Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-02-20
SOLDERING LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Sergeant LeStr Wood Writes 10 Captain SiIbaugh
Of His Experiences and the Country.
ArIMoNAN. z l.. Dec. %. 1906

/ Il
! DEAR CAPTAIN Il received your let
ter of October Sd and WAS very glad To
! hear from you. | have been at Lopez
for over five months, where . made a
| fine catch Lieat. Chadwick was in
command of the post | wds the top
sergeant. and the garrison e SO men
We're from | and X companies NV ex-
perience there world make long story
AT times / was in command of the ''a>'
or in command of details in search of
Ladrones. Shortly after arriving there
the presidente and other town officials
came to our quarters and told the lien
tenant they were afraid 70 serve as off.
cials in the civil government which was
offered them. They said they would be
killed and so a form of mili.a-v control
was established About wo we, KS ago
Lieutenant Chadwick came to m,> aud
said he had discovered thas secretly the
people were being compelled to buy Sc
duias from the so-ealled Insurgenu gov
ernment for s. so (Mexicanl and that q
secret election had been held and they
were collecting funds for the insurrec-
tiOn. We learned that the presidente
was in one of the small ba rrios near and
had two officers and seven armed men
We went after them but they had moved
that afternoon Spies Were put after
certain men aud soon we were in possess
sion of the facts One bright morning
several soldiers went down and returned
with ten of the main men in town and
guards were placed in each house After
they were in confinement one d,.y they
confessed everything and gave the names
of about 40 men who We're leading the
work in this province The lieutenant
wired the colone, the name of the mau
who is in command of the Insurgent
forces in this province, which up to this
time was not known. Then over the
wire came an order and Lieutenant
Chadwick was relieved by Captain Lati-
mer, and sent to Catanawan. l was re-
lieved and sent TO Atimonan where re-
mained AZ men Of my company with no
officer, as Lieutenant McCabe is il
Manila, and Lieutenant Cochknower is
on his way to the United States, where
he will be mustered out Twas mad at
first, as | thought they were giving me
the worst OF it. As at Lopez we had
lived for several days ON dry rice, but
the captain said ! was the man TO look
after the boys at Atimonan, and told me
he had renewed his letter of recon-
mendation to the colonel to have me
appointed to the vacancy caused by the
discharge of Lieutenant Cochknower.
felt better. The operators at Lopez and
here say that he paid me compliment
such as an enlisted man seldom gets
The prisoners from Lopez We're sent
here with us and after taking the oath
of allegiance and made 20 understand
they would be shot if Cd 1ght at such
work again. were released
Nsst1o Oh ah ba la ia mo-
be a long story, but wlll say this: | do
not think they are capable 81 governing
themselves and live in peace. Thei 6
would be dictator every six months;
they are a treaeherous lot, and when
seeming TO be your best friends they are
your worst enemies and one must show
a hand of authority even in business
transactions The Cheno and Cheno
Mestizos are the backbone of the islands
and the labor question will be puzzler
as the Filipino will work only long
enough to earn few pesoes The re-
sources of the islands are very extensive
and when developed will surprise even
the United States / have never been
in the land of the Tree-dwellers, but
Lieutenant Chadwick who was with
Batson's Maeabebe scouts all over the
north end of the island spoke of them.
have not seen or heard from either
of the Pennell boys since / met them at
San Iablo. but hear that their regiment
is doing about the same kind of work
we are / was very sorry TO hear of the
death Of Lyons as he was fine fellow.
/ am also grieved to hear of Harry Nor
risou's fate; it's too bad Am very glad
to hear that Russell and Borgerson ara
we'll Have not heard from Don Miller
for some time. You were mistaken
about my health, for have never been
left behind yet, and have had only few
slight attacks of malaria. II you could
see me now you would think the island
a health resort for am in fine condition.
This is more than | can say for so many
poor fellows. who would not take care
of themselves | still pride myself on
the same habits for which You recon-
mended me, which accounts for my
Lealth. Corporal Ward was looking
fine He is at Lopez and we have been
separated for some time. He is a fine
fellow and brave soldier. Our time is
growing short and before a great while
we will be on the move. / like this
country very well but the thoughts of
home and loved ones predominant.
Your Friend.
LESTER J. WOOD.
ceu4,aIized Sehooi System