inf, after service Of
over two years in the Philippines, and has
returned to his home in Lancaster, Ky.
The 3Sth U. S. Vol Inf, it is claimed,
saw more actual work against the insur-
gents than any otherHvolunteer regiment.
1t was stationed for various lengths of
time at BatanZas, on. the Island of Lu-
zon, and at Iloilo, on the Island of Panay,
besides helping to pacify the Island OF
Marenduki.
Capt. Collier tells some good stories of
service in the islands. He was present
at the fight when johnson, the American
deserter, was killed.
This man Johnson" said the Captain,
when asked about the deserter was orig
irally private in an artillery regiment
over there. He was from Ohio, and he
thought he could drink anything under the
sun. That was before he tried 'Beno, the
native drink. When you get full of that
it's like corn whisky foundation with
champagne trimmings and neat alb
sinthe finish.
johnson always landed in the guard
house. He was seldom elsewhere. Then
one fine night he deserted. The next
heard of him he was warrior in the Fill
ipino service.
The 3Sth landed about Dec. 81 and
Jan. /, 1899, the regiment went to the
front. Within a week we We're lots nearer
war than any of us had dreamed of be-
ing. The 29th was hot in action when
the 3Sth marched out of IloilO. Our regi-
mcnt was hurried to the front. The in
surgents were in fine trenches and fight
ing like lot of devils. For two hours
they held the Doth safe. The Americans
had got to within 300 yards. The Fill
pinos were shooting like fiends, and be-
tween volleys yelling Robbers, Robbersp
at the Americans.
There was one fellow, unlike the rest,
who exposed himself rccklessly. He ran
along the Filipino line yelling and cBrs-
ing in Spanish. Alone he made them
stand. Whenever a Filipino ritleman fell
a bolOman would grab his gun and keep
up the fight. And all the while this fel-
low kept running up and down the line
damning them in 4 mixture of English
and Spanish such as was never heard be-
fore.
They held that line for two hours,
and the 29th could not bulge them. The
could hear the Fiipinos yelling and that
man cursing.
Then of a sudden the trenches were
emptied. The abe-bodied sifted through
the brush. Only the dead and the wound
ed lay there.
AN American officer came upon a Fill
ipino Major dressed in Spanish uniform.
Surgeon came hurrying up.
Its no use fooling with me, I'm GO
ing to die he told the Surgeon in Span
ish as cooly as a fellow would say, I'm
going to take drink
Who is he?' everybody was asking.
" 'Spaniard, L guess one of the officers
said.
The dying Major looked up.
"'Spaniard" he said. My names
Johnson. I'm from Ohio
1T was the deserter. He knew that
he was going TO die, and he was glad Of
it, for if he lived of course he would be
shot. AT his request they opened his
blouse and with some pride he showed
his commission as Major.
Quick rise, wasn't it?' he grinned as
he spoke;
The Surgeon tried to do something
for him, but Johnson waived him off.
" I'm dying. It's all right he said.
I'm little while it was all right for
Johnson. And that fellow" concluded the
Captain, "a mere private. in our army,
had held those half-armed insurgents for
two hours ag9iust regiment. 1t shows
what the F'ilipinos can do when Differed"
Capt. Collier told another story of a
Yankee with three ponies who followed
the American advance looking for the
route Of future railroad. ....
The last time l saw him." added Col
lier, "he didn't have but one pony, and
he was nearly dead from fatigue and
fever, but he was happy clear through.
He had found his route"