The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-01-18
In THE PHILIPPINES.
An Edgerton Volunteer Writes of His
Experience.
IRIGA, p. l., Nov. 18th 1900

IRIGA, P l., Nov. 18th 1900.
The middle of November finds us still
stationed in this city with fair prospects
of remaining here until we start for the
states, which will be, rumor says, some
time in March but that remains to be
seen. Together with your last letter
came the news of McKinley's election,
and although it was expected by all that
he would win, still it was relief to know
for certain. If all the troops on the is
lands have the same opinion as these
four companies of the 10th, Bryan could
not get corporals guard to vote for
him. | don't know just how Bryan
stands regarding these islands, but [ am
certain no better way to govern them,
under existing conditions, could be found
than has been already adopted. Of
course the islands cannot be called in
peace; still, on the other hand, they are
not in state of instruction. The in
surrecto is a thing of the past, but he is
replaced by the Ladrone, a common,
every day robbcr and highwayman, who
organize in bodies of about fifty men
armed with bolos and spears, they keep
the thinly settled portions of the island
in state Of terror, always leaving a trail
strike The very fact that they never
attack a town should be enough to con-
vince any one that their only object is
robbery. They still have a few rifles
and occasionally make things interesting
for small detail of soldiers. They new
er fire more than three or four shots each
and then take to their heels, never stop
ping to see what damage they did. The
Of tu in
the insurgents but he will have nothing
to do with the ladrones and the native
police are after them day and night.
Nearly every native in this city was
soldier under Aguinaldo and they speak
the Americans. But they knew when
they were whipped and are now peaceful,
industrious and happy. They are always
ready to accommodate soldier in any
way they can, and in return we think
stand English reasonably we'll and can
talk it, so we can understand them. They
are crazy to get hold of al American
paper or magazine and spell out the
words to each other in a way that would
astonish any one not used to them. The
city is growing steadily in wealth and
we uUW have Uou SOOu
stores and an extra large market, where
the natives all congregate at about five
o'clock and leave at eight. There are
always from 1900 to 1000 people to be
seen there, talking, trading, smoking and
enjoying themselves every way they know.
New buildings are going up all over
town and replacing the old ones Last
but not least, certain indication is to
be seen on Sunday, when large number
of the natives wear shoes. This may
seem strange to you people who are not
in the habit of going to church bare
footed, but in this country when native
can wear shoes he is looked upon as a
rich man. and, judging from his actions,
the first time he wears shoes you would
imagine he considered himself the whole
thing.
Now to change the subject I'll tell you
something about ourselves. We have
been here now about nine months and
begin to look upon the city as our home.
The much dreaded rainy season is about
over and the death list of the four COM
panies stationed here was not large; six
men died and there are about thirty I'M
able to leave their quarters. Co. @ was
was very fortunate, we did not have a
death among us, and our sick are doing
finely. have not had one hour of sick
ness in the past six months and [ begin
to think [ won't have from now on. The
nights are cool how, in fact so cool that
one feels comforta BILE under a wooden
blanket. The mosquitoes are altogether
too numerous for comfort but they leave
for the mountains the last of the month
and will bother us no more, for another
rainy season will probably find US in the
states. We have cots to sleep on and
mosquito nets to keep out the spider and
bugs and consider ourselves very lucky
indeed. We are having quite an easy
time at present, the patroling has about
ceased and the only marching we have
to do is to escort the wagons around to
the different towns. Our eating is not
quite what we could wish, neither as to
quality or variety. It is composed of
three articles, bread, coffee, bacon, which
is regular soldier fare. Not much variety
you say but wait till tell you how we
shift about so as to get up quite a variety.
For instance, for breakfast we have
bread, coffee and bacon; for dinner we
have bacon, bread and coffee and for
supper we have coffee, bacon and bread.
The salt meat has given some of the men
Cuo ScVrVy, Out no one seems TO care
much as there is no show of getting any
thing different for month vet A
scarcity of reading matter seems to both
er US now more than anything else. 1t
seems as though we are at least two
years behind the times now and by the
time we get back will be as green as
backwoodsmen, so don't forget to send
something to read every chance you get.
Everybody send something and when l
get back and you get over here, I'll re-
ciprocate. Mail comes and goes every
ten days and a regular postoffice is estab-
lished at Caceres. The 9th Cavalry are
helping us out. I'have seen but few of
them and what have are sick of their
job already. BY the time I get an an
swer to this we will be ready to start for
home and as l can tell you much better
about things over here than can write.
l will close what may be the last letter
you will receive from me while in the
Philippines.
CLYDE D. WHITE,
Co. c., 45th Unfit,
Manila, P. I.