The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-21
A LETTER FROM MINDANAo.
Private Kenyon, of Fell Township,
Tells of Philippine Life.

\ letter from Howard Kenyon, for
mcrly of Fell township, ana member
OF the TWcnty-cighth infantry regi-
mcnt, United states volunteers. now
Cn route for home on the transport
Thomas, having left Manila on March
l' has been received by his brother.
who resides in Fell township Young
Kenyon is well known in this city and
is sturdy, rugged specimen of man
hood. The regiment Is made up en-
tircly of Pcnnsylvanians. most of them
backwoodsmcn. and is known around
the Philippines as the Fighting Regi-
mcnt,' having passed through five bait
ties. Tho following story tells some-
thing of campaign life out there:
Cagayan, Province Ni,,nus Island Mindauoo. jan.
80, 1900
n'ar Brother. We l,u Manila bay December
s, 1900, destination unknown 10 us having on
board the third battalion and Companies l. aud
y, Second battalion The c,hcrs were on board
t'c Sumner and three Other transports accom- .
panied Us, the Lynov having 10 ,a,ilry horses
and fifteen pack mules. On December d We az.
rived Al tagaNdn, one oi the finest Of the islands
The next ten days were spent in unloading sup
plies, pitching camp aud getting things ready
for hard campIign We learned from the
months hcuic that we we've up against the real
thing. The filipu1s had the Forticth bluffed.
The forueth filled us with stories Of tho hlii
being filled with armed men. On December IL
we received orders TO get two days Tations, fifty
extra rounds Of ammunition, carry our shelter
tents, and be ready TO leave at o'clock nest
morning. revcillc being at 8 a. IN. This was
the beginning of a three weeks "hikc,' which
turned out to he the toughest soldering we had
done yet.
From December 10 TO January we were
awakened at 3 u. m, ate our breakfast of
oorncd beef and hard tack, being ready 10 start
A. . a. IN. We were soaking wet constantly dur.
ING this time up to our waists from crossing
streams, and the balance of the way we were
wet from pcrapiration. One stream we crossed
thrtythrcc times in ono afternoon.
We were fired at daily from the raNnes. yet
we did not answer the fire. One afternoon Will,
going through deep rayine lot of unarmcd
natives began rolling stones over the top on US
at height Of 800 feet. Then the colonel ordered
Company I to fire at them. They soon desisted
and the colonel said:
Did you see them duck their nuts "
licrc is an instance that will give you an idea
Of the kind OF people they are. 4 Filipino
armed with spear, shield and bolo. hiding il
the bushes. attempted to kill the last man OF
the first company whom he, no doubt. thought
'''' % ''i'Ssl'l, anu Ue was snOt dead Tor his
trouble.
our ratons for squad Of eight men are thrc,
twopound cans OF corned beef, two pounds o
canned beans, with Il couple of spoonfuls of col
fee aud pound of hardtack. They let us Kill
everything We see, pigs, chickens, cattle an,
c'epthing else We could find. We dcstroyc,
some very strong forttcations and burned tw,
towns where the Filipino soldiers made thc
headquarters, Yet We failed TO get IN clos,
quarters with them. We lost one man. be bcin.
kicked to death.
1t may surprise you TO learn that there ar,
nine American dcScrtcrs from the Forticth in
fnlry cut with them. Il /, fact | gucs
there are some mountains like Elm mountain We
we hike night over the top of them. Their
Us some very fine water here. in fact it j, :
'uy fine county They have many cattle an,
Hisc corn instead OF licc.
The Third battalion i, in this town. Tho othc
eight companies are in towns along the beach
Yours,
~ Howard Kenyon.