The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-07-12
Sergt. Renner Relates
Some Experiences
while IN THE SERVICE
Some Queer Customs Of Native
Filipinos .. Their Feast
Days, Festivals and
Funerals.

Sergeant Edward c. Renner, Of West
Fifth street, is one Of the Philippine
soldiers who returned to Canton, Tues |
day afternoon, after serving in the
United States army since December,
1899. When Renner left for Manila,
he was private, but by good behavior
and good service he was promoted to
sergeant. He brought with him a
great many relics such as bolos,
shields, firearms, etc. When seen by q
Democrat representative, We'd
nesday morning, Sergeant Renner said
During my service in the Philippines,
l was stationed at twenty-three differ
ent places. Most of the time was in
the province of Sasogon, which is about
$50 miles south of Manila. The captain
of my company was c. Gordon. I wos
in the skirmish of Bacon, in which my
company received great praise for its
conduct In the battle. The insurgents
were under the command of the motor
ious Captain Valentine. After about
an hours fighting we succeeded in driv-
ing the insurgents from the field. In
this engagement about sixty insur-
gents were killed and $50 wounded.
The guerrilla warfare Is still being
carried on in the islands, and l am OF
the opinion that the war will
LAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
The only way continuous peaee;can be
obtained is to exterminate all the Fill
ipinos.
visited a friend at Manila. while
was in service, and then saw Gen.
Aguinaldo for the first time. He is
allowed much liberty, but at all times
is accompanied by guard.
Schools are being rapidly established
in the islands. The teachers are Sc
lected from the soldiers. The Filipino
children are very eager to learn, and as
high as two hundred attend school daily
in the small villages. 1t is very hard
to teach the children the alphabet, but
there are always some of the children
who are unusually bright, and pick up
our language in a short time.
The natives observe many feast
days, when they march in professions
carrying candles and images. Christ
mas is the principal festal occasion. On
that day they carry an image of Jesus
in a manger In their procession. Dur
ing these feast days, the Filipinos are
not allowed to ss
ENGAGE IN WARFARE. p y
When one of the natives dies his body
is taken to the church, accompanied by
his relatives and usually band After
the funeral services he is taken to the
grave yard which is quite different
from ours. It consists of high wall
enclosing two or three acres. The walls
contain number Of recesses. in which
the bodies are placed. The wealthy
peope are usually placed in collins,
while the poorer ones are wrapped in
leaves from the banana tree. The
bodies are left In the walls for period
of six months, after which they. are
thrown on the bone field.
Most of the Filipinos work on the
large hemp plantations, which are own
ed by the English. The natives receive
about 25 cents a day for their labor.
When a man possesses $500 dollars,
he is looked upon as being wealthy
The meals of the natives consist
chiefly of rice and fish. No plates or
knives and forks are used. They have
no stores. Butter and milk are luxur-
les. There are only about two or three
! cows in an entire province. The milk
is sold to Americans at 25 cents a pint,
and to the natives for five cents pint.
Bananas are very cheap, in some places
they are sold for five cents q bunch.
The natives
ACT VERY FRIENDLY
to the Americans, but they are not to
be trusted. know of one whe robbed
a lieutenant of the United States army
of $500, after he had Travelled with him
for two years. He was afterwards
caught and sent to a military prison.
Civil governments are being estab-
lishea over all the islands. Shortly after
we left Captain Livingstone was made
governor general Of our province, and
Captain Terry, secretary.
One hindrance to the progress Of the
islands is the Chinese. The Chinese
practically own all the stores in the
islands. Many opium dens are operated
by them. The banks are all run by
English firms.
The Catholic church predominatss IS
The Filipinos are devout and consistent
church goers, and 1t will be a hard tash
, for the Protestants to get a foothold
, among them.
/ Mr.. Renner has several Manila papers
: They are made I'm prin of cipa,