The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-08
LIEUTENANT KECk HOME
He Spent Two Years in the Philip
pines in the Service of His
Country.

Lieutenant Morrison M. keCk, of 1910
Pine street, is back in this city, after
almost two years of active service in
the Philippine islands with the Forty
second infantry. He was mustered out
at the Preside recently. at the same
time as Lieutenant Thomas Murphy, OF
this city. who was with the Forty-sev-
enth volunteers.
Lieutenant KeCk saw hard service
and plenty of it, but the rough cam
paigmng, torrd heat and rigorous life
have left no traces on his strong
physique, and he looks heartier and
healthier than ever, rejoicing, more
| over, in a tanned color which shows
the effects of the blazing sun to which
he was daily subjected.
With soldiers modesty, Lieutenant
Keck is reluctant about dwelling at any
length on his own achievements in the
East, but he is, nevertheless, known to
have been one of the best officers in
| the regiment. On the way home and
| at the Preside he commanded his COM
pany, in the absence of the captain,
who remained in the Philippines to ac-
| cept a government position.
Lieutenant keck received his COM
| mission August 30, 1899, and was as
signed to Company NJ. Forty-second in
| fantry, destined for the Philippines. He
was there practically ever since. and if
| all his adventures could be set forth
at length there would be good reading
matter galore.
| His regiment was stationed in North
ern Luzon, and while it took part in no
very active engagements with the
dusky enemy, the amiable Filipino
made his presence known on many an
occasion, and frequent were the lively
| brushes and fierce skirmshes with the
| followers of the only and inimitable
| Agunaldo. 'lt was a continual round
of excitement" said Lieutenant Keck
briefly last night, but the modest
young officer was unwilling to specify
any of the exciting details.
One of his adventures, which prom
ised some doings of a lively nature,
was when he acted as the entire convoy
of large sum of government funds.
| Ten thousand dollars in gold and silver
| were given him to convey to different
quartermasters at posts for a consider
able distance from the scene OF his
| company's encampment.
| He made the trip by boat, having as
| sole escort a few not too reliable ma
tives, whose duty it was to navigate
| the little vessel, while the lieutenant
watched his precious charge with one
| eye and his salloW looking companions
| with the other. The trip passed with
out adventure, however. The lieuten-
ant hasn't the highest opinion in the
world of the Filipino as an open field
fighter, and claims that his strong point
at the warriors game is in pottng a
man from behind the bush.
Captain LomaX was in charge of the
company, and has now accepted a posi-
tion in the civilian service on the ISL
ands. The company landed in San
Francisco, June II, their trip passing
pleasantly. and dsbanded June %.
There was one other Scranton man in
the regiment, and he was Robert Vail,
quartermaster sergeant of Company d.
He was formerly local optician, con-
nected with Oscar Heyer, of Spruce
street, and Lieutenant Murphy declares
| that he made one of the finest SER
geants in the regiment.
While in the Philippines, Lieutenant
Keck was more fortunate than many
of the officers and men. and, readily ac-
climating himself to the conditions, ex-
perienced not one day of illness. He
| brings home with him many quaint
trophies of the new possessions. Among
these is a quaint statuette carved out
of wood with singular deftness and
sculptural skill by a native. Another
curiosity is a Filipino hat. 1t is just
about half the size of a washtub, but
being made of bamboo is very light for
its size. When placed on the head it
completely obliterates all individuality.
Many other souvenirs of very in
teresting nature are seen about the
Keck residence, as remembrances of
the lieutenant's experiences in the East
The latter has not yet determined on
his future plans and is undecided as to
whether or not he will continue his
martial career.