Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-21

Philippines. Henry Besse. and its con-
tents may be of interest to his friends
in this city.
Dolores. p. l.. April 6. 1901.
My Dearest Mother:
Springtime has come at last and the
bleak winter has passed and with it
many hardships in the states.
But ours in this country are just be-
ginning. for the rainy season is just
starting in, and il is going to be very
hard navigating around where We are
now.
You see by the heading of this letter
that we have moved again into a small
town farther up into the mountains.
We are surrounded by mountains and
rivers. 1t is a much smaller town than
Batuc, but the people are not so friend
ly as in that place.
There has not been much fighting
around here. but we are preparing a
will last until it is Impossible for us
to pass around the country, That Will
be about a month. for then the rivers
will he SO high that we can't ford them.
| have Just returned from cock
fight. The people are very sporty, some
of them even betting their last cent on
n chicken. They call it ''De'combate de
Tagalus," or fighting ROSTERS. 1t is
very exciting sport to watch them. The
scrap lasts not more than five minutes
at the longest, and even then they are
both sometimes taken out dead.
Now, mother, | am going to tell you
something that will surprise you, |
know; but l did not tell you before
because / wanted to see how | should
come out. In a small scrap we had in
this country about a month ago, l was
wounded-steady now-simply glanc-
ing shot on the side of the head. which
placed me "horS de combat" for a
few moments. 1t made a wound about
one inch long and the word was sent
back to the main body that | was
done for: but | fooled them all. | told
the lieutenant that the GogOos did not
have enough rifles i'm their whole army
to kill me, for | have got something to
return to the states for. Three Of us
have been recommended for merit of
honor. Our lieutenant was killed in
the same fight; but most of our light
ing is done for this year. for the rainy
season has started in and we can't do
any more hiking until next fall. and
then my time will be most up and l
will not have much to do for 1t Will be
my turn in the kitchen, and that means
confinement to the post except on GER
tain days: then | have to go to Ban
Gued to draw ratiOnS.
1t is very hot here. ! should judge the
thermometer to register about So or 80
degrees in the shade. today, but ! do
not mind the heat in the least. You
can imagine what it is here when II is
hot. The natives are celebrating Easter
here; in fact they have been for a
week. The people are very strict Cath
olics in this country.
Well. mother, I will close until after
supper.
7.3O p. Nit Is exceptionally hot.
this evening. l believe we are to have a
thunder shower-severe they are when
they come. The last one we had was
in company with an earthquake.
which was also severe. There We're
three different shocks. each one lasting
about 10 or Is seconds in all. | was on
guard at the time. 2 a. NJ. and 1t was
with difficulty that I kept on my feet.
the ground shook 50. Yes, the thunder
storm has begun and 1t is a heavy
one. too. and mind you. mother, 1t does
not rain here but it pOurs.
A party Of 38 men go to Bangued,
tomorrow, to draw ratiOns. so 1t will
give me n chance to send my mail or
Give my respects to all who may in
uuire for me. Less than year to
serve, mother dear: just think OF it,
Will write again soon as / can.
From your loving son. the only Maine
boy in the 5th Reg. Inf.
CORP. Z. H. BESSE.