Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-12-06

ALMA RECORD,
ALMA. MICH.
At last the representatives Of Alma are
settled in their assigned Pueblo, Sorso.
gan, about 800 miles southeast OF Mani.
la. As all in America who are inter.
ested know by this time that the
Thomas dropped anchor in Manila Bay at
8 80 .. IN August 81, after one Of the
most pleasant ocean voyages ever made
by U. s. transport. will begin this
letter by telling of our experience after
landing.
We were taken ashore by ffties and
seventies in small steam boats. the morn.
ing Of August 2S. AS we sped swiftly
over the intervening two miles OF water
we took one long last look at the noble
vessel which had been our home for 80
days and which we had come to love as
such and then we turned to get our first
impression of the Philippines at close
range. Oavite was visible to the right
and many ships were anchored out from
her shore in the vicinity Of the Spanish
gunboats where Dewey won his cele-
brated victory. Back Of Manila in the
distance rose mountains, while all the
country near was low. We found a
great many buildings of stone and wood
with roofs of iron sheeting and tile as
"a n m nrio IA
None, however, were over two stories
except the great churches. We landed n
little way up the Pesig River, which is
always SO crowded with ships and other
water craft that one traveller stated it
presented a more lively commercial as
pect than the water front at Boston
Rigs were waiting for US TO convey US 10
Bamboo Barracks formerly used by the
soldiers at the Exposition Grounds, two
miles out. The most of our drive was
along a beautiful street with lawns Of
perpetual green grass on either side un-
der long rows of palm trees. To the
right was the sea, TO the left the walled
city. The latter part Of the way was by
numerous shacks of bamboo with nipa
roofs built about six or eight feet above
the ground and supported py large posts
that reached 10 the roofs. We we're not
surprised at the appearance of the
natives, we had been told so much about
them before coming The native pc lice
are neatly dressed. The ladies and girls
always have skirts and generally a kind
of waist. The boys rarely wear more
boys and girls cannot afford that much
clothing. Often a shirt If cotton makes
good dress suit for man or boy and
all except the police are barefoot. or
course we accepted all the conditions as
matter Of fact and did not let them repel
as from the people we had come TO
assist.
To make long story short we spent
our time while at Manila going through
the red tape Of our department, attend.
ing teachers meetings, buying several
suits apiece OF white drill aud brown
khaki, buying groceries and furniture
and kitchen utensils. For some time no
one knew where he would be st toned
and IL was essential for each one 10 fit
himself out with all living necessities
and provisions for about two months.
Some were 90 go where no white face
would remind them of the former life,
where not even garrison was stationed
and where it was difficult to obtain sup
plies We were lucky in being sent to
Sorsogon. the capital of this Province
ana the headquarters of the 10Th Inft /,
with a population of over IL 600 and
Reed and we were fortunate in being
located at the same part of the Island of
Luzon.
Wednesday, a. m, Sept. %. about
eight O'Clock we said goodbye" TO
Manila as we steamed out OF the Pesig
River on the "Brutus," q vessel carry.
ing large cargo Of freight and about
(Cuasa~sd on Pd2s6)